Athletic Events

Scottish athletic competitions comprise the following categories: the Scottish Highland Athletic Competitions (or Heavy Events), team sports and traditional Celtic sporting events. The Heavy Events test the athletes strength, skill and endurance. Events containing the word Toss generally refer to competitions for height whereas events containing the word Throw are for distance.

Battle Ax Throw

The battle axes used in the modern competition are frequently replicas of the type issued to the 78th Frasers Highlanders, a military regiment from the Highlands of Scotland. The ax is light enough to be used with one hand and heavy enough to dent or puncture armour. In the competition, axes are thrown at increasing distances towards a target. The winner is the individual who's ax, thrown from the greatest distance, strikes blade first in target center.

Kilted Mile

The kilted mile is a scottish version of a traditional track event. In this race, the runner runs the entire race while wearing a kilt. The weight of the kilt adds an additional degree of challenge to this foot race. The winner is the individual crossing the finish line first.

Tossing The Caber

The caber is a 90 to 120 pound log, 16' to 20' in length, that is tossed end-over-end. Once the narrow end of the caber is vertically balanced in the arms of the athlete, the athlete runs forward, stops and heaves the caber upward. The caber must spin in such a way that the large end hits the ground. The caber will then fall over with the narrow end falling away from the athlete. A perfect throw will land at the 12 o'clock position, straight away from the athlete that released it.

Sheaf Toss

The sheaf toss involves hurling a bag of hay straight up into the air over an adjustable crossbar with a three-tyned pitchfork. The bag of hay weighs 16 to 20 pounds for men and 10 to 12 pounds for women. The winner is the athlete who tosses the sheaf the highest.

Weight Throw

Men throw 28 and 56 pound weights for distance in this event. For women, the weights are 14 and 28 pounds. The athlete grasps the weight in one hand and begins swinging the weight from side to side. Once a bit of momentum is achieved, the athlete spins the weight around, usually twice, to impart additional momentum and releases the weight. The winner is the athlete who throws the weight the farthest.

Weight Toss

Men will use a 56 pound weight, which is thrown for height, in this event. Women will use a 28 point weight. The athlete stands beneath an adjustable height crossbar, grasps the weight with one hand and swings the weight back and forth between the legs. On the final swing, the athlete brings the weight up in a smooth arc and releases the weight so that it will pass over the crossbar. The winner is the athlete who tosses the weight the highest.

Stone Throw

A rounded stone, called a clachneart, weighing between 16 and 32 pounds for men and 8 to 12 pounds for women is thrown for distance in this event. Some athletes spin to gain momentum before releasing the stone, in much the same way a shot put is tossed, while others impart momentum via a forward glide. The winner is the athlete who throws the stone the farthest. As the weight of the actual stones used is so variable, distances achieved vary from festival to festival.

Braemar Stone

This is similar to the Stone Throw except that the heavier stone must be "tossed" without the glide or spin

Hammer Throw

For this event, a metal ball is attached to a wooden handle, usually rattan, to create a hammer. The total length of the hammer must not exceed 4' 2" (50"). For men, the "light" hammer weighs 16 pounds and the "heavy" hammer weighs 22 pounds. For women, the "light" hammer weighs 12 pounds and the "heavy" hammer weighs 16 pounds. The athlete spins the hammer in a circular motion building up momentum. When ready, the hammer is released. The winner is the athlete who throws the hammer the farthest.