Athletics (Adult) Competition...

The Houston Highland Games and Celtic Festival...

Registration Form [download]

Men's Athletic Events: (Saturday Only)
Registration begins at 9am
Competition begins at 10am

Judge: James Parman

History of Men's Athletics
Athletic competitions originally were held between neighboring clans. During the reign of King Malcolm Canmore (1058-1093 AD), clan chiefs would hold competitions to pick the strongest men as body guards and the swiftest to be couriers.

The athletic events evolved from deeds performed in everyday life. The hammer throw originated with a blacksmith's hammer. A well rounded stone from the river was used for putting. Today's shot-put developed from this sport. Block weights were used for throwing and the caber toss was the woodsman's contribution. Caber is Gaelic for tree trunk. Another term for this event is "Ye Casting of the Bar". The art of tossing the caber came from flipping trees down mountains to collect timber for building materials and clearing mountainsides. Tree trunks were also flipped across rivers to provide a way to cross where there was no bridge.

E V E N T S

HAMMER THROW
This event is a popular test of strength and skill. The long hammer weighing 16-22 pounds is thrown for distance. Three throws are allowed but only the longest one counts.

The longest throw wins. If any part of the body crosses the toe board, a foul is declared and the throw is nullified

WEIGHT TOSS
The 56 pound weight is swung between the knees and tossed over the bar using only one hand. Three misses or touches at the same height means elimination. The highest toss wins and ties are settled by fewest misses at previous lower heights.

SHEAF TOSS
The 14-25 pound sheaf of hay, wrapped in burlap, is tossed by pitchfork over a crossbar suspended by ropes between two tall upright poles. Three throws are allowed for each height of crossbar, which is raised six inches at a time.

Failure to successfully toss the sheaf over the bar at least one time at any successive height eliminates the contestant.

WEIGHT THROW
The 28 and 56 pound weights are thrown for distance. Three throws with each are allowed but only the longest counts. The longest throws win. If any part of the body crosses the toe board, a foul is declared and the throw is nullified.

PUTTING THE STONE OR STONE TOSS
The stone weighs 16 pounds, is 7 14" inches in diameter, and is thrown much like the modern day shot put. There are several putting techniques in use today, but all require a precise coordinated uncoiling of the legs, body and arm into a final thrust to achieve the maximum distance. Each contestant is allowed three throws for distance; if he touches the ground in front of the foul board, that try is recorded as foul and not measured for distance. Judging is on the longest of the three throws only.

CABER TOSS
The object of the contest is to toss the 100 or 120 pound, 18-19 foot long caber (pole) end-over-end so that it lands with the bottom, or small end pointing directly away from the contestant. The athlete with the straightest toss is the winner.

Distance has no bearing on the outcome of the event at all. Three tosses are allowed and all three are scored to determine the winner.

The Houston Highland Games will follow all the guidelines and requirements for
the SAAS. For more info on Scottish Athletics [go].

Competitors
For information on registration,
please contact: Tim Sanders
ph: 281-989-0570 (cell)

Pictures courtesy of Ibis Arts, Photography and Web Services