Athletics
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The Utah Scottish Festival and Highland games are proud to sponsor the National Sheaf Toss Competition.
Friday
5pm-8pm
STRONGMAN EVENTS
June 14, 2024 Fri Utah Stones of Strength Strongman (5p-8p). Athlete check in 4pm.​
June 15 2024 Sat Highland Games Sat 9a-4p. Athlete check in 8am. Pros, Amateur Open Men & Women, Masters 40+
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June 16, 2024 Sun Highland Games Sun 9a-4p. Athlete check in 4pm. Men's & Women's A, B, C, Novice, Youth, Masters 50+, 60+
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KIDS GAMES!
June 15, 2024 Sat Kids Games from 10am to 4pm
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It is said that the Highland Games originated way back in the 11th century. King Malcolm III was looking for a personal messenger, and to find the fittest and fastest runner of his kingdom; he held a race to the top of the mountain Craig Choinnich. Scottish clans then began using competitions like this to find the strongest and fastest people to guard the Clan Chieftain.
Clan Chieftains were the heads of each individual clan, so they needed strong guards, warriors and work-people. Taking inspiration from King Malcolm III and his mountain race,
the games evolved into a test not only of strength and stamina, but also of creative dance and music skills to keep kings, queens and clan chiefs entertained.
Caber Toss
A Caber (often mistaken for a phone pole) is a section of a tree that tapers from one end to the other and is probably the most recognizable event of the Heavy Events.
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The athlete will attempt to “pick” or pick up the Caber and balance it straight up and down while holding the small end. Once under balances he will then start to run with the Caber and when sufficient momentum is gained he will attempt to flip the Caber end over end.
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The Caber is not thrown for distance but rather accuracy using the hands of a clock. The athlete’s goal is for the Caber to flip and land straight in line with the direction he was running, a perfect score being a 12 o’clock.
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Cabers of all different sizes are used for the different classes in the games. There are three factors in deciding the difficulty of a caber.
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First is the weight which can range from 50lbs to 150lbs, second is the length which can range from 13’ to 22’ and third is the amount of taper that the caber has.
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The bigger the taper (or weight difference between the bottom and top) the easier the caber will be to flip.
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Braemar Stone
The Braemar Stone is thrown as a standing throw with no approach and a stone weighing up to 28lbs is used.
Open Stone: weighing up to 20lbs, it is thrown with the option of an approach.
Braemar Stone
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12-18lbs – Women’s Masters (40yrs old+), Women’s Amateur and Professional
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22-28lbs – Men’s Masters (40yrs old+), Men’s Lightweight (-200lbs), Men’s Amateur and Professional
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Sheaf Toss
The sheaf toss is a great test of skill and explosive strength. The athlete will use a pitch fork to throw a burlap sack overhead for maximum height. Rules are very similar to the Weight for Height event in that each competitor gets three attempts at each height until he misses all three and is out. Winner is the thrower that clears the greatest height with the least amount of misses.
Weights
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10lbs: Women’s masters (40yrs old+), Women’s Amateur and Professional
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16lbs: Men’s masters (40yrs old+) and Men’s Lightweight (-200)
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20lbs: Men’s Amateur and Professional
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Weight for Distance
This is where the blacksmiths weights come to use. Weight for distance is a weighted ball and chain measuring no more than 18” from handle to ball.
The competitor holding onto the weight with one hand uses a spinning motion inside of a rectangular box called a trig to gain momentum and throws the weight for maximum distance.
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This event is split up into two events using both a heavyweight and lightweight implement.
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Heavyweight for Distance
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21lbs – Women’s Masters (40yrs old+)
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28lbs – Women’s Amateur and Professional
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42lbs – Men’s Masters (40yrs old+) and Men’s Lightweight (-200lbs)
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56lbs – Men’s Amateur and Professional
Lightweight for Distance
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14lbs – Women’s Masters (40yrs old+)
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14lbs – Women’s Amateur and Professional
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28lbs – Men’s Masters (40yrs old+) and Men’s Lightweight (-200lbs)
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28lbs – Men’s Amateur and Professional
Hammer Throw
The Hammer involves a weighted head attached to a PVC handle measuring no more than 50” long. The Hammer is spun overhead multiple times and released so that the Hammer flies behind the athlete for maximum distance.
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Many athletes will attach blades to their boots in order to anchor themselves to the ground and gain more stability for the throw. The Hammers are the furthest thrown of all the events. This event is split up into two events using both a heavyweight and lightweight implement.
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Light Hammer
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12lbs – Women’s Masters (40yrs old+), Women’s Amateur and Professional
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16lbs – Men’s Masters (40yrs old+), Men’s Lightweight (-200lbs), Men’s Amateur and Professional
Heavy Hammer
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16lbs – Women’s Masters (40yrs old+), Women’s Amateur and Professional
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22lbs – Men’s Masters (40yrs old+), Men’s Lightweight (-200lbs), Men’s Amateur and Professional
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Weight for Height
Also known as Weight over Bar, is one of the greatest tests of explosive power in Heavy Events. The implement weights between 21lbs and 56lbs and is thrown with one hand, overhead for maximum height.
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The athlete is given up to three attempts at each height and is still in the competition until he misses three attempts and is scored on the last successful height cleared.
The winner is the athlete that clears the greatest height with the least amount of misses.
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21lbs – Women’s Masters (40yrs old+)
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28lbs – Women’s Amateur and Professional
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42lbs – Men’s Masters (40yrs old+) and Men’s Lightweight (-200lbs)
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56lbs – Men’s Amateur and Professional
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