Glasgow Highland Games

Highland Games 2000

Glasgow, KY

Publication Date: May 2000

Each spring, Barren River Lake State Resort Park plays host to people of Scottish descent, who travel from all parts of the United States, Canada, Scotland and beyond to attend the Glasgow Highland Games. In their fifteenth year, friends continue to come back to enjoy one of the finest Scottish/Celtic weekends to be found anywhere. The nationally acclaimed Seven Nations band will open the 2000 Games Thursday, June 1, with the most fabulous beach concert ever presented at Barren River State Park. Saturday and Sunday visitors will enjoy a full menu of Scottish athletics, food, dancing, music, and armored reenactment battles. Attend the Ceilidh (kay-lee) with its' wonderful Kentucky barbecue dinner and Celtic music, or the Highland Bash for an evening of dancing, food and music.

This annual event is not only a gathering for families of Scottish heritage from all over the country, but also is one of 150 different games held that lead athletes to the Scottish Games World Championships. Tradition has it that the first Games of this type were begun by Scottish King Malcolm Canmore around 1060 as a way to give his soldiers martial exercise. The Glasgow Highland Games has always placed strong emphasis on athletic competition, and has received international recognition by being chosen to host the World Scottish Gathering in 2001.

There are six athletic events in which professionals and amateurs compete in the Scottish Games. Each competitor is assigned points according to his placement in each event. After the competition of all the athletic events, the athlete with the best overall combined performances is named "Athlete of the Day." Professional athletes are awarded money, while amateur athletes are awarded medals. These guidelines for the Scottish heptathlon are provided by Southeast Scottish Amateur Athletics Inc.

Clan and society activities are an important part of the Glasgow Highland Games. Come for the weekend and enjoy dancing, games, food & music, while renewing old friendships or starting new ones. Visit one of the eighty-plus Clan Societies and find out more about your family tree, or chat with other interesting people. In short - dawn your kilt, if you have one, and come and have fun! The Glasgow Highland Games welcomes ye!

Sheaf Toss

Using the three-tined pitchfork, the athletes hurl a 16 pound burlap bag stuffed with straw over a horizontal bar raised between two standards. Each competitor is given three opportunities to clear the bar. After all attempts, the bar is raised in one to two foot increments. The continually rising bar reduces the field of athletes as competition continues until all but one competitor is eliminated.

The Clachneart

This ancient event is similar to the modern day shotput, using a stone approximately 16 to 28 pounds instead of a steel ball. The stone must be put from the shoulder using one hand only. Each competitor is allowed a seven-and-a-half foot run-up to the toe-board or trig (line on the ground). The contestants are judged on the longest of three tosses.

28-56 Pound Throw

Using metal weights with a chain or handle attached, the athletes throw for distance. The weight is thrown one-handed from behind the trig with a nine-foot run-up allowed. Any style may be used, but the most popular and efficient is to spin like a discus thrower. The contestants are judged on the longest of three tosses.

The Hammer

A round metal hammer head weighing 16-22 pounds with a cane shaft is thrown for distance. The athlete throws the hammer with his back to the trig and the throwing area. The competitor's feet may not move until after he releases the hammer. Some athletes use special "spiked" shoes to anchor themselves to the ground during the throw. Each athlete gets three throws with the hammer and is judged by his best distance.

56 Pound Weight Toss

Tossing a 56 pound weight with attached handle over a horizontal bar raised between two standards for distance. The starting height of competition is the lowest agreed upon by the competitors. Once an athlete enters the competition, he must compete every time the bar is raised. Using only one hand, each athlete is allowed three attempts to clear the bar at each height. If the weight touches the bar on its way over but doesn't dislodge it, it remains a successful toss. As the bar is raised, the field of competitors is reduced. This event continues until all but one competitor is eliminated.

The Cabber Toss

The centerpiece of the modern Highland Games, the caber requires strength, balance and timing. The caber is a tapered log approximately 19 feet long and weighing 100-130 pounds. The athlete hoists the caber and folds his hands under the end while cradling it against his shoulder. Gaining the balance of the upright caber, the competitor runs briefly with it to gather momentum for the toss. Followed by field judges, the competitor heaves the caber up and over to ground its heavy end and lets it fall forward. If the caber is "turned," the field judge ascribes a "score" to the toss based on the caber's final position relative to the face of a giant clock. For example, if the grounded caber falls straight forward away from the moving athlete, it will land in the twelve-o'clock position and the judge will award a perfect score of 12:00. If it falls slightly to the right or left, it may receive a score of 2:00 or 11:30, etc. A caber that is not "turned" but grounded and falls back is ascribed a score for the degree angle it rose from the ground.