Highland Games
Irish strength
To participate in the Highland Games, please contact Greg Johnson at sorenblades@gmail.com or Mark McVey at markjmcvey@yahoo.com.
Come watch the competitors practice on Friday evening. On Saturday morning the competition starts and runs until around 4 PM.
Caber toss — This event is what many people associate with the Highland Games. A long tapered wooden pole is balanced vertically on one end. He then runs forward and attempts to toss the pole end over end and land facing directly away. Cabers vary greatly in length, weight, taper and balance, all of which affect the degree of difficulty in making a successful toss.
Irish hurling – is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic Irish origin, played by men. One of Ireland’s native Gaelic games, it shares a number of features with Gaelic football, such as the field and goals, the number of players and much terminology.
Sheaf toss — A bundle of straw (the sheaf) weighing 20 pounds (9 kg) for the men or 10 pounds (4.5 kg) for the women and wrapped in a burlap bag is tossed vertically with a pitchfork over a raised bar (like that used in pole vaulting).
Stone put — Similar to the modern-day shot put, however, instead of a steel shot, a large stone of variable weight is often used.
Scottish hammer throw — This event is similar to the hammer throw as seen in modern-day track and field competitions. In the Scottish event, a round metal ball (weighing 16 or 22 lb for the men or 12 or 16 lb for women) is attached to the end of a wooden or other solid material shaft, about 4 feet in length.
Weight throw — This event is also known as the weight for distance event. The weights are made of metal and have a handle either directly attached to the weight or attached to the weight by a chain. The weight is thrown using any technique but with only one hand.
Weight over the bar — This event is also known as weight for height. The athletes attempt to toss a 56 pound (4 stone) weight with an attached handle over a horizontal bar using only one hand.
Check out other Highland Games events around Iowa here at the Iowa Highland Games Website
The Highland Games are sponsored by:
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