Heavy athletic games include:
Open/Braemar Stones: These stones are the ancient
ancestors of today’s shot put, weighing 16lbs.
and 28lbs.
Weights For Distance: Two weights are generally
thrown, the 56lb. weight and the 28lb. weight.
Sheaf Toss: The athlete uses a 2 or 3 tined pitchfork
to throw a 16 or 20 lb. bag over a bar.
Caber Toss: This is the signature event of the
Highland Games, using a Caber (Gaelic for "Tree")
in a 12 o’clock flip (so the caber flips over
and lands in a straight line to the thrower’s
body.) Cabers are generally 18 to 21 ft. long and
weigh anywhere from 90 to 150 lbs
Scottish Hammers: Two Hammers are thrown –
a 16lb. hammer and a 22lb. hammer. These events
are the ancient ancestors of the modern Olympic
hammer throw.
Weight For Height: Also called Weight Over Bar,
this event uses either a 56, 42, or 28lb. weight.
The objective: to get the weight over a bar for
height.
“All events, with the exception of the Caber
Toss, are thrown for distance. The Caber Toss is
judged by accuracy,” says head judge, Dave
McKenzie. McKenzie, who from 1972 to 1986 was a
heavy events athlete and competed throughout the
United States and Canada, has served as head judge
since 1978 for 18 Scottish Athletic events held
each year and will preside over the Richmond games.
He explains that there are two judges used for each
competition. One is in the field to measure distance
and accuracy. The other is in the throwing area
looking at safety and foot placement.
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