Monterey (CA) Scottish Games

**Yaish** · 7th July 07, 07:16 AM

I will be there Alan. Throwing on Sunday. I'll be wearing a SWL Nightstalker kilt and probably my maroon SAAA shirt from the Vista Games.

**AtagahiKC** · 8th July 07, 08:39 PM

Traffic was horrible from San Jose south (and worse yet northbound on the way home), but I finally got there at 3:00 p.m. today (Sunday). I have been sick all weekend, but felt good enough to go this afternoon.

I tried to spot familiar faces, but didn't see anyone. I even brought my saltire kilt so Panache and Walkerk could satisfy their curiousity about it. Oh well, maybe at the next games or Bay Area Kilt Night.

Sorry that I didn't catch your throwing, Yaish. You were probably there, but I couldn't see the throwers very well from across the field. I forgot what you said that you'd be wearing, so I may have seen you and not known you since we've not met.

I was glad that I went, even if it was short-lived by the time that I arrived.

Who else went?

**Panache** · 9th July 07, 07:30 AM

AtagahiKC,

Sorry to miss yo a second time. I got to the games around 9:15 and had to get going about 15 minutes after you arrived. In attendence were walkerk (and the amazing Madalyne), Yaish, and yours truly. Here is the photographic proof:

I expect that Plesasanton Games will have the full assembly of the Nor Cal Rabble.

The Monterey Highland Games were fairly small, but it was a pleasant venue and a very nice way to spend an afternoon.

It was very nice to meet Yaish and his lovely red haired wife. Often on X Marks the Scot he has given advice and encouragement to people interested in Heavy Atheletics. I watched him on the field I saw that him doing the same with some of the less experienced throwers. He was rather modest about his abilities but watching him throw...well, you'll just have to wait until he posts about his day at the Monterey Highland Games.

Here's a picture of Yaish in action

Cheers

Jamie

**Alan H** · 9th July 07, 08:45 AM

I was packing for backpacking and replacing a kitchen faucet...*sigh*.. Well, it made pointswith the Luminous Joan.

Yaish, so you wear those latex rubber-cotton gloves, too. I've been thinking about trying them out. Right now I go bare-handed for hammer and WOB,but I'm starting to wear an old pair of fingerless sailing glovesfor the WFD's. It helps with the grip and I get fewer callouses.

**Yaish** · 9th July 07, 10:43 AM

Sorry we missed you Alan. I actually brought my chain practice hammer to show you, but I will post pictures of it later.

I wear the latex palmed gloves for Hammer and Caber, everything else I go bare handed. Gloves tend to reduce my grip on any of the weight throws, and of course gloves are prohibited on the stone throws.

I find the gloves to be a much better alternative than the pine tar and tacky other use for grip. For one, I can let go when I WANT to let go, rather than when the tack loses adhesion. Second, I then have clean, non sticky hands for events like the WFD so I dont tear off a callous or wrench a shoulder because I could not let go.
They provide superb grip for the hammer and especially the caber, even more so in inclement weather. A dusty field or a light mist will make the caber slick even with tacky, but the gloves grip all day long.

As for how I did, I actually took FIRST PLACE! I'll be making a picture thread with stills and video of the day some time later, but I did not get home until 1:00 am this morning and I have to go out of town again tonight.
I set a few PR's yesterday and had a really good day throwing all together, so it was a very good trip. Getting to meet Panache and WalkerK was icing on the cake.

**AtagahiKC** · 9th July 07, 10:48 AM

Congratulations, Yaish!

Thanks, Panache. I'm sure I'll be on time at one of the events and meet everyone.

**Alan H** · 9th July 07, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Yaish

Sorry we missed you Alan. I actually brought my chain practice hammer to show you, but I will post pictures of it later.

I wear the latex palmed gloves for Hammer and Caber, everything else I go bare handed. Gloves tend to reduce my grip on any of the weight throws, and of course gloves are prohibited on the stone throws.

I find the gloves to be a much better alternative than the pine tar and tacky other use for grip. For one, I can let go when I WANT to let go, rather than when the tack loses adhesion. Second, I then have clean, non sticky hands for events like the WFD so I dont tear off a callous or wrench a shoulder because I could not let go.
They provide superb grip for the hammer and especially the caber, even more so in inclement weather. A dusty field or a light mist will make the caber slick even with tacky, but the gloves grip all day long.

As for how I did, I actually took FIRST PLACE! I'll be making a picture thread with stills and video of the day some time later, but I did not get home until 1:00 am this morning and I have to go out of town again tonight.
I set a few PR's yesterday and had a really good day throwing all together, so it was a very good trip. Getting to meet Panache and WalkerK was icing on the cake.

I'm gonna have to try these things. I mean, they're all of three bucks.

First Place and PR's? CONGRATULATIONS! Dang, now I REALLY wish I'd been there! You're miles ahead of me, though I think I did make a breakthrough in the hammer in the last practice session with Tim C and two other local guys who gave out some pointers. I'm hoping for 80 feet in the 16 pound hammer, again. I'm also finally doing some footwork drills for the 28 pound WFD, since I"m getting seriously tired of fouling out over the trig.

Because of trying to qualify again for the 08 Singlehanded TransPac, I may not be at Pleasanton, but I am thinking hard of making a long day of it and jetting down to Fresno in September. Maybe we can meet up, there.