Highland games

What is it? Highland Games, which take place from Cowal to Tomintoul and all points in between, are a unique mix of the sporting, the cultural and the social. They usually comprise a programme of field and track events, piping and Highland dancing competitions and 'heavy events' like the tug-o-war, the hammer throw and tossing the caber.

Uniforms The traditional outfit of a Scottish Highland Game Athlete is much the same as the traditional highlander clothing. This includes the kilt, which dates back over 600 years. They also wear a sporran. Sporran is the Scottish Gaelic word for purse, and is worn around the waist with a chain or a belt. This was originally worn as a sign of a man's manhood. It is a leather pouch nowadays covered with animal fur, but originally it was made from animal hide such as rabbit. Competitors in both the caber toss and the weight toss are required to wear the kilt. They generally wear a t-shirt with the kilt when competing.

Competitions Hammer throw Stone put Weight over the bar Tossing the caber Weight throw Tug of war

Hammer Throw That hammer is in the form of a ball weighing between 16 to 22 pounds is placed at the end of the flagpole with a length of about 4 feet (1.2 metres). The aim, of course, is to throw it as far as possible. Sometimes the spectators are a bit surprised and worried by the fact that some hammers landed quite close to the them…

Stone put   This discipline, in turn, is very similar to the throw the ball, except that instead of a steel ball is a stone weighing between 20 to 26 pounds.

Weight over the bar Throw the weight over the crossbar. A player is under the crossbar on. 2 meters, grabs the weight weighing 56 pounds (a little over 25 kg) and throws up vertically while trying to flip it over the crossbar and not knock it. If he succeeds, the bar goes even higher. The winner is the one who manages to flip the burden over the crossbar suspended as high as possible.

Tossing the caber Contrary to appearances, this is not about to throw it as far as possible. Style counts. SnagIt is huge it measures about 6-7 feet in length and elevation it requires immense strength. He first sets it straight, thicker end up, then this raises and a few metres away throws him in such a way that spun in the air about 180 degrees, and the thicker end hit the ground. It is important that the stock had fallen to the ground, as if pointing to a 12 on the dial of an imaginary clock.

Weight throw Reminiscent of contemporary known Olympics hammer throw. Ball weighing 28 (light version) or 56 (version heavy) pounds, attached to a short chain thrown as far as possible.

Tug of war Each team is eight members. Both teams are holding a thick rope and try to drag an opponent on their site. Yhe participants are muscles, strong and trained in the tug of war.

Music Other events in Highland games include competitions of the regional pipe bands, solo bag pipe, and drum majors. Celtic bands will also perform non-competitively in beer gardens.

Dance Dance competitions are held at Highland games, but until the 1970s women were forbidden to compete in "Highland Dances". One such form of the Highland dance is "Scottish Sword Dancing", which has no connection with English sword dancing apart from the name, but are equally demonstrative of the dancers skill. The dancer stands over a pair of crossed swords and balances on one foot while pointing the other leg over the blades. Every few steps he changes to balance on the other leg. The tune used is a strathspey. The same dance is done, without the swords, at social dances.

Secondary events and attractions Herding dog trials and exhibitions can be held, showcasing the breeders and trainers skills. At modern games, armouries will display their collections of swords and armour, and often perform mock battles. Various vendors selling Scottish memorabilia are also present selling everything from Irn Bru to the stuffed likeness of the Loch Ness Monster.

Wykonały: Gabriela Kurcewicz Karolina Sierzputowska Dominika Grzebieniewska