#HIGHLAND GAMES EVENTS HOW TO#

The sheaf is tossed over a cross bar with a pitch fork. burlap or plastic bag stuffed with either chopped rope, straw, or mulch. Sometimes a Challenge Caber is also used which is larger than the Games Caber. If the caber is not turned, a side judge calls the degrees of the angle the caber makes with the ground. A judge behind the thrower calls how close to the 12:00 position the small end of the caber lands, 12:00 being a perfect toss. The caber is scored for accuracy as though the thrower is facing the 12:00 position on a clock face. He then takes a short run with the caber and then stops and pulls the caber so that the large end hits the ground and the small end flips over and faces away from the thrower. The thrower hoists the caber up and cups the small end in his hands. The caber is stood up for the thrower with the large end up. The smaller end is rounded off so it will be easy to cup in the thrower's hands. It can vary length from 16 to 22 feet and between 100 and 180 pounds. The Caber is a tree that has been cut and trimmed down so one end is slightly wider than the other. Boots with blades attached to the front of them are usually worn to keep the feet on the ground and in a fixed position. The athlete's feet must remain in a fixed position until the hammer is released. The athlete stands behind the trig with his back to the throwing area, winds the hammer around the head and releases over the shoulder. The hammer has a lead or steel head with a bamboo or rattan handle affixed through a hole in the head. The thrower must keep one foot inside this area and not step over the back line or inside face of the trig or the throw is a foul. The weight is thrown with one hand in a throwing area 4'6' x 9'. The weight can be either block or spherical shaped with links and a handle. The same throwing area and fouls for the open stone apply. This stone put uses a heavier stone usually between 22 and 28 pounds and it must be put from a standing position. The throwing area is a box 4'6' wide and 7'6' long. It is called 'open' style because any style of putting is allowed with the spin and glide styles being the most popular. Similar to the shot put, except a stone is used that weighs usually between 16 and 22 pounds. NOTE: For the weight throws, stone puts, and hammer a 'trig', which is similar to the toe-board used in the shot put, is used at the front of the throwing box that the thrower cannot step beyond the front of.

The thrower must compete in all events in a particular competition. Each competition may have some or all of the following events. The events competed in can vary depending on which Games you are competing in.

#HIGHLAND GAMES EVENTS HOW TO#

How to get started in Scottish Heavy Athletics

Highland games events