The tradition of the athletic competition goes back to the days when rival clans or kings would meet. Some believe competitions were organized to keep down the brawling and “street fighting”, to impress one’s rivals with displays of strength and skill and to gain honor and prestige. The games came to America with the immigrants, but today the competition is between individuals and not clans. Others believe that they are the tests that were required of squires and other recruits before they were tested in battle. Many of the various athletic strength and skill requirements are the same as those that were required to successfully win a battle against a fortified position, whether it was a Roman night camp or a walled city. The event is broken down into five categories:

Weight Toss for Height

The objective is to toss the weight up and over a pole-vault bar. The weight has a ring handle attached so that, using only one hand, the weight may be swung between the knees and tossed over the bar.

Weight Toss for Distance

A ring handle is attached to the weight by a chain for an overall length of 18”. The weight is thrown one-handed from behind a trig with a 9’ run-up allowed. Any style may be used, with the most efficient being to spin like a discus thrower.

Hammer Throw

The original hammer used in Scotland was that used by the men in quarries mining granite. In America, initially it was the heavy, long-handled blacksmith’s hammer. Today the hammerhead is round and made of metal. The handle is made of cane (or PVC pipe) with an overall length of 50”.

Braemar (Standing) Stone Put

The Braemar Stone Put has an ancient and easy to identify history. It was common practice for early Highland Chieftains to have a large stone outside their gatepost and challenges of strength and endurance were easily made to a visiting clan and its “heavy” warriors.

Caber

The tossing of the caber (meaning “pole”, “rafter”, or “tree”) is probably the most famous of the Scottish athletic events. It is one of the most traditional (dating from the 16th century, when it may have begun as a military discipline developed to breach fortifications and barriers.) It is definitely one of the most spectacular events, as it measures strength, balance, timing and accuracy.

History of the Women’s World Championships
By: Ryan Seckman

The Glenmorangie Scottish Gathering and Highland Games has been the only host of the Women’s World Championships of the Scottish athletic events from its humble beginnings in 1992 to present.  This event is comprised of athletes from across the globe.
 
The 1992 results recorded by Rich Doria a member of the Arizona Scottish Athletics Hall of Fame and long time competitor, judge, athletic director and friend to the Highland games had three Female athletes competing along side a group of novice men in a single group throwing together and taking turns between the women’s weights and the men’s.
 
Shannon Hartnett was one of those original three athletes and was a very active athlete in many areas of sport coming from a very successful bodybuilding and weightlifting background in California.  The first event for female throwers was groundbreaking as there were no competitions that I am aware of in the World at that time, and if women did compete they would have to take their chances against men; even throwing the men’s heavier weights.  In 1993 there would be four female athletes, with 1995 being a large growth year for the women’s class having four throwers who would compete as A or top amateurs, and five novice throwers bringing up a new group of competitors with Shannon winning this event as well in the overall score.
 
The Women’s World Championships were to be held at Mesa Community College at the corner of Dobson Road and Southern Avenue and the event would then take off as a “place to be” for athletes and spectators of strength and throwing events.  Paul and Genie Smith were the athletic directors of the event and would lead the athletics competitions for ten straight years also earning them a spot in the Athletics Hall of Fame for all of their hard work and innovation that they brought to the sport and the event.  Shannon Hartnett would win the competitions from 1996 all the way to 2005 a record that will be very difficult to repeat for any athlete.  Shannon has been a true ambassador to the sport traveling around the world representing the sport and in many cases competing against top male athletes and winning many of those competitions.  In the next years we would turn the event from an open event to an invite event for the top ranked throwers in the world and we would be introduced to another long time competitor who would always push Shannon to new heights.  This fresh face is Josee Morneau a true athlete who holds many world titles as an arm wrestler with her latest Las Vegas win in 2010.
 
Since it’s first year, there have been only four champions in the past 15 years including Shannon with 10, Mindy Pockoski of Nevada in 2007, Summer Pierson an Arizona resident winning in 2008, and 2009 and the current world champion, Adriane Blewitt. 
 
In 2010 Adriane and Summer had a great battle for the title and with Adriane coming back and other athletes like Kate Burton, a thrower from the University of Wyoming, Lacy Johnson from Connecticut and some new-comers to the event, it is anticipated to be the strongest competition in our Games’ history.
 
I look forward to having you watch our athletes compete for this elusive title and to showing your support for our athletes and the Women’s World Championships. See you there!