Scottish heavy athletics
This invitation-only competition features elite athletes from all over Canada and the United States competing in traditional Scottish heavy athletic events.
In 2019, we were proud to welcome women competitors to the Montreal Highland Games for the first time! |
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2019 LIST OF EVENTS
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Putting the stone
This is similar to the shot put competition seen at modern track and field events except that a rock is used in place of the steel ball. The thrower cradles the stone in one hand against the neck until the moment of release. The furthest distance thrown wins the competition. |
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22-pound hammer toss
The Scottish hammer differs from the Olympic hammer in that the shaft is rigid (it is made of rattan, whereas the Olympic hammer is a metal ball on a wire cable). The thrower does not spin around but anchors his or her feet to the ground (there are spikes on the boots) and twirls the hammer backwards over his or her shoulder. |
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56-pound and 28-pound weight toss
The weights used in this event are lead balls on the end of a short chain. The competitor spins around (similar to a discus thrower) and releases the weight; the winner is the one who throws the weight the farthest. The 56-pound weight is also thrown for height. The athlete will stand under a crossbar, swing the weight with one hand between his or her legs and then throw it over the bar—a contest of pure strength. Each contestant will have three tries at each height. |
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Sheaf toss
This event originated with farmers throwing sheaves of hay into the lofts of barns. As this was a common practice for farmers, it was natural that this should become an athletic contest. The "sheaf" used today is a burlap sack stuffed with 16 pounds of straw. The contestant stands slightly in front of the crossbar and tries to toss the sheaf over the bar. The highest toss wins. |
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Caber toss
This is the event most associated with Highland games; unlike other Highland events, competitors are judged by the accuracy of their throws rather than by the distance or height achieved. The caber is a log that is 18 to 22 feet long and weighs approximately 120 pounds. To begin the throw, the officials will raise the caber vertically with the heavy end up and prepare it for the contestant. He or she will then pick up the caber under its end and balance it against the shoulder. Once it is comfortably balanced, the competitor will start to move down the field until the right speed is reached; he or she will then stop, causing the caber to fall forward. When the caber has fallen to just the right angle, the competitor will give it a mighty thrust upward, causing it to flip end over end. The official will follow behind the thrower and determine the accuracy of the shot using the "clock" method: a perfect throw is one where the caber has flipped over and landed at twelve o’clock in relation to the direction of the run. Each contestant has three attempts at this event. |
For information about competing in the Montreal Highland Games athletics events, please contact our athletics director, Chris Johnstone.
