Heavyweight Events
This year, as in years past, we have an excellent group of athletes competing in all the heavyweight divisions (Amateurs, Open Pros., Women, and Masters.) Many of these athletes have achieved "#1" rankings in numerous prestigious competitions around the world and the list of their accomplishments goes on and on.
Sponsors
2024 Scottish Heavy Events World Championships
Day: Saturday, August 3, 2024
Time: 9:00am
Where: Infield
Judge: Neil Lowry
Announcer: Christoph Wand
Events
Braemer Stone (22lbs.)
Weight/Distance (56lbs.)
Weight/Distance (28lbs)
Hammer (22lbs.)
Hammer (16lbs.)
Weight/Height (56lbs.)
Caber (Regulation)
Challenge Caber (This is the final competition and to qualify for this event the athlete must have successfully turned the Regulation Caber at least once.) There is a special award for this event.
Competitors
Aaron Castle — Wenatchee, Washington, USA
Lorne Colthart — Ottawa, Ontario (via Blair Atholl, Scotland)
Damien Fisher — Ferndale, Washington, USA
Jamie Gunn — Halkirk, Scotland
Kyle Lillie — Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Alexander McAra — Victoria, British Columbia
Glenn Nys — Antwerp, Belguim
Vladislav Tulacek — Teplice, Czech Republic
John Van Beuren — Boise, Idaho, USA
Craig Winslow — Dumbarton, Scotland
Open Professional Events
Please note that as we are hosting the 2024 Scottish Heavy Events World Championships this year, there will be no Open Professionals competition.
Masters' Events
Day: Friday, August 2, 2024
Time: 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Where: Infield
Judge: Neil Lowry
Announcer: Christoph Wand
Events
Stone (16 lbs.)
Weight/Distance (42lbs.)
Weight/Distance (28lbs.)
Hammer (16lbs.)
Weight/Height (42lbs.)
Sheaf (16lbs.)
Caber
(Masters will only throw one Hammer.)
2024 Masters Competitors
Jason Baines — Dalkeith, ON
Dave Barron — Tarrytown, NY, USA
Will Barron — Belgrade, Maine, USA
Kevin Fast — Cobourg, ON
Danny Frame — Lawrencetown, NS
Lee Mackinnon — Lancaster, ON
Scott McHugh — Lincoln, NB
Marc Morin — Senneterre, Québec
Adam Ogilvie — Debert, NS
Jamie Peppard — Middleton, NS
Kevin Robinson — Perth-Andover, NB
There will be an optional "Farmer's Walk" following all of Friday's infield competitions. This event will have no bearing on over-all competition results.
Professional Women's Events
Day: Friday, August 2, 2024
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Where: Infield
Judges: Warren Trask
Announcer: Christoph Wand
Events
Stone (12lbs.)
Weight/Distance (28lbs.)
Weight/Distance (14lbs.)
Hammer (16lbs.)
Weight/Height (28lbs.)
Sheaf (10lbs.)
Caber
(Women will only throw one Hammer.)
2024 Professional Women Competitors
Jamie Clark — Calgary, Alberta
Kaitlyn Clark — Perth-Andover, NB
Elizabeth King — Antigonish, NS
Susie Lajoie — Middleton, Nova Scotia (Currently resides in Wainwright, AB)
Lisa MacDonald — Alexandria, ON
Josée Morneau — Winnipeg, Manitoba
Madison Palmer — East Aurora, NY, USA
Morgan Palmer — East Aurora, NY, USA
Adena Robinson — Perth-Andover, NB
Marie-Audrey Ross — Mascouche, Quebec
Alisha Thompson — Miramichi, NB (but lives in Calgary, AB)
Amateur Events
Day: Friday, August 2, 2024
Time: 8:15am - 1:00pm
Where: South Infield
Judge: Neil Lowry
Announcer: Allen Mac Millan
Please note: To compete in the Amateur Heavyweights you need 1 year of experience competing, or have practiced with a person (instructor or Pro) who has competed in a Highland Games.
Events
Stone (22lbs.)
Weight/Distance (56lbs.)
Weight/Distance (28lbs.)
Hammer (22lbs.)
Hammer (16lbs.)
Sheaf (20lbs.)
Weight/Height (56lbs.)
Caber
2024 Amateur Competitors
Liam MacNaughton — Dalkeith, Ont.
Rory Cameron — Green Valley, Ont.
Kyle LaLonde — Alexandria, Ont.
Steven Van den Oetelaar — Alexandria, Ont.
Sean McMillan — Maxville, Ont.
Craig McCormick -—Ashton, Ont.
Alex McCormick — Nepean, Ont.
Jesse Trask — Kitchener, Ont.
Matthew Fast — Cobourg, Ont.
Josh MacTavish — Lost River, PQ.
Adam Lefebvre — Lancaster, Ont.
Intermediate Heavyweight Events
Day: Saturday, August 3, 2024
Time: 8:00am
Where: North Infield
Age Groups: This is for teenagers 13 to 17 years old (male or female).
Events
10 lbs. Sheaf Toss
12 lbs. Hammer Throw
12 lbs. Stone Throw
14 lbs. Weight for Distance
Caber Toss
Contestants are eligible to compete only if they have attended one of the local clinics or have practiced with a person who does highland games heavy events.
For info on clinic dates and /or registering to compete, contact Lisa MacDonald at intermediates@glengarryhighlandgames.com.
Highland attire is encouraged and parental supervision is requested.
Heavyweight Events Terms
All divisions (Master, Open Pro., Women, and Amateur) compete in heavyweight events that are judged by the same rules and regulations. However, the number of events competed in, as well as the size of some of the implements used in these various divisions will differ.
Josée Morneau, Winnipeg, Man., Canada, Womens Division
The Caber
This is the most well known and popular of the heavyweight Scottish events. The competitor must "pick" (pick up) the caber, run, and toss it so it lands straight out from him/her at a 12 o'clock position. The caber is tossed for accuracy, not distance. The judge must "call it" just as the caber hits the ground. A side judge will sometimes be used to determine if the caber rotated through 90 degrees - if not - it's a "Fifer" and not counted. The Caber can be any size, and can range between 18'-26', and weigh from (approximately) 100 lbs. - 150 lbs. Size is important, but so is the athlete's style. The athlete gets three attempts in this and all the heavyweight events. An added feature at some games-Maxville included (and time permitting,) - is an "unofficial event" - The Challenge Caber. This "stick" is bigger than the "official" caber used, and the athlete must qualify to throw it by turning the regulation caber at least once.
Warren Trask, Alma, Ont., Canada, Open Pros. Division
The Stone
This event is much like the more familiar shot put, except a field stone weighing between 16 and 26 lb. is used. It is "put" from behind a "trig"- which is a marker log on the ground - and the athlete may not cross the trig at any time or his/her throw isn't counted. The stone may be "put" either Braemar (standing) or standard style as in regular shot-put fashion. (The stone, weights for distance and hammers are measured to where they hit the ground - and not to where they end up through rolling or bouncing.)
Will Barron, Belgrade, Maine., U.S.A., Masters Division
The Hammers
These weights come in various sizes, and are tossed similarly to the Olympic style. The difference is mostly in the hammer itself - the Scottish hammer is heavier (weighing either 12, 16, or 22 lbs) with the hammer head made of lead, and the handle made of wicker/rattan, which is strong and can flex on impact. The competitor vigorously rotates the hammer to gain momentum, and releases it into the air. The throw is measured for distance to where the hammer hits the ground. Most athletes wear special "hammer boots" - a heavy boot with a long spike (bayonet) at each of the toe-ends - which they dig into the earth to help maintain ground contact during rotation. Again, the athlete must stay behind the trig for this event.There are normally two hammer events - a heavier weight is thrown in the first of the hammer competitions, and then a lighter weight is thrown in the second. Often Masters and Women will throw only one hammer.
Lyndon MacNaughton, Dalkeith, Ont., Canada, Amateurs Division
The Sheaf
This, like many of the events, derives from the farming traditions of Scotland, and grew out of a competition to see who could toss a sheaf of wheat the highest. Today the sheaf is a 16 or 20 lb. bag of twine and burlap, (Women competitors throw a 10lb. sheaf ) and a standard pitch fork is used to toss it over a horizontal bar. Competitors get 3 attempts at each height, and getting the sheaf over the bar even once, lets the athlete move on to the next height. Three misses at a height and you are eliminated. The highest tosser wins and in the event of a tie, the one with the fewest misses throughout this competition wins.
Harvey Barkauskas, London, Ont., Canada, Masters Division
Weight For Distance
There are two events in the weights for distance. A heavier weight is thrown in the first competition, and a lighter weight is thrown in the second. Open Pros. and Amateurs throw a 56 lb. then a 28 lb. weight; Masters throw a 42 lb. then a 28 lb. weight, and the Women throw a 28 lb. then a 14 lb. weight. The athlete spins to gain momentum on the weight, and hurls it as far as possible while maintaining control behind the trig. Measurement, again, is to where the weight hits the ground, and the rules are the same for all.
Jamie Barr, Fife, Scotland, Open Pros. Division
Weight For Height
In this event, the athlete, using only one hand, attempts to heave the weight up and over a horizontal bar. The open Pros. and Amateurs throw a 56 lb. weight; Masters usually throw a 42 lb. weight, and Women in most cases throw a 28 lb. weight. The throw is good (even if the bar is struck by the weight) as long as the weight goes over. As in the sheaf, success in even one attempt means you move on to the next height - failing in all three attempts at a height and the competitor is eliminated. Highest tosser wins, and in a tie the one with fewest misses is the victor.
Contact Information and General Inqueries:
Rod McLeod,
(Open Pros., Masters, Women)
Phone: 613-347-1377
Allen MacMillan,
(Amateurs)
E-mail: mal833790@gmail.com