Queen Mary Athletics

[Yaish]

I'm cribbing this post from another I did for another message board. I know most of you already understand the way it works, but I'm not going to retype the whole thing. Enjoy!

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This past weekend kicked off the Highland Games season in California. The first game of the year, held in the shadow of the famous Queen Mary passenger liner in Long Beach, California.

This year I moved up to the "B" class. Highland Games usually have four (or five) classes of athletes. At the top level there are the Pro's, these guys actually travel around the world and compete for prize money, get sponsorships, etc... It's pretty much a full time job for them.
Below that there is the "A" class, dedicated and talented amateurs who just cannot devote the time and effort to step to the professional level.
Below them is the "B" class, mainly athletes who have some skill and talent, but are still working on their techniques and power.
The lowest of the normal classes is the "C" class, which is primarily a learning class, where budding throwers go to hone their skills and learn the game.
There is also a Masters class for those over 40 (and 50, and even a 60+ division)

The last two years I competed as a "C". During that time I steadily improved, perfected my form, and practiced the techniques. Towards the latter half of the season I saw my scores rise dramatically and won several competitions, and placed highly in almost all of them. Time to step up.

This year marked my first competition as a "B" and I not only held my own, I actually took 3rd place in my class. I took 5 individual event medals and also won a "fun" event called the Idiot Stone. (it weighs 100 lbs. You're an idiot for trying this)

Here I am at the Weight for Distance. A 56 lb weight is thrown for distance using only one hand. We also compete in a light version of this event using a 28 lb weight.


This is the Weight Over Bar. Another 56 lb weight is thrown, this time over and behind your head. It has to clear a bar that is raised to various heights. You have three attempts at each height to pass.
The bar here is set at 11 feet. Yes, I cleared it on the first throw too.


This event is one of my favorites. The Sheaf Toss (mistakenly called "sheep" toss often enough) replicates tossing a bale of hay. Thrown with a pitchfork, again the object is to clear a bar overhead. I'm not sure what the bar is set for in the video clip, but I cleared 18 feet. The bag weighs 20 lbs.



There were also two stone putting events, a heavy and light hammer throwing event, and the caber toss however I don't have pictures from those.
I do have some video from the Challenge Stone. Three attempts were made, you threw the stone any style for distance. You were allowed a 15 foot run-up and had to throw. This is my first throw which went 11'8". That mark held for the first round until someone threw a 12'8". I matched their throw with my second, but fouled on the throw so it didn't count.
Fortunately on my third attempt I threw a 13'1" to take back the lead and win the event.


(P.S. - That's the wife shouting encouragement.)

[James MacMillan]

OooooooooooooooRahhhhhhhhhh

[SFCRick]

good job

[BoldHighlander]

Nice job!

[GMan]

Fantastic!!!!

[Macman]

Good for you! Thanks for the pictures. That's quite the background, and the weather looks great. You're doing really well at this, Yaish!

[Yaish]

Thanks all.

Had my wife been standing a little to the left, she would have had the boat in the background. The QM is definitely one of my favorite games for that reason alone.

[Monkey@Arms]

Congrats! I've heard of the sheath toss, but never seen it before, and the challenge stone is a new one to me.

Best regards,

Jake

[Panache]

Well done Yaish! An excellent way to start your season as a "B" , who knows perhaps this will be your only season as a "B" before moving up.

...I took 5 individual event medals and also won a "fun" event called the Idiot Stone. (it weighs 100 lbs. You're an idiot for trying this)

This is obviously a definition of "fun" that I was not previously aware of.

Cheers

Jamie

[Yaish]

No kidding. The idiot stone is my favorite event though, even though it isn't a traditional event and doesn't count for score.

It's also opened up to the public to try (after they sign a waiver). One guy probably weighed less than the stone. He tried his best to pick it up, but just no go. One of the athletes lifted the stone for him and transfered it over to him. I think he managed to throw it about three feet.