Let the GAMES begin! Attend the Scottish Highland Games
by HOLLY BOWNE
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iceps bulge and calves strain as a brawny man sporting a kilt whirls a metal ball attached to a long, wooden handle overhead. He lets go and the ball flies through the air, landing with a thud down the field. This is the Scottish hammer throw, one of the traditional heavy events in the Scottish Highland Games. The Highland games date back nearly a thousand years, when chieftains would gather their clansmen and hold competitions to select their best fighters and fastest couriers. Today, more than 80 Highland games take place throughout Scotland from May to September. They include soul-stirring music and dance performances, and fierce battles of strength, speed and the fighting arts. Each gathering incorporates time-honored events such as the hammer throw, tug o’ war, stone put, weight throw and iconic caber toss – where competitors try tossing a full-length 175-lb. larch tree log so that it lands in a perfect 12 o’clock position. Yet the gatherings are also decidedly distinct from one another, reflecting the unique heritage of their locations. Here’s a look at what makes a few of these Scottish Highland Games so special.
Tug o' War
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ACT: The Seann Tribuhas dance tells the story of the Highlander’s desire to shake off the hated “Sassenach” trousers that Scots were forced to wear when the kilt was prohibited after the 1745 Jacobite rebellion.
BRAEMAR Gathering BIRNAM Highland Games In addition to traditional events, anyone over 18 can register in advance for the Birnam Highland Games’ quirky World Championship Haggis Eating Competition. Haggis is one of Scotland’s most popular dishes: a savory pudding made from meat, oatmeal, and spices. Competitors race to consume a pound of it in the quickest amount of time. Highland games competitions continue throughout the day. So, for a tranquil break you can stroll along the sparkling River Tay, or consider visiting the nearby Beatrix Potter Exhibition and Garden.
In the quaint village of Braemar, population 400, the Braemar Gathering takes place amid the breathtaking Cairngorm Mountains. Awarded royal patronage by Queen Victoria in 1848, the gathering is still regularly attended by the reigning monarch. Her Majesty The Queen has attended since she was seven years old. Along with traditional events, the hotly contested Morrone hill race is not to be missed. The race spans approximately three miles and climbs 1,200 feet to five cairns visible on the horizon. After completing the brutal climb, runners race back down to complete a lap around the arena, mud-spattered legs flying as they finish opposite the Royal Pavilion.
Hammer Throw
Her Majesty The Queen
78 ENSEMBLE VACATIONS WINTER 2020
