Heavy Athletics
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HEAVY ATHLETIC EVENTS
In 2024, the athletics events will be held on the northwest Main Lawn, the same location that we have used for several years. The Highland Games competitions will take place throughout the day. For athletics information, contact Sondra Willmann. Heavy Athletics competitions times:
There will be separate divisions for each of the following: Amateur A, Amateur B, Amateur Lightweight, Masters, Senior Masters, Novice, Women and Women Masters divisions. |
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THE CLASSES OF ATHLETES
Professional – The Professional class is the highest level of Scottish Athletics. Prize money is awarded to these competitors according to their placement in the scoring. This class is usually entered by invitation only.
Amateur – If you are a beginner, you want to get into this class. The athletes in this class range from first-timers to experienced throwers who are trying to improve enough to compete with the Professionals. At some Games, there can be up to three different Amateur classes to divide Amateurs of different skill levels.
Master – This class is for throwers of ages 40 and up. The exact range of the age group can vary. Usually, the class is either 40+, 50+ or 60+.
Women – This class is self-explanatory. Sometimes, the Women’s class is also divided up into different skilled classes.
Amateur Lightweight (199 lb. & under) – This class is often used in Games in the Mid-Western U.S. It is an Amateur class in which all of the competitors weigh 199 lb. or less.
Professional – The Professional class is the highest level of Scottish Athletics. Prize money is awarded to these competitors according to their placement in the scoring. This class is usually entered by invitation only.
Amateur – If you are a beginner, you want to get into this class. The athletes in this class range from first-timers to experienced throwers who are trying to improve enough to compete with the Professionals. At some Games, there can be up to three different Amateur classes to divide Amateurs of different skill levels.
Master – This class is for throwers of ages 40 and up. The exact range of the age group can vary. Usually, the class is either 40+, 50+ or 60+.
Women – This class is self-explanatory. Sometimes, the Women’s class is also divided up into different skilled classes.
Amateur Lightweight (199 lb. & under) – This class is often used in Games in the Mid-Western U.S. It is an Amateur class in which all of the competitors weigh 199 lb. or less.
THE EVENTS
The events competed in can vary depending on which Games you are competing in. Each competition may have some or all of the following events. The thrower must compete in all events in a particular competition. Here is a short description of each: NOTE: For the weight throws, stone puts and hammer, a "trig", which is similar to the toe-board used in the shot put, is used at the front of the throwing box that the thrower cannot step beyond.
Weight for Height: With one hand, the weight is thrown over a horizontal bar above the competitor’s head – 28 lb. for women, 56 lb. for men and 42 lb. for Masters. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, he or she is out of the competition.
Caber Toss: A long tapered pine pole or log is stood upright and hoisted by the competitor who balances it vertically holding the smaller end in his hands (see photo above). Then the competitor runs forward attempting to toss it in such a way that it turns end over end with the upper (larger) end striking the ground first. The smaller end that was originally held by the athlete then hits the ground in the 12 o'clock position measured relative to the direction of the run. If successful, the athlete is said to have turned the caber.
Open Stone Put – Similar to the shot put, except a stone is used that weighs usually between 16 and 22 pounds. It is called "open" style because any style of putting is allowed with the spin and glide styles being the most popular. The throwing area is a box 4' 6" wide and 7' 6" long. The thrower must keep one foot inside this area and not step over the back line or inside face of the trig or the throw is a foul.
Braemar Stone Put – This stone put uses a heavier stone usually between 22 and 28 pounds and it must be put from a standing position. The same throwing area and fouls for the open stone apply.
Weight for Distance [56 lb.] – The weight can be either block or spherical shaped with links and a handle. The overall length cannot exceed 18 inches. The weight is thrown with one hand in a throwing area 4' 6" x 9'. The thrower must keep one foot inside this area and not step over the back line or inside face of the trig or the throw is a foul.
Weight for Distance [28 lb.] – Same as the 56 lb. Weight for Distance except a 28 lb. weight is used.
Hammer Throw [22 lb.] – The hammer has a lead or steel head with a bamboo or rattan handle affixed through a hole in the head. The overall length cannot exceed 50 inches. The athlete stands behind the trig with his back to the throwing area, winds the hammer around the head and releases over the shoulder. The athlete's feet must remain in a fixed position until the hammer is released. Boots with blades attached to the front of them are usually worn to keep the feet on the ground and in a fixed position.
Hammer Throw [16 lb.] – Same as the 22 lb. Hammer Throw except a 16 lb. hammer is used.
Caber Toss – The Caber is a tree that has been cut down and trimmed so one end is slightly wider than the other. It can vary length from 16 to 22 feet and between 100 and 180 pounds. The smaller end is rounded so it will be easy to cup in the thrower's hands. The caber is stood up for the thrower with the large end up. The thrower hoists the caber up and cups the small end in his hands. He then takes a short run with the caber and then stops, pulls the caber so that the large end hits the ground and the small end flips over, and faces away from the thrower. The caber is scored for accuracy as though the thrower is facing the 12:00 o’clock position on a clock face. A judge behind the thrower calls how close to the 12:00 position the small end of the caber lands – the 12:00 o’clock position being a perfect toss. If the caber is not turned, a side judge calls the degrees of the angle the caber makes with the ground. Sometimes a Challenge Caber is also used, which is larger than the Games Caber.
Sheaf Toss – The sheaf is a 16 lb. or 20 lb. burlap or plastic bag stuffed with chopped rope, straw or mulch. The sheaf is tossed over a cross bar with a pitchfork. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, he is out of the competition.
For more information about Scottish athletic events, check out the Athletic Events and Rules.
The events competed in can vary depending on which Games you are competing in. Each competition may have some or all of the following events. The thrower must compete in all events in a particular competition. Here is a short description of each: NOTE: For the weight throws, stone puts and hammer, a "trig", which is similar to the toe-board used in the shot put, is used at the front of the throwing box that the thrower cannot step beyond.
Weight for Height: With one hand, the weight is thrown over a horizontal bar above the competitor’s head – 28 lb. for women, 56 lb. for men and 42 lb. for Masters. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, he or she is out of the competition.
Caber Toss: A long tapered pine pole or log is stood upright and hoisted by the competitor who balances it vertically holding the smaller end in his hands (see photo above). Then the competitor runs forward attempting to toss it in such a way that it turns end over end with the upper (larger) end striking the ground first. The smaller end that was originally held by the athlete then hits the ground in the 12 o'clock position measured relative to the direction of the run. If successful, the athlete is said to have turned the caber.
Open Stone Put – Similar to the shot put, except a stone is used that weighs usually between 16 and 22 pounds. It is called "open" style because any style of putting is allowed with the spin and glide styles being the most popular. The throwing area is a box 4' 6" wide and 7' 6" long. The thrower must keep one foot inside this area and not step over the back line or inside face of the trig or the throw is a foul.
Braemar Stone Put – This stone put uses a heavier stone usually between 22 and 28 pounds and it must be put from a standing position. The same throwing area and fouls for the open stone apply.
Weight for Distance [56 lb.] – The weight can be either block or spherical shaped with links and a handle. The overall length cannot exceed 18 inches. The weight is thrown with one hand in a throwing area 4' 6" x 9'. The thrower must keep one foot inside this area and not step over the back line or inside face of the trig or the throw is a foul.
Weight for Distance [28 lb.] – Same as the 56 lb. Weight for Distance except a 28 lb. weight is used.
Hammer Throw [22 lb.] – The hammer has a lead or steel head with a bamboo or rattan handle affixed through a hole in the head. The overall length cannot exceed 50 inches. The athlete stands behind the trig with his back to the throwing area, winds the hammer around the head and releases over the shoulder. The athlete's feet must remain in a fixed position until the hammer is released. Boots with blades attached to the front of them are usually worn to keep the feet on the ground and in a fixed position.
Hammer Throw [16 lb.] – Same as the 22 lb. Hammer Throw except a 16 lb. hammer is used.
Caber Toss – The Caber is a tree that has been cut down and trimmed so one end is slightly wider than the other. It can vary length from 16 to 22 feet and between 100 and 180 pounds. The smaller end is rounded so it will be easy to cup in the thrower's hands. The caber is stood up for the thrower with the large end up. The thrower hoists the caber up and cups the small end in his hands. He then takes a short run with the caber and then stops, pulls the caber so that the large end hits the ground and the small end flips over, and faces away from the thrower. The caber is scored for accuracy as though the thrower is facing the 12:00 o’clock position on a clock face. A judge behind the thrower calls how close to the 12:00 position the small end of the caber lands – the 12:00 o’clock position being a perfect toss. If the caber is not turned, a side judge calls the degrees of the angle the caber makes with the ground. Sometimes a Challenge Caber is also used, which is larger than the Games Caber.
Sheaf Toss – The sheaf is a 16 lb. or 20 lb. burlap or plastic bag stuffed with chopped rope, straw or mulch. The sheaf is tossed over a cross bar with a pitchfork. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, he is out of the competition.
For more information about Scottish athletic events, check out the Athletic Events and Rules.
