Highland Athletes In Maryland / DC?

**Dale G** · 3rd January 14, 09:24 AM

Anyone in the Maryland / DC region interested in getting together to train and share information from time to time? I am excited that the Athletic Director from one of our local games has graciously invited me to train with him and his son this year and am looking for more who are interested. One of the throwing implement makers (Old Celt) is right here in Maryland also so we could purchase and pick up implements without having to pay big shipping charges. We could train and practice in different locations to limit the burden on everybody. Come on 'Clan Maryland,' lets get together and keep the tradition alive.

**Geoff Withnell** · 3rd January 14, 11:48 AM

I think that's a great idea. Which Games is he AD of, if I may ask? I have been doing strength training for the games this year, and need to start throwing.

**Dale G** · 3rd January 14, 02:22 PM

Hi Geoff:
Good to see another Devil Dog around here. He runs the games in Harford County (northeast to Baltimore County). Im excited to start training with him in February but I would like to get a group of interested athletes together so we can accomodate each others schedules and locations. I think I will be buying some implements so I won't have to rely on anyone else and will be happy to bring them with me where ever I go to train.

**Geoff Withnell** · 3rd January 14, 07:26 PM

Are those the Fairhill Games? Michele and I were there a couple of years ago. I plan on getting some implements myself. Of course, bringing a caber is a good trick! There are a few of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children here at XMARKS.

**Dale G** · 4th January 14, 07:04 AM

These are The McCullough Scottish Games (www.highlandersgames.com). He has been running them since around 2009 I think.

As far as a caber goes, if you have watched the video that Mike and Mindy Pockoski put out (The Contrarian Approach To The Highland Games), they demonstrate how they make their own for training. They buy three 2"x6"x20' boards from Lowes / Home Depot, glue and screw them together, then taper one end with a saw. I might try that.

I also e-mailed a company that makes grave stones and asked if they could cut stones into the shape of a ball at the specific weights for the stone throwing events. Sort of like a shot put. I am waiting for their response. I wonder if that would be allowed? Seems to me it would work better than having oddly shaped stones of varying weights each time.

**Geoff Withnell** · 5th January 14, 03:43 PM

I wasn't familiar with the McCullough Games. Learn something new every day. From what I under stand, from the stone, variation in shape is sort of part of the challenge. The recommendation I got was to go to a landscaping stone yard with a scale, and go through and get a rock with the right weight.