Junior Heavyweights
Junior Heavyweights
Junior male Heavyweights is a key competition at Stirling as it acts as a competition pathway for young athletes looking to progress in this discipline and move on to the main Heavyweight competition circuit in Scotland.
Stirling’s competition hosts up to 6 athletes annually.
WHO IS COMPETING
HEAVYWEIGHT EVENTS
Tossing the Caber
This event has changed little since its inception.
Cabers are tapered and can vary in length and weight for junior competitions.
The object of tossing the caber is to throw the pole directly ahead, landing on the heavy end so that the light end makes a perfect turn over and lands pointing directly in line, away from the thrower.
Points are then awarded on how straight the caber falls with any deviation attracting penalty points.
Throwing the Hammer
Since a Blacksmith’s forge was to be found in almost every glen, it is not surprising that another Highland pastime was Throwing the Hammer.
These days throwing style is strictly controlled.
No turning is allowed and the thrower grasps the handle and swings the hammer three or four times round his head before releasing it behind him.
Whilst the spectators are quite safe, the occasional straying hammer can be a hazard for Judges and wandering Games officials.
Throwing the Weight for Distance
Throwing the 16 lbs weight for Distance is done with a weight and chain, no more than 18″ long with a handle attached.
The thrower must use only one hand and has 9 feet behind the marker to make 3 full turns before releasing the handle and hurling the weight forward.
Competitors are disqualified if they unbalance themselves when throwing and step or fall over the trig.
When properly executed, it is probably the most graceful of the heavyweight events but it has its risks hence “cage” to protect the spectators.
Shot Putt
This was one of the simplest competitions, in that competitors were required to throw large boulders as far as possible.
Needless to say, no two boulders are alike, so some of the success boasted did not quite match up to others.
Nowadays the weight is standardised at 13lbs and a regulation steel ball replaces the rather less predictable stones.