With temperatures in the mid-90s and heat indices of 110+ degrees, tossing bags of straw, heavy weights, and 20-foot long/120-pound logs make you question someone's sanity. But that's what 16 hardy male and female athletes were doing at the Forgottonia Fling Celtic Games at Argyle Lake State Park, Sept. 4-5.
The event was put together by Ancient Athletics of Springfield, the athletic unit of the St Andrew's Society of Central Illinois, a promotor of ancient Celtic culture. The Society also works to promote and preserve pipes and drum corps, Celtic dancers, and Celtic heritage.
The competition involved nine events, with all of the athletes competing in each event.
Braemer Stone — Standing throw; thrower not allowed any run-up to 'trig' (foot barrier). Women throw 13-18 lb stone; men throw 20-26 lb stone.
Open Stone — Stone is 'put' with one hand with stone resting cradled in neck. Throwers are allowed any preliminary slides or spins while approach the 'trig.' Women 'put' 8-12 lb stone; men 'put' 16-22 lb stone.
Light Weight for Distance — Implement is thrown with one hand using any technique. Women throw 14-lb implement; men throw 28-lb implement.
Heavy Weight for Distance — Same technique as light weight. Women throw 28-lb implement; men thrown 56-lb implement.
Light Hammer — With feet in fixed position, thrower whirls 'hammer' (heavy spherical metal head attached to a rigid, fixed-length shaft) around one's head backward over the shoulder for distance. Women toss 12-lb 'hammer'; men toss 16 'hammer.'
Heavy Hammer — Same technique as light hammer. Women toss 16-lb 'hammer'; men toss 22-lb 'hammer.'
Caber Toss — Objective is to toss the caber (pole) so that it turns end-over-end and falls away from tosser, ideally with caber falling in 12 o'clock position. Distance thrown is unimportant.
Women toss a 14 to 18-foot, 45 to 90-lb caber; men toss an 18 to 22-foot, 65 to 140-lb caber.
Heavy Weight Over Bar — Implement is tossed with one-hand over a bar that is raised after each successful toss. Athletes get three attempts with the greatest height winning. Women toss a 28-lb implement; men toss a 56-lb implement.
Shear Toss — Throwers toss a bundle of straw wrapped in a burlap bag vertically over a bar with a three-tine pitch fork.
Women toss a 10-lb shear; men toss a 16-lb shear.
One of the competitors was Candace Gittings of Macomb, who was sponsored by the YMCA of McDonough County. She was busy Friday afternoon practicing her technique in the 'Shear Toss.' She was using a three-tine pitch fork to toss a burlap-wrapped bundle of straw over a bar set at 15 feet, well below her personal best. She's been competing for only a year. After several years of weight-lifting and body building, she saw a video of highland games and got the bug.
Competitors at the September 5 Labor Day event were grouped into two clans — Scotland and Ireland.
These 'clan members' then cycle through nine stations with the objective of getting the lowest score at each station. First place is awarded 1point; second place, 2 points; etc. Every team member competes in all nine stations. In addition, awards are presented to those with the best score at each station.
For more information, contact St Andrew's Society of Central Illinois, PO Box 5352, Springfield IL 62707 or at ww.ancientathletics.com.
Daughter and mother Cadence Gittings (left) and Nicole Weaver (right) competed against each other.
Braemer stone toss female
Braemer stone toss male
Cadence Gittings shear toss
