Heavyweight Competitions
A beginners guide
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A STAR ATTRACTION
Highland Games: Showcasing Strength and Tradition.
The Highland Games feature heavyweight athletes competing in various disciplines throughout the day. Originating from the days when clans battled to demonstrate their strength, agility, and speed, these games continue to captivate audiences.
The athletes, vying to prove their mettle, engage in a diverse range of events. To excel, they must cultivate power and strength across all muscle groups—from their feet and legs to their bodies and, ultimately, their arms and fingers. Achieving this peak fitness level requires dedicated training.
Heavyweight Events
Basic Rules
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Each competitor has up to three attempts in each event, with the best of three to count.
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In the interests of safety, the Judge has the right to disqualify any competitor who does not meet the required standard in any of the heavy events.
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In the Hammer, Weight for Distance and Shot Putt events, the weights will be thrown into a marked sector from behind a wooden trig within a netted safety cage. Only throws that land completely within the marked throwing sector shall count and be measured. The touching of any part of the trig, or the line of the trig extended by any part of the competitor's body, shall be a foul throw – whether the weight has been thrown or not.
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In all Heavyweight Events, after normal competition is complete, the winner will be allowed to attempt for a new Ground Record. If successful, they will then be given one more attempt for a new national record.
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All competitors in Heavy Events at RSHGA Members Games must appear and compete whilst wearing a kilt, plain-coloured kilt hose/socks and flashes.
Ball, Shot Put and Burgh Stone
The Ball and Shot Put are beloved events at the Highland Games. In these, competitors throw a heavy stone as far as possible.
The contestant who throws the furthest wins.
The weight of the stone will differ per each competition. Local novices and open heavyweight athletes will have to throw a 16lb ball, while ladies will have to throw an 8.8lb (4kg) ball.
The 22 lb Shot Put is for Heavyweight Athletes.
The Burgh Stone is thrown by Local Novices and Heavyweight Athletes.
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Weight for Distance
Another throwing event is weight for distance.
The weight, 14lb for ladies or 28 lb for local novices and the open heavyweight event, is thrown similarly to a discus. The competitor who throws the greatest distance wins.
Hammer Throw
Athletes wield a hammer made from a metal ball that is attached to a wooden handle. The ball weighs 14lb for ladies or 16 lb for novices and open heavyweight competitors.
Competitors whirl the hammer around their head and then throw it as far as they can. You guessed it the longest distance wins.
Weight for Height,
Weight over the Bar
Competitors are required to launch a weight over a raised bar. A weight with a ring attached is used for this competition. Ladies and Local Novices have a 28lb weight to throw, but the Open Heavyweight athletes have to throw a 56lb weight over the bar. With each successful attempt, the bar is raised higher, eliminating the contestants one by one.
Sheaf Toss
Sheaf Toss, for many years, has been a part of our Highland Games. in this event, competitors throw a 16-pound (7 kg) burlap sack filled with straw over a horizontal bar, located above their heads. Each competitor is given three chances to clear the bar without touching it. As challengers make their attempts, the bar is raised incrementally until all, but one athlete is eliminated.
