THE CALEDONIAN GAMES
World Heavy Events Championship Set for Pleasanton

By Floyd P. Busby

FC Gold Pride

Pleasanton will be the site of the International Highland Games Federation World Championships this year. The IHGF will host 10 of the world's top "heavy event" athletes from four countries.

This is the second round of the IHGF World Highland Games Super Series and is in partnership with the 145th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games, held on Sept. 4 and 5 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton.

Steve Conway, athletic chairman for the host Caledonian Club of San Francisco organization and one of the world's top Highland Games judges, said 2010 promises to be an exciting year for the CCSF's 145th annual games: "We are proud to be selected as one of the host games for the new IHGF Pro World Series," Conway said. "Pleasanton will also be the site of the IHGF World Caber Championships and the IHGF World Weight for Height Championships. These championships will be held in conjunction with the 36th annual U.S. Invitational Heavy Events Championships."

In keeping with these various championships, a number of the world's best Highland Games athletes have been invited. They include:

  • Aaron Neighbor, Australia: Current IHGF world champion
  • Craig Sinclair, Scotland: Previous Scottish Champion
  • Hans Llokema, Holland: Top Holland thrower
  • Ryan Vierra, USA: five-time world champion
  • Sean Betz, USA: current U.S. Invitational champion
  • Harrison Bailey III, USA: former American champion
  • Larry Brock, USA: former American champion
  • Daniel McKim, USA: former U.S. Amateur champion
  • Mike Zolkiewicz, USA: current World Weight for Height champion
  • Mike Pockoski, U.S.A.: 7-Time Division 3 All American - Hammer/Discus

"The Caledonian Club of San Francisco would like to take this opportunity to thank the IHGF and its principals, David Webster OBE, Francis Brebner and Ryan Vierra, for presenting us with the opportunity to stage these prestigious events at our 145th annual event," said Conway.

The action-filled weekend will also include the Men's Open Amateur Class, two Women's Open Classes and two Men's Master Classes in the 36th annual U.S. Heavy Events Championships. Each competitor must perform in all eight heavy event disciplines that are held both days of the competition.

Held on the athletic field from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. both days are six of the eight events: 28-lb. and 56-lb. Weight for Distance, 17.6-lb. Regular Stone Putt, 26.6-lb. Braemar Stone Putt, and 16-lb. and 22-lb. Hammer.

Held on the track in front of the covered grandstands beginning at 1 p.m. are the 56-lb. Weight for Height in both the standing and spinning methods, and the tossing of the Caber. The fabled ancient Scottish Caber is utilized in several weights and lengths. The heaviest and longest is thrown by the Pro Division at a weight of 140 pounds and a length of 22 feet. This monster pole must be lifted vertically from the ground with the bottom cupped in the athlete's hands. The tapered caber is quickly lifted off the ground. Upon stabilizing the top-heavy caber, the athlete begins to run forward and at the optimum time hurl his arms upward, projecting the caber into the air in a turning motion.

The object is to turn the caber 180 degrees and have it fall forward to the ground. If the lay of the caber is straight ahead at 12 o'clock, the athlete has performed a perfect turn. A lay to the right or left is scored as 1 or 2 o'clock or 11 or 10 o'clock, depending upon the lay.

All competitors will be vying for victory in their respective classes both days, with the IHGF World Highland Games Super Series taking place Sunday afternoon in the grandstand area to crown the world champions in the Weight for Height and Caber.

There will be six classes of competition at Pleasanton, all of which are recognized as the U.S. Championships.

  • Men's Professional Class
  • Men's Open Amateur Class
  • Women's Open Class
  • Women's Master Class
  • Men's Masters 40-49 Class
  • Men's Masters 50+ Class

Events

In addition to the World Championship Caber event, the Pleasanton round includes the World Championship Weight for Height — Standing and Spinning. The Weight for Height is a block or ball weight to which a ring handle is attached. It has a total weight of 28, 42 or 56 lbs., depending on the class of the thrower. The objective is to throw the weight up and over a bar similar to that used in pole vaulting. The competitor is allowed to use only one hand. The starting height of the bar is the lowest requested by the athletes.

Competitors may pass until the bar reaches the height where they wish to enter the competition. Once they start to throw, they must compete each time the bar is raised. Each competitor is allowed three attempts to clear the bar at each height. If the weight touches the bar on its way over, but does not dislodge the bar, it is considered a successful throw. If two or more competitors fail at the same height, then the one with fewer misses at the previous height is considered the winner.

The Spin for Height seems to have settled in as a regular part of the competition and will be seen in the Sunday U.S. championship. In this event you will see the throwers spinning up to — rather than standing under — the bar and releasing for attempts at higher throws than with the older technique.

Additional events contested in the 36th U.S. Invitational Heavy Events Championship include:

Scottish Hammer: The overall length is 50 feet and the weight is either 12 lbs. (women's light), 16 lbs. (men's light/women's heavy), or 22 lbs. (men's heavy.) The hammer is thrown standing style, with the throwers facing away from the throwing area. Throwers usually take the hammer three times around their heads before releasing it. First, they make sure their feet are firmly planted on the ground, sometimes using blades dug in the ground. Under Scottish rules, their feet must not move until after the hammer is released. The number of throws, measurements and foul rules are the same as the Weights for Distance.

Weight for Distance: The weights are of metal with a chain and a ring handle attached. The implement, including the handle, is 18 feet in overall length. The range of weights covers light and heavy weights for women, men and masters classes. The weight is thrown one-handed from behind the same trig as in Putting the Stone, but with a 9-foot run-up allowed. Any style may be used, but the most efficient is to spin like a discus thrower. Touching the top of the trig or any other part of the ground beyond the trig is a foul, whether the weight has been thrown or not. The competitor must still be standing after throwing the weight! Number of throws and measurements is the same for the Stone Putts.

Putting the Stone — Regular Style: This event is the same as the Olympic shot put except that a smooth, rounded stone weighing just over 17 lbs for the men and 11.6 lbs. for the women is used. The stone is delivered from behind a 6-feet-high-by-4½-feet-long "trig" (toeboard) and must be put from in front of the shoulder using one hand only. The throwing area allows a 7½-feet run-up and each competitor is allowed three attempts — the best one to count. Measurement is made from the point on the trig where the throw is made to the nearest break in the ground where the stone lands. Touching the top of the trig, or the ground beyond the trig, is a foul.

Putting the Stone — Braemar or Standing Style: This event is similar to the Regular Style except that a 26.6 lb. (16 lb. for women) stone is used and no run-up is allowed. The number of attempts, measurements and fouls are the same as the Regular Style.

And much more … The Games in Pleasanton are among the largest in the world. Celebrating its 145th consecutive Gathering and Games, the venue includes more than 30 pipe bands from the U.S. and Canada as well as the U.S. Marine Band San Diego. The Western U.S. Highland Dancing Championships and six stages of traditional Scottish and Celtic Rock, including the USA's Tempest; from Australia, Brother; and from Scotland, Albannach.

Nearly 100 clans are represented in the Gathering of the Clans Area. Living history unfolds with re-enactments of life and events from Scotland's past, including Mary Queen of Scots, Highland Warriors, Roman Legions and invading Vikings!

Other venues include Five-A-Side Soccer, Rugby and Shinty, Birds of Prey, Sheep Dog Trials and Clydesdales, British Motor Car Cavalcade, more than 100 vendors, plus British and American food and drink, as well as the Whisky Tasting Seminars, and much more!

Pricing: Advance Sale: adult 1-day $15, adult two-day $22, senior 65-plus,youth 12-17 and handicapped $10. Gate prices: adult 1-day $18, adult 2-day $27, senior 65-plus, youth 12-17 and handicapped $12. Kids 11 and under free. Military with active duty ID free. For more information, visit www.TheScottishGames.com.