West Newsmagazine 9-26-18

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September 26, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
I ST. LOUIS SCOTTISH GAMES I 29
t Drive • Chesterfield, MO 63005
Louis Airport and St. Louis Premium Outlets]
9:15 a.m.-4 p.m. Scottish athletics competitions [Athletics Field]
9:15 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Scotch tasting
9:30 a.m. Highland Mist Scottish country dancing [BNCF*]
10:15 a.m. Sheepdog demonstration [BNCF*]
9:30 a.m. Highland dancing competition [Highland Dancing Stage]
10:30 a.m. Plaid to the Bone [Laphroaig Celtic Rock Tent]
11:15 a.m. Children’s foot race [BNCF*]
11:30 a.m. Triflemore [Alex Sutherland Music Tent]
11:30 a.m. Prydein [Laphroaig Celtic Rock Tent]
Noon: Tug-o-war: Police vs. firemen [BNCF*]
12:30 p.m. Parade of Tartans [BNCF*]
1:15 p.m. Sheepdog demonstrations [BNCF*]
1:30 p.m. Peat Fire Flame [Alex Sutherland Music Tent]
1:30 p.m. Plaid to the Bone [Laphroaig Celtic Rock Tent]
2:30 p.m. Triflemore [Alex Sutherland Music Tent]
2:30 p.m. Prydein [Laphroaig Celtic Rock Tent]
3:30 p.m. Farmers walk with Schlafly stones [BNCF*]
3:30 p.m. Plaid to the Bone [Laphroaig Celtic Rock Tent]
3:40 p.m. The Wee Heavies [Alex Sutherland Music Tent]
4:30 p.m. Closing ceremony [BNCF*]
Massed pipe bands
5 p.m. Prydein [Laphroaig Celtic Rock Tent]
6 p.m. Festival ends
*Bill Nicoll Ceremonies Field
‘Heavy athletics’ explained:
Understanding what you’ll see
You’ve likely heard of or seen the shot-put or
hammer throw performed in track and field competitions,
but have you ever wondered where such seemingly
unusual events originated?
Heavy athletics competitions – which encompass
the shot-put, hammer throw and other feats of
strength – have a deep history in Scotland, and they
are still performed today as a way to commemorate
Scottish and Celtic heritage.
Scotland’s Highland warriors used heavy athletics
as a way to build strength and ensure they were
always prepared for battle. They competed among
themselves using everyday items such as a stone, a
blacksmith’s hammer or a tree trunk [caber].
These wartime exercises eventually turned into
regular competitions in which clans would demonstrate
their strength relative to one another.
These are some common heavy athletics events:
Caber Toss: The tosser balances the caber – a long,
heavy wooden log – upright against their shoulder,
with the narrower end cupped in their hands and
the fatter end at the top; they run and toss it. The
objective is for the caber to turn end over end and
fall directly away from the tosser, ideally in the 12
o’clock position. The distance thrown is unimportant.
Hammer Throw: Competitors whirl a wooden
pole with a heavy metal ball on the end – known as
the Scottish Hammer. Not allowed to spin, the athlete
winds the hammer around their head from a stationary
position and releases it. It is thrown for distance.
Stone Put: The Stone Put is similar to the modernday
Shot Put, but a stone is used instead of a steel
ball. The stone is thrown from behind the “trig” or
toe board and is measured for distance. Each competitor
gets three attempts.
Weight for Height/Weight over Bar: One-handed,
the athlete tosses a weight with a handle on it over a
horizontal cross bar. If the weight successfully clears
the bar, the athlete advances to the next round; the bar
is raised each round until only one athlete remains.
The athlete is allowed three tries at each height.
Weight for Distance: One-handed, the athlete
throws a weighted metal block with a handle or chain
attached to it. The athlete spins and, from behind the
“trig” or toe board, releases the weight. It is measured
for distance.
In addition to these traditional heavy athletics
events, here are several other cultural events you can
expect to see at the 2018 Scottish Games:
Torchlight Ceremony/Calling of the Clans:
“Friday evening at dusk, the clans come in lit by
torchlight and fire and they are introduced one by
one,” said Mark Sutherland, the spokesperson for
the Scottish Games. “They march across the field and
their torch will become part of the bigger fire. It’s
kind of like all the clans joining together.”
Parade of Tartans: “All the representatives
from the various clans will be decked out in kilts
with flags,” Sutherland explained. “The Torchlight
Ceremony is one representative from each clan,
and the Parade of Tartans is every member of every
clan that wants to march in the ceremony. It’s a
good chance to see a heck of a lot of tartans and
it’s really fun.”
Sheepdog Demonstrations: Witness real, working
sheepdogs live up to their name as they impressively
show off their skills and herd sheep; both the
sheep and sheepdogs are brought in by a local farmer.
Children’s Foot Race: Kids ages 6 and under can
compete in a one-lap race; 7- and 8-year-olds can
compete in a two-lap race; and 9- and 10-year-olds
can duke it out in a three-lap race. Medals will be
awarded for each race.
Farmers walk with Schlafly Stones: Witness the
ultimate feat of strength as competitors carry hundred-plus
pound stones for a predetermined distance.
Tug o’ War: Police vs. Firefighters: Cheer on your
local first responders as they compete in an exciting
and competitive Tug o’ War contest benefiting The
BackStoppers, Inc.