"In the year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland, starving and outnumbered,
charged the fields of Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets.
They fought like Scotsmen and they won their freedom. Forever!!"
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New Games
Braveheart Challenge
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Clyde Valley Highland Gathering
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HELENSBURGH & LOMOND Games
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Scottish Music Legends
The Proclaimers
are to attend Inverness Highland Games this year
Sunday 20th July
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World Championship
HIGHLANDER CHALLENGE
Scone Palace 19th & 20th July at 11am
(click eventscotland link below) for more information.
If you are a secretary or contact please check the date for your games and if it is wrong
or you would like something changed please contact: Contact Webmaster
- My Favourite Games A thrower, retired heavy or judge will give an opinion on their favourite games - Lochcarron Games.
- Trying out as a Heavy - How to give the 'Heavy Events' a try. An article by a leading throws coach.
Types of games in Scotland SGA Games, SAL Games and Other Games.
The SGA is responsible for producing an SGA Yearbook, which records all results from the previous year, and gives details of fixtures and contact names for individual Games for the current year. This yearbook is available from SGA Secretary:
Generally, the SGA games allow entry on the field: however, a few require advanced postal entry. You should check beforehand to make sure. You should register as an athlete before competing. (Again contact the SGA secretary)
The amateur games come under the Scottish Athletic Federation or SAF rules. Most amateur games require an entry beforehand.
The SAF games encompass different rules. The throwing areas for Shot and 28lb weight are more restricted. The weights can be thrown with one or two hands. There are fewer throwing events than SGA games; Usually the program will consist of 5 events:- Shot, 28lb weight for distance, 16lb Scots Hammer, 56lb Weight for height and Caber.
The amateur games are open to any SGA registered athletes as well as amateur athletes, the SGA games which have a SAF permit are open to amateur athletes. Any amateur athlete wishing to compete at a SGA games should check this beforehand. A fixture list containing SAF registered games (not always a complete one) is available from the SAF office from March. Tel.:- 0131 317 7320
The Table of Games contains some twenty indendent games (neither SGA or amateur rules). The majority in this category are small games in isolated areas. Most will tend to adhere to SGA rules; sometimes with interesting variations.
A few games are large invitation competitions (Callander and Aviemore) Emphasis is on the heavy events which usually include international competition.
Dates for these smaller games might be best found from tourist information sources. The date of most games can be deduced from this 1997 list. Generally a games committee will use a particular week-end in each year. E.g. Old Meldrum - the third Saturday in June. The table will be updated to 1998 dates as soon as possible
Lochcarron Highland Games by Donald McBain
Lochcarron has one of the most amazing landscapes in the World, who could have mapped into abstraction such an area of outstanding natural beauty that is contained within this area? this is a beautiful land we live in and Lochcarron let's you know it.
The games is a kind of olde world type and if you close your eyes to savour the atmosphere you could open them again having been transferred 500 years back in time. The games is quite small compared to some of the others and is well worth a visit, they have a full itinery of events from the Heavy Events, Track and Field, Tug o' war, the hill race - which incidentally crosses a river, Piping, Highland Dancing, Kids events and even clay pigeon shooting. It is held each year on the third Saturday in July. The games are held in Locharron which is a small fishing village along the shore of Loch Carron.
After the Games take the old drove road to Applecross over Bealach na Bà and experience the sheer ruggedness and beauty of the Applecross Hills. This provides an entertaining trip with hairpin bends and gradients as steep as 1 in 5 in some sections. It is the third highest public road in Britain and reaches over 2000 feet. It is not suitable for learner drivers, coaches, caravans or the faint-hearted! However it is well worth the drive for the stunning views.
The games start in the morning with local events, and as in most games the locals will continue throwing in the open competition which starts at 1pm.
Why do I like Lochcarron? Well who could dislike such a place as this? If you aint been to Lochcarron Games you aint lived!
Lochcarron Games 3rd Saturday in July
An article by leading throws coach John Freeman.
He gives some advice for anyone considering trying out throwing at the games.
I am sometimes asked how I started the throwing events at the Highland Games. Like many heavies in the South of Scotland I started off in other sports and drifted into throwing events. With a few exceptions the heavies from the North of Scotland tend to progress from the 'local' throwing competitions.
There are a number of avenues open to the aspiring thrower, depending on a number of factors such as your locality, training facilities, coaching resources etc.
I've listed the more obvious path into the games below, but first some general advice to the beginner. A kilt is required for Heavy events. Most amatuer games and a few of the S.G.A games require a prepayment entry. Games under both S.G.A and S.A.F rules are subject to random drug testing. You will have to register with the S.G.A if you wish to compete at these games.
1) If you are already involved in throwing shot, discus or wire hammer you might simply wish to turn up and throw. However, it would be prudent to try out some of the smaller games first. The judge has a discretion to preclude throwers below certain standards. Contact us for an indication of the smaller games where it would be more appropriate for novices to throw.
2) Coaching is available through the S.A.F. The S.A.F office 0131 317 7320 could be contacted to find the nearest athletic club. The club should be able to put you in touch with a throws coach. Most throws coaches specialise in a standard athletic event such as shot, however, the coach will certainly be able to give advice on strength training for throws. The S.G.A do not have a formal coaching scheme: many young throwers have been coached by former Heavies. A visit to your local games will be a good starting point to make contact.
3) Local competition is a common means of gaining access to the senior games. Many areas in Scotland have local competition before the main events.
4) Younger age competitions are in place at many games as a means of nurturing young talent. The largest system is the under 25 league in ten leading games in the Grampian Region. Other schemes include an under 20 competition at some North amateur games.