Highland Games Events For Saturday

Visit the Green Hill Medieval Faire this Saturday and see the second annual Highland Games competition! Descriptions are below. The events competed in can vary depending on which Games you are competing in. The thrower must compete in all events in a particular competition. Below is a short description of each: 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.


Open Stone Put: Open Stone Put similar to the shot put, except a stone is used that weighs usually between 16 and 22 pounds. It is called "open" style because any style of putting is allowed with the spin and glide styles being the most popular. The throwing area is a box 4'-6" wide and 7'-6" long. 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.


56lb Weight for Distance: The weight can be either block or spherical shaped with links and a handle. The overall length cannot exceed 18". The weight is thrown with one hand in a throwing area 4'-6" x 9'. 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.


28lb Weight for Distance: Same as the 56lb. Weight for Distance except a 28lb. weight is used.

22lb Scottish Hammer Throw: The hammer has a lead or steel head with a bamboo or rattan handle affixed through a hole in the head. The overall length cannot exceed 50". 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 athlete's feet must remain in a fixed position until the hammer is released. Boots with blades attached to the front of them are usually worn to keep the feet on the ground and in a fixed position.


Caber Toss: The Caber is a tree that has been cut and trimmed down so one end is slightly wider than the other. It can vary length from 16 to 22 feet and between 100 and 180 pounds. The smaller end is rounded off so it will be easy to cup in the thrower's hands. The caber is stood up for the thrower with the large end up. The thrower hoists the caber up and cups the small end in his hands. 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 caber is scored for accuracy as though the thrower is facing the 12:00 position on a clock face. 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. If the caber is not turned, a side judge calls the degrees of the angle the caber makes with the ground. Sometimes a Challenge Caber is also used which is larger than the Games Caber.


Sheaf Toss: The sheaf is a 16lb. or 20lb. burlap or plastic bag stuffed with chopped rope, straw, or mulch. The sheaf is tossed over a cross bar with a pitch fork. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, the he is out of the competition.

56lb Weight for Height: The weight for height is the same as used for distance except it is shorter. The weight is tossed over a cross bar with one hand. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, the he is out of the competition.