Scottish Heavy Events Iain Bennett

2 Agenda Personal history The sport The events –equipment –modern day throwing –history Links

3 Some Terms Scottish Heavy Events, Highland Games, Throwing Scottish Heavy Athletes, Heavies, Throwers, Tossers

4 Personal History Rugby in high school, university, club Weight lifting in high school, university and beyond, but fell off the boat in 1996 Started lifting again in 1999 In October 2000, approached by a friend who wanted to start throwing Goal: Throwing at Fergus in 2001 Am I crazy? Probably.

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6 Personal History Studied the sport Ordered videos, watched UHATV, All Strength Challenge “This is going to be a piece of cake” Found training partners in Acton, Ontario Started throwing April 6th, 2001 First training camp: Picton, May 2001 Three competitions: Prince Edward County, Cobourg, Fergus

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8 Scottish Heavy Events Six or seven events –Stone put –Braemar Stone –Scottish Hammer –Weight for Distance –Weight for height/Weight over bar –Caber toss –Sheaf toss

9 Scottish Heavy Events The sport requires not only brute strength but technique and endurance A good thrower combines athletic attributes with the fellowship of clansmen

10 History King Malcolm Ceanmore in 1057 is credited with creating crude forms of the Highland Games’ athletics Aimed to improve abilities of his military More festive by the 16 th century, but still a means for kings and chiefs to choose the best men for their retinues Equipment evolved from items available locally in Scotland

11 Classes of Athletes Amateur First timers to experience throwers trying to improve and compete with the professionals. There are three levels – A, B, C. Professional The highest level of Scottish Athletics, prize money is awarded according to placing. This class is usually entered by invitation only. Master This class is for throwers of ages 40 and up. Women

12 The Trig 4'6 " x 9' –Weight for distance 4'6" x 7'6" –Stone Put –Braemar Stone

13 Open and Braemar Stone Similar to shot put but using a field stone –17 to 26 lbs. Must throw from behind a trig Braemar - standing throw Open - any style of throw

14 Open and Braemar Stone One of the classics, and actually the precursor to Olympic Shot Put

15 Scottish Hammer Wicker, rattan or PVC handle Weight on the end –Women: 12, 16 lb. –Men: 16, 22 lb. Tacky Hammer boots

16 Scottish Hammer The hammer is rotated over the head and in front of the body Hips help to transfer energy to the hammer

17 Scottish Hammer Came from the blacksmiths of Scotland A dedicated throwing hammer was given a spherical head to lessen damage upon landing the modern Olympic hammer has a D-handle attached to the ball by a wire. The Scottish hammer has a rattan or wooden handle

18 Weight for Distance block or spherical shaped weight –Women: 14, 28 lb. –Men: 28, 56 lb. The overall length cannot exceed 18".

19 Weight for Distance Must throw the weight with one hand while maintaining control behind a trig Single or double spin

20 Weight for Distance original box (rectangular cubic) weights with handles used for measuring farm produce Standard weights were half-hundredweight (56 lb.) and two-stone (28 lb.) 56 lb. WFD was an Olympic sport, discontinued in the 1920s Track and field version lets you throw with two hands

21 Weight for Height/Over Bar block or spherical shaped weight –Women: 14, 28 lb. –Men: 28, 56 lb. The overall length cannot exceed 18"

22 Weight for Height/Over Bar Must throw the weight with one hand over a horizontal bar Rock the weight between the legs, squat down when the weight reaches it ’ s furthest point Let the weight reach it ’ s lowest point and explode up with the legs and arm Fluid motion!

23 Weight for Height/Over Bar Track and field version lets you throw with two hands The highest tosser wins

24 Caber Toss Tall wood “pole” similar to a telephone pole –16 to 26 feet –100 to 180 lbs. Smaller end is usually cupped

25 Caber Toss “Pick”, run, squat and toss Aim is to land the caber directly in front at a 12:00 position Not a distance event Caber must rotate through a 90° angle Not 90°? Called a “Fifer” and is not counted.

26 Caber Toss Caber is Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) for tree Produced by woodsmen

27 Sheaf Toss Burlap bag, bound in twine –Women: 10 to 12 lbs. –Amateur Men: 16 lb. –Professional: 20 lb. Standard pitchfork

28 Sheaf Toss Competitors must throw the sheaf over a horizontal bar 3 attempts Like a pendulum, rock the pitchfork and sheaf back and forth. When the sheaf hits the lowest point, explode up and flick the sheaf off the end of the pitch fork The highest tosser wins

29 Sheaf Toss Derived from the farming traditions in Scotland Sheaves of hay were tossed with a fork up into the barn loft for storage grew out of a competition to see who could toss a sheaf of wheat highest

30 Other Events Farmers walk –More of a strongman event –Two 200 lb. sections of railroad track with handles in each arm –Walk until you drop

31 Links - Associations North American Scottish Games Association Ultimate Heavy Athletics – TV All Strength Challenge Scottish Heavy Events for Women

32 Links – Festivals Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games Prince Edward County Celtic Weekend Cobourg Highland Games

33 Links - Camps Amateur Heavy Events Training School Picton – April 20 – 21, 2002 Kevin Fast Wellington County Scottish Athletes Fergus - August 9 – 12, 2002 Warren Trask

34 Links - Training North American Scottish Games Association Scottish Heavy Events for Women Iron Sport Gym

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36 Photo credits 3.The Professionals - Fergus Iain Bennett 5.Bob and Iain - Fergus - Steve Pyles 7.Colleen Millar, Terry Hunt and Colleen’s Mum - Prince Edward County - Iain Bennett 9.Ryan Vierra - Picton - Iain Bennett 12.Trig - Iain Bennett 13.Stone - Iain Bennett 14.Stone Thows - Colleen Millar, Scott Bukovac - Acton - Iain Bennett 15.Hammer - Iain Bennett 16.Adam Denny - Hammer - Cobourg - Scott Bukovac 18, 21.Weights - Iain Bennett 19.Ryan Vierra - Weight for Distance - Fergus - Iain Bennett 22.Iain Bennett - Weight for Height - Fergus - Steve Pyles 23.Harry MacDonald - Weight for Height - Fergus - Iain Bennett 24.Kevin Fast - Caber - Prince Edward County - John Breithaupt 25.Kevin Fast - Caber - Prince Edward County - John Breithaupt 26.Caber Hazard - Chris Drummonds for Iain Bennett 27.Colleen Millar - Sheaf - Acton - Iain Bennett 28.Steve Aucoin - Sheaf - Cobourg - Iain Bennett 30.Bruce Lloyd - Farmers Walk - Prince Edward County - Iain Bennett 38.Iain’s first competition Caber - John Breithaupt

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