Heavy Athletics
Athletics Director Herman Ibach
The Scottish Heavy Events The Following Events Will Be Held:
THE
CABER TOSS THE
WEIGHT THROWS FOR DISTANCE THE
WEIGHT TOSS FOR HEIGHT THE
STONE PUT THE
SCOTTISH HAMMER THE
SHEAF TOSS see map@ TBHG Map
Tampa Bay Highland Games
A caber is a wooden pole which typically ranges from 100 to 150 pounds and
is 18 to 22 feet long. The caber is lifted and balanced against the
athlete's shoulder. The athlete then runs with it and tosses it end over
end. The toss is scored on accuracy, not distance. The athlete attempts to
flip the caber completely over so that the end he was holding lands
exactly opposite the point he released it. On an imaginary clock face this
would be 12 o'clock and considered a perfect toss.
Two weights are thrown for distance, 28 and 56 pounds. The athlete turns
with the weight in one hand similar to the discus throw. The event is
scored on distance with each athlete getting three attempts to make their
best effort. The athletes throw from behind a wooden board known as
the"trig". They are not allowed to step on top of or past the
trig or the throw will not count.
A 56 pound weight similar to the one thrown for distance is used. It is
tossed over a bar with one hand. The athlete stands with his back to the
bar and usually takes a few preliminary swings to build momentum before
exploding upward. The trick is to get the weight, not only high enough,
but also to curl over the bar and not come straight down.
There are two events involving stones. The first is the open stone which
is similar to the modern shot put. Usually, a 17 pound rounded stone is
used. The athletes use a glide or spin technique to gain momentum for an
explosive release. Footwork and explosive speed are important for the best
result. The second event is the Braemar or standing style stone put.
Typically a 25 pound stone is used and it is thrown from a standing
position from behind the trig. Obviously, this is more of a test of brute
strength and technique.
The Scottish hammer is quite different from the Olympic wire hammer. The
Scottish hammer head is a round metal ball attached to a rattan cane
handle. Two different weights are thrown; sixteen and twenty-two pounds.
The athletes wear blades on the front of their throwing boots and dig them
into the ground to have a firm foundation for the effort. With their back
facing the direction of the throw, the athlete whirls the hammer around
his head, building momentum and then releasing.
Not an event that is practiced everywhere, the sheaf toss is nevertheless
an exciting spectacle. The athlete has his back to a bar and using a
pitchfork, tosses a 16 or 20 pound bag of hay or similar material for the
greatest height over the bar.