Lil' Highlander Games

Schedule

Sat Oct 09 2021 at 11:00 am to 03:00 pm

Location

Lyon College | Batesville, AR

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Join us for the Children's Highland Games at this year's Scottish Festival! Child-sized versions of the Caber Toss, Hammer Throw, Sheaf Toss, and sprints will be held, with prizes! No cost + a bounce house!
CABER TOSS
Probably the most famous of all the heavy events, the Caber Toss dates back to the 16thcentury, where there are references to “ye casting of ye Bar.” This event is also one of the most misunderstood. Distance has no bearing on the outcome of the event. The object of the contest is to toss the Caber end‐over‐end so that the small tapered end falls directly away from the contestant. A long tapered log is stood upright and hoisted by the competitor who balances it vertically holding the smaller end in his hands. Then the competitor runs forward attempting to toss it in such a way that it turns end over end with first, the upper (larger) end striking the ground and then the smaller end, originally held by the athlete, following through and in turn striking the ground in the 12 o’clock position measured relative to the direction of the run. If successful, the athlete is said to have turned the caber. Cabers vary greatly in length, weight, taper, and balance, all of which affect the degree of difficulty in making a successful toss. Competitors are judged on how closely their throws approximate the ideal 12 o’clock toss on an imaginary clock. For the Wee version of this event, the athlete will be able to aim the caber at an actual image of a clock with the "score" calculated based on the distance to Midnight.

SCOTTISH HAMMER THROW
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name “hammer throw” is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown. Such competitions are still part of the Scottish Highland Games, where the implement used is a steel or lead weight at the end of a cane handle. With the feet in a fixed position, the hammer is whirled about one’s head and thrown for distance over the shoulder. Then they apply force and pick up speed by completing one to four turns in the circle. In competition, most throwers turn three or four times. The ball moves in a circular path, gradually increasing in velocity with each turn with the high point of the ball toward the sector and the low point at the back of the circle. The thrower releases the ball from the front of the circle. The two most important factors for a long throw are the angle of release and the speed of the ball. Each athlete gets two attempts, with the best throw being scored.
For our wee laddies and lassies, we continue our play on words and the weighted ball is replaced with a foam and canvas cover hammer. We do not ask they spin for safety of all, but the goal remains distance within a confined area.

SHEEP (play on word SHEAF) TOSS
The origins of this event obviously lie in the agricultural regions of Scotland. In the traditional event, a 20 pound sheaf of hay enclosed in a burlap bag is tossed with a three tined pitch fork over a bar. For our wee laddies and lassies, the pitchfork is replaced with a plastic pitch shovel and the bale of hay is replaced with a pillow that fits into shovel. Each competitor will start at an age‐determined level and be allowed continued attempts until he or she fails to toss the sheaf over the bar.

KILTED SPRINTS & RELAYS
We will encourage athleticism and healthiness, with some fun themed relay races and sprints.
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Where is it happening?

Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd, Batesville, AR 72501, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Arkansas Scottish Festival

Host or Publisher Arkansas Scottish Festival

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