Athletic Competition

7 groups of very strong kilted men and women make for a great day of competition! Categories include:

Caber Toss
Sheaf Toss
Hammer Throw
Open Stone Throw
Weight over Bar
Braemar Stone

The most spectacular of them all -- the legendary Caber Toss – ‘ye casting of the bar’

Heavy athletics originated in the Scottish Highlands where warriors kept in shape between battles by competing among themselves using everyday implements. A stone, a blacksmith’s hammer, and a tree trunk (caber) all became tools for building strength for battle.

When the English forbid any Scotsman to bear arms these alternatives to traditional weapons were used to select the finest athletes for war. Clan warriors competed to demonstrate their relative strength so it is fitting that clan tents line the athletic field.

Join us this year and challenge other kilt-donning athletes from Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida and beyond!

YES! I WANT TO THROW HEAVY THINGS!

HEAVY ATHLETIC REGISTRATION IS OPEN

REGISTRATION FEE OF $25

includes lunch and Savannah Scottish Games' Heavy Athlete T-Shirt

For information:

Jason McFarland -

athletics@savannahscottishgames.com

Athletic Director: Scott Medlin, SHAG Affiliated Game

Time: Athletes to be signed in by 8:30am and ready to throw by 9:00am. SSGCF is an “Affiliated Game” and does charge their own registration fee of $25. The online payment link will be emailed to you once you are confirmed. Details will be provided to those who receive a “REGISTRATION CONFIRMED” email.

DIVISIONS:

Men’s Amateur A
Men’s Amateur B
Men’s Masters – Age 40-49
Men’s Masters – Age 50+
Men’s Novice
Women’s Open
Women’s Masters – Age 40+

EVENTS:

Turning of the Caber / The Caber Toss
Tossing the Sheaf (16 lbs)
Clach Neart or “Stone of Strength” (16 lb stone)
22 lb Hammer Throw
28 Weight Throw
56 lb Weight Throw
56 lb Weight Toss for Height

For information:

Jason McFarland -

athletics@savannahscottishgames.com

Caber – The most popular “main event” of the Games! There is no standard size for a caber, but there is a rule of thumb that at least half of the Heavy Athletes must be able to turn it. The caber is a wooden log that must be lifted and tossed, then points are awarded based on landing position and rotation. Most cabers are tapered with the smaller end shaved down to allow athletes to get a handle on it. Scoring the caber uses many factors but athletes can score in two methods. The preferred method is to turn the caber completely over (past 90 degrees) and the landing position is scored as if on a clock face — a perfect sore is 12:00. >90 degree turn provides a score based on the angle it lands with turns always scored higher than non-turns.

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Open Stone – A stone put (throwing area that measures 4 feet, 6 inches wide by 7 feet, 6 inches long). The stone must be put with one hand. The stone must remaining against the neck throughout the throw until the release using any throwing style may be used as long as the judges deem safe and follow the rules. Open Stone is very similar to Olympic shot put.

Stone Weights – Men 16-22 lb., Women 8-12 lb.

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Heavy Weight For Distance – A metal weight is thrown with one hand from a throwing area (measures 4 feet, 6 inches wide by 9 feet long). The weight used varies in shape and size — can even be bullet, spherical, or box-shaped. Handles are either attached directly or with a chain.

Implement Weights – Men 56 lb., Women 28 lb., Masters/Novice 42 lb.

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Light Weight For Distance – Lighter version of the Heavy Weight for Distance.

Implement Weights – Men 28 lb., Women 14 lb.

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Heavy Hammer – The hammer has a spherical metal head with either PVC pipe or rattan long handle. Maximum length is 50 in. The hammer must be thrown with no approach with feet in a fixed position. Athletes typically throw their hammer with their back to the field with a release over their shoulder.

Heavy Hammer Weights – Men 22 lb., Women 16 lb.

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Light Hammer – Lighter version of the Heavy Hammer.

Light Hammer Weights – Men 16 lb., Women 12 lb.

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Sheaf Toss – A 16 or 20 lb. burlap bag of hay or twine is tossed with a pitchfork over a bar (standard). Each competitor gets three attempts at each height with the goal being to toss the sheaf the highest.

Sheaf Weights – Pros 20 lb., &Amateur 16 or 20 lb., Masters 16 lb., Women 12 lb.

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Weight for Height or Weight Over Bar – Similar to the sheaf but thrown using one hand.

56 lb. weight