MARSDEN – Really big sticks and stones were being thrown around at the Big Manitou Regional Park Aug. 10, where the Scottish Highland Carnage games were being hosted for the first time in the area.
Organizers of this event included competitor Toby Calhum, Karl Hren with Sask Heavy Events and Sue Gray, manager of Big Manitou Regional Park.
Calhum and his partner, Heather Ross, have been seasonal campers at the park for quite some time. Gray was asked by the duo if they could practice with some of their Highland equipment, which led to talking about hosting an event.
“Toby has been camping here for years and has always wanted to put on a competition in the area. He reached out to me, and we worked together to create this event, although he deserves 90 per cent of the credit,” said Hren.
The event brought a total of 14 competitors, three women and 11 men, including Calhum. Calhum, who is from Lloydminster, has been competing in the Highland games for roughly five years. After competing in the Strong Man games, he and a friend slowly transitioned into training for the Highland games.
“I really like the Scottish hammers. I usually throw in around 60 feet so I’m dancing around my personal best right now,” laughed Calhum
Ross, also of Lloydminster, was a first-time competitor at the Saturday event. Ross had been a power lifter for the past four years but had to step away from the sport. Her passion for strength was still yearning, so decided to try the Highland games.
“Toby had done Strong Man and Highland Games, so I kind of followed along and played around a bit,” said Ross.
Athletes were challenged to five different events: stone throw, weight for distance, Scottish hammers, weight over bar and the iconic caber toss.
“There are heavy and light versions of each event, with each class having a different weight they have to throw except for the caber toss,” said Hren.
The weight can vary for the women between eight pounds in the open stone up to 28 pounds in the heavy weight for distance event. In the caber toss, the caber is 15 feet in length with a weight of 40 pounds. The men have heavier weights ranging from 16 lbs up to 56 pounds, with the exception of the 17-foot caber weighing 100 pounds.
In the Highland games, newer athletes are considered amateurs. If they make throws that are far enough and high enough for the national governing body, they can eventually move into the "open" class which is like a semi-pro division.
“For an athlete to become a paid athlete in the professional division, it is done in an invite only, so you have to make a name for yourself as an 'open' thrower. One of the male throwers that came out, Dylan Cameron, did compete at the Canadian Amateur Championship last year, placing fourth,” added Hren.
One aspect of the competition that was unlike any other sport was the support and additional learning done on the spot. Athletes were cheering each other on as personal bests were beaten, new accomplishments were reached and perfect scores were attained.
“There were so many great moments and it's hard to choose the best one. I think a unique and interesting highlight of this particular game was the use of a tractor for one of the events. Considering the events have their origins in farmers and peasants of old Scotland, it just adds a little extra 'je ne sais quoi' to the day,” said Hren.
The day also had support from the Marsden Recreation Board, which Gray is also a part of. The board of six members had some help putting on a concession booth and a beer garden, raising close to $1,000 from the day. Close to 170 spectators came out for the day to support the board and the athletes.
The funds raised by the Marsden Recreation Board go back into the community.
“The projects we try to help with are various seniors’ events, work to our town hall, community gym equipment and hosting yoga classes. We have donated snowshoes, floor hockey equipment, along with raising money for Big Manitou Regional Park’s playground equipment and golf course. If anyone would like to join, they can contact myself, Jeremy La Clare, Kris McGladdery or any board member,” said Gray.
Those who missed out on the Highland Carnage are welcome to attend the upcoming Saskatoon Celtic Festival, held at Crossmount on Sept. 15.
