Scottish Sporting Events Highlight Endurance, Skill, and Strength

Scots have traditionally placed great emphasis on both strength and endurance in athletic events. There are two main classifications that participants compete in; namely, heavy athletic events and light athletic events.

The heavy athletic events are some of the better-known ones and are often the events that come to mind when Highland Games are mentioned. Of these events, caber turning (or tossing) is the one that receives the most recognition and is most readily associated with Scots heritage. Although it is commonly called the “caber toss,” this event has less to do with tossing and much more to do with technique.

In the event, the caber, a tapered log, is placed upright with the heavy end in the air. The athlete must then lift the caber and “turn” it, meaning that the small end must end facing away from the participant. Points are awarded based on the final position of the caber in relation to the athlete. If it is at a 12 o’clock position (lying in a straight line with the athlete), the maximum number of points is awarded. Less points are awarded for other positions.

Also involved in the games are the heavy weight toss, the hammer throw, sheaf tossing, and stone throwing. In both the heavy weight and sheaf toss, the implements must be thrown over a horizontal bar that continues to be raised incrementally as the games proceed. Participants whose throws do not clear the bar are eliminated. The heavy weights are usually 28 pounds and 56 pounds in the men’s competitions, while the sheaf weighs 16 or 20 pounds. The sheaf is tossed using a three-tined pitchfork.

The two throwing events, the hammer throw and stone throw, have similarities to the Olympic events that now exist of the same name. However, the hammer throw has remained much truer to its roots. The implement thrown is basically a sledgehammer with a spherical head instead of a ball attached to a wire. The athlete also must throw from a stand instead of taking three or four turns as is done in the track and field competitions. The hammer can be either 16 or 22 pounds in the men’s competitions, and it cannot exceed 4’6” in length.

The stone throw (also known as stone put or clachneart) is almost identical to the shot put. The athlete must throw the 16-22 pound stone without using overhand, underhand, or two-handed techniques. In this event, the athlete can spin to gain momentum.

Light athletic events include long runs, sprints, and highland dancing.

A number of local athletes have achieved success at the Games. Joe Welliver, formerly of nearby Banner Elk and Avery County High School grad who currently resides in Wilmington, NC, was named Outstanding Amateur "A" Class Scottish Heavy Athlete in 2008 after finishing first in his division in the Sheaf Toss, 28-lb. Hammer Throw for Distance, 22-lb. Hammer Throw for Distance, and 56-lb.Weight Throw for Distance, as well as second place in the Clachneart and fourth in the 56-lb. Weight Throw for Distance.

“Competing and winning the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games was a great experience. I had been to several in my life and used to work on the mountain as well, and being apart of the spectacle was a great feeling,” Welliver said of his involvement in the Games. “The best part is the huge crowds when they are cheering you on. What may be even cooler is when you miss a height and you can hear thousands sigh all at once because they were all watching you. It was also a way for me to get to see some old friends and allow my family to see me compete in Avery County.”

One of the best examples of this type of event in this year’s Highland Games is “The Bear.” This race to the top of Grandfather Mountain is an almost-constant uphill battle for five miles. Only athletes in supreme condition can finish the race running the entire way.

Mary Chesnut Smith, a rising senior at local Avery County High School, has excelled in many of the field events. Smith was named Outstanding Women’s Athlete at the 2009 Games, where she finished in first place in the 880-yard dash and the two-mile run, with third place finishes in the women’s long jump and in the one mile run, the latter an event that fielded both male and female competitors.

Smith regularly competes in The Bear, inspired at a young age by watching her older brother participate in the event. Participation at the Games has been a family affair through the years, as her family has competed in relay races. Mary’s older sister Katherine and older brother Nathaniel have regularly participated in track and field events in previous Games from a young age.

“Winning the female outstanding athlete last year was a surprise,” Smith said. “Competing up at the Games is fun, and it’s not as serious as the regular track meets and competitions in school. The Bear is hard, but I like the challenge of running it.”

The only event that may be as grueling as “The Bear” in the Grandfather Mountain games is the 26.2 mile marathon. It has gained a reputation as America’s toughest marathon. That reputation comes from the all-uphill 13-mile stretch to end the race.

Of course, sprints are open to more discerning athletes that would rather not punish themselves with “The Bear.” Sprints of 100 yards, 220 yards, and 440 yards are offered along with the 880-yard run, one-mile run, and two-mile run.

In addition, there are also jumping events such as the long jump, high jump, triple jump, and pole vault.

For the serious athlete, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games offers a stern test of body, mind, and will.