Roger Saunders 2013 Season Log

[Alan H]

SOMEONE got himself the masters sheaf field record at Ardenwood this weekend!

[RogerWS76]

Well, I have been remiss about reporting here. It is too far past the Ardenwood games to go into much detail BUT I must say this. These were some of the finest run games I have ever thrown in. Everything went off well and kept moving and for theses old bones motion is lotion adn when there istoo much sitting around it can take you down faster than a hit from Dick Butkus!!! WE jsut ahd a REALLy FUN day and a great day with great people and so I really want to thank Alan for all of his hard work in doing that. Yesterday a pretty accomplished thrower asked me about the Ardenwood games and because it had been smaller he asked if it was a real games, I think he meant was it more than just an exhibition and I emphatically told him that is was really better than ALOT of the games I have been to, well run, great atmosphere and jsut a pleasure to be involved with!

[RogerWS76]

Sunday was probably one of the hottest days of the years so far at the Yolo County Fair Grounds in Woodland for the 137^th annual Sacramento Valley Scottish Festival. I think it got up to 93 but there was a steady breeze that made it tolerable. This is one of my favorite games because it is where I first got to compete in the Highland games in 2010. It is also my home games now and I get to see a lot of friends that I have missed from last year and also a lot more local friends and family get to come out to the see the festivities.

We started uncharacteristically with the open stone and you always like to start with the heavier implements first but on this day there were 27 guys in the C Class and a dozen or so in the 40,s and 60s that threw together and in our 50+ class there were about 15 guys so it would have been pretty tough to have everyone throw in the traditional order. In the past in Sacramento I have not been able to place higher than fifth. My goal this day was to get into the top three.

So Open Stone (16lbs.) it was to be. I have been doing a standing put most of this year to try to get some of the fundamentals down. My first toss was right at about 33. Not bad but about average. My second was just a bit shorter but on my third I got everything corked up right and had my best toss of the year so far at almost 35 feet. BUT in the group we had of it was only good for 3^rd.

Next we did the Braemar a 22# plus stone which a lot o guys have told me they think is more like 23. Again I stated off a little slow but finally on my last toss I got a new PR of over 28’ which was an improvement of about 10 inches. Hopefully that’s the fundamental work paying off. But again, there are some good pretty good putters in this 50s group and that only got me a 4^th place.

Next were the hammers. So far this year my hammers have been improving and in the Heavy Hammer (22#) I continued to make progress. My throw of over 68 was my best of the year so far but still only good enough for 4^th in the event. I WAS feeling like I was getting some more of the basics down but I was still not quite loose enough and therefore inhibited the speed I need to make a break through.

On to the Light Hammer (16#). Again I felt very good on all of my throws and while I got three of them over 80 feet, they just didn’t fly like I thought they would. I think I have got to get my head more out of the way when winding and while I am releasing higher, I think my arms are still a little Tyrannosaurus like on the release. A 4^th place finish again.

Next we went to lunch and when we came back we started with the Heavy Weight for Distance (42#).
I have been practicing this a little more but clearly not enough. My first throw was only about 31’. That is 3 feet less than my PR and it turned out to be my best throw. I was lucky here to get out of that event with a 3^rd place finish.

Light Weight for Distance (28#) faired much worse. In fact, it was my worst of the year so far. My first throw was a pathetic 40 feet and it got worse form there! This event has been kind of my nemesis in the past and today it hurt me again. In this event I sank down to 6^th. A 6^th place is a killer when you are trying to make the top 3.
Weight over the Bar (42#) was next. It is one of my best events. The few extra inches God was gracious to give me help for sure (and that I seem to find time to practice this event more than the others doesn’t hurt either I suppose). J I have been training to try to come in at 14’ to try to save more of my back at th end of the day but I still don’t quite have the confidence yet, even though I have been pretty successful in practice lately. This even while it seems to just need strength is actually more of a timing and levers event because you not only have to get it high enough, you also have to “aim” it right to get it to go OVER the bar without knocking it off. So, it really has as much to do with confidence as anything else. It also has an added incentive here in Sacramento because it is the Scottish Heavy Athletics Weight for Height Championship as well. So … I came in at 13 which has been my custom for about a year now. Usually that means we are down to the last 3 competitors or so but today at 13 there were still 7 guys left. I got my first attempt at 13 and the height got us down to three left at 14. However on my foirst attempt at 14 I forgot to concentrate on looking at the bar as I finished and left it out in front, also leving myself wide open to lose this thing on misses. Fortunately, both of the other guys did the same so we were even again going to the second attempt. I was able to settle down and clear the next toss with room top spare and the other two guys hit 14 on their 3^rd attempts. So now we go to 15. I have been able to hit that pretty consistently this year but on warm days it seems to take a little more out of me. I was not able to clear 15 this day. I had to wait and watch as the other two guys gave it a shot. One of them went to spinning to try to get it over which can help you a lot if you are good with the technique involved. This guy knows just what he is doing in the spin but unfortunately he ripped a couple of calluses off on his first attempt and that kept him from making it too. The last guy was the same guy I had to battle with for the Pleasanton WoB Championship last year but he ran out of gas too so that means we had to go back to earlier misses to determine the winner. Since I had fewer misses at 14 I eeked out the win.

The last event of the day was Caber. They chose the 17.5 foot 90 lb Caber called the Lyon Caber for us to throw. This Caber has been a menace to me whenever they bring it out. It has a little hook at the end of it and the balance point is more toward the middle which make it tough too. I have turned it a couple of times before but never more than once in a day. That 1^st place in WoB had me holding out a little hope for trying to get into the top three but I had to do well in the Caber to have half a chance. It was very late in the day. About 4:30. Even all of the Closing Ceremonies were done. I could not have a disaster like the Light weight for distance and have any hope. When it came time for my first throw I felt pretty good although only two weeks earlier this same Caber had not been turned by ANYONE in our class. They stood it up for me and it actually didn’t feel bad at all but when I went to pick it I didn’t get one hand under it. After one flailing attempt to right the situation I had to lay it down to be safe. NOT a good start. However, I was not the only one to have issues at the end of this long day and a small hope began to grow … until like four guys turned it in a row … 2 guys got 11:30 and one got a 10:00 and one a 1:00. Well, it got around to me again and I decided I just had to forget about the first throw. I went out there and picked it but then I had to dance with it a little before I could convince it to let me lead. Then as soon as I got it under control, I decided I better toss her before she got any other ideas and pulled hard looking up at it and also pulling hard back and she took my lead and fell over the top. You take a chance when you throw quick like that because it doesn’t give the judge much time to establish a reference or starting point for your toss but it WAS over and he gave me a 1:00. Then the Director came over and realizing the lateness of the day asked if we would be OK with just going two rounds. A Couple of guys said Ok but most wanted to keep going. One guy who had gotten a 12:00 on his second throw gallantly but also with a bit of daring volunteered to take himself out and give us all a “chance” to catch up! Of course he did this with a challenging grin on his face. For myself, I volunteered (in jest) that if I was ahead of my brother I would be willing (if everyone else was) to stop at two rounds. However the group was determined to push on. On my last toss I was glad that we did because it was one of the best pull I have had with the Lyon and I got an 11:30. Even the erstwhile daring guy who volunteered to take himself out and was across the field looked just a bit worried and asked If I had beat him. I assured him that I had not. However, that last pull may have just done the trick. When the final points were tallied I had slipped into 3^rd place but only by a mere two points overall. I had also been able to come away with the SHA WoB Championship too! But the best part of the day was being able to spend time throwing on the field with as good a bunch of guys as I have known!!!

Braemar	28’ 6”
Open Stone	34’ 11”
Heavy Weight	31’ 4”
Light Weight	40’ 4”
Heavy Hammer	68’ 4.5”
Light Hammer	82’ 3”
Weight Over the Bar	14’
Caber	11:30

[Alan H]

Well, I have been remiss about reporting here. It is too far past the Ardenwood games to go into much detail BUT I must say this. These were some of the finest run games I have ever thrown in. Everything went off well and kept moving and for theses old bones motion is lotion adn when there istoo much sitting around it can take you down faster than a hit from Dick Butkus!!! WE jsut ahd a REALLy FUN day and a great day with great people and so I really want to thank Alan for all of his hard work in doing that. Yesterday a pretty accomplished thrower asked me about the Ardenwood games and because it had been smaller he asked if it was a real games, I think he meant was it more than just an exhibition and I emphatically told him that is was really better than ALOT of the games I have been to, well run, great atmosphere and jsut a pleasure to be involved with!

Well, thanks, Roger! It was better again this year and with one or two more tweaks, should be *there*...


.....and, nice write-up on Woodland!

[eclarkhb]

Nice write up! Sounds like you guys had a great day!

[RogerWS76]

It was a pretty good day, Eric!

Next up, Costa Mesa and a pretty full month of June and summer scheduled:

June 8 Newport Games: Newport OR

June 16 Loch Lomond Games: Watsonville CA

June 23 San Diego Games: Vista CA

July 7 Monterey Games: Monterey CA

July 13-22 Mexico Mission Trip

July 28 (Applying for Enumclaw, we will see)

August 8-18 Florida Keys Vacation

Pleasanton Sept1 (Hopefully: will apply)


Should be fun!

[Alan H]

You'll get into Pleasanton, for sure... and you should get into Enumclaw as well. I thought about going to Newport, but it's just too hurry-up, what with Joans surgery.

[RogerWS76]

You could not beat the weather on Sunday. I flew down on Saturday and got to watch the second half of the Pros and A's so that was fun.

We started out with the Sheaf, which has come to be common place in the Southern CA games for Masters. I was planning in coming in at 22 and probably should have stuck with it but Rich Campbell came in at 18 and Alan came in at 20 so I bowed to my own pressure since the bag was a little odd shaped and started at 20. I got 20 and 22 and 24 but ran into trouble at 26. Looking back I MAY have needed to take a step back toward the bar. I HAD been going farther OUT when going higher but in practice as I look back I HAVE been throwing more up than out, while only taking about 2 steps out. This is because in practice we have a slight slope but it appears that it has been training me to throw straighter so I think I am going to come back a step in the games as well. Short story is I went out at 26 while getting enough height for 28 at LEAST but leaving it in front. PLUS, I had a little issue with the bag coming off too early ... MAYBE a little to generous with the olive oil in the stick! Tied Alan for 2nd.

Next were the stones. I have been putting extra work in on these in the last month and while it hadn't seemed to pay off much in practice it DID on Sunday! One thing I have been working on is NOT switching my feet and applying maximum pressure to my block. On this day my foot stuck! In fact, so hard that I fouled my first throw. While that HAS been unusual for me, in the last two games I have fouled my first throw and I actually think it has HELPED! This is because I KNOW I am getting my arm long and over the trig which is helping a LOT! I hit two throws over 29 which were successive PRs by a foot so it was good. (Although Rich is pretty good at this and was still a couple of feet further. 2nd Place.

In the Open stone we had this brick of a rock. We all looked in vain for another one that was at least more rounded but to no avail. So ... I went over to one of the B's who had just thrown the thing and asked him where the handle was. I tried his suggestion and it actually felt good. I could get my thumb pointed down, elbow up and it rested comfortably on my face! Again, I have been Braemar-ing this event for a few games to try to get this part of it down. Someday I will figure out how to better glide it most likely. In any event, I got all my first throw over 33, 2nd ALMOST 35 and then uncorked my third throw was well over 35 and another PR. 2nd place

Next were the Weights for Distance. It seems that the 42 lbr. is getting heavier and heavier. I had three miserable throws in which the best was not even 29 feet. Worst sequence for me in over a year. I am going to have to spend more time on this to tame it. 3rd place.

In the Light Weight I was able to continue to work on the two turn without major embarrassment. I DID however manage to get to the power position on my last two throws. I still haven't got it out over 50 yet this year but my last throw was a season pr by inches at over 48. 2nd place

Now we had lunch ... of which these old bones is becoming more and more in favor of skipping, while just maybe having some fruit or a quick sandwich between throws. Instead we had an hour which turned into about an hour and a half. Then on to the Caber.

The 60's throwing with us picked out a pretty easy caber 16.5 63 lbs I think. it WAS one o the pencil peeler cores they use down south which means your timing has to be good. I practiced looking up as I throw and managed a 10:30 and a 12:00 (although I SERIOUSLY don;t think I EARNED the 12 the Judge graciously bestowed on me. ON the last tun I forgot to do he technical work, we were being rushed so they could do the 21 Caber Salute and I pulled WAY too late and couldn't even turn it. 3rd Place.

WoB next! They started the bar at 9 0r 10, I can't remember which so I sat down for a good discussion with Dana McDonald while we got the bar to 13. By then it was just Alan, Rich and I left. We all managed 13 but then the trouble started We all missed our first attempt, mine way out in front. I got my second one and watched while Alan and surprisingly, Rich struggled with it (He's already hit 16 this year). So we moved it up to 15. I got that one. Went to 15.5. Got that on my second attempt after some sage advice from Jake Sullivan to pull just a tad later. Raised it to 16. My first attempt hit the bar on the way up, second was probably a foot OVER the bar but out in front. 3rd short and out of gas. BUT it was a good run. I think I have to come up with the confidence to start at 14! 1st place

Then we went out to the very hard hammer field, where a hammers had been going out and not coming back all day as they gave their life to the hard scrabble baseball diamond. ALL of the Masters (about 17 I think had to do this one at once so it drug out a little. It was hard to find a good spot for the blade but it felt OK. I was getting good speed on the heavy hammer but it wasn't flying. I was still alligator arming it a bit and my best throw was only in the 65 range. I was thinking so much about catching it that I let everything else go.

In the Light Hammer things were not going much better. First throw only about 75. 2nd around 80. Then Kirsty Abbott, who was marking for us told me I wasn't getting my head bask at all. She was right. I hadn't even paid any ATTENTION to my head. Next time up I got my head out of the way of my arms and was able to keep them long and while it wasn't a PR or anything it did get out over 87 and hopefully taught me a lesson that will stick about keeping my head back. 1st place (BARELY ... like by an inch and a half!)

GREAT day. Overall my best day of the year so far. Great to see our Southern CA Highland Family!

Next up is Newport Celtic in Oregon in a week and a half!

Braemar	29'-8"	2nd
Open	35'-8"	2nd
HWD	28'-11.5"	3rd
LWD	48'-5"	2nd
Heavy H	65'-5.5"	2nd
Light H	87'-3"	1st
Caber	12:00	3rd
Sheaf	24'-0"	2nd (tied)
WoB	15'-6"	1st

[Martin Roy]

Nice work, Roger. See you at Watsonville.

[RogerWS76]

Wow! GREAT day to throw. We called it the Hell Run! We left Sacramento about 12 on Friday. My brother, Paul, Rob Brown (another fellow Rattlesnake Highlander), Kathy, our loan fan, and Kel Mulrey! We seemed to be high tailing it out of hell itself as the temps in the Central Vally were in the 110's.

It's a ten hour driving time trip to Newport, Oregon and the Beautiful Pacific Coast. We told some stories, found a GREAT little place to eat dinner (The Axe and Fiddle Public House in College Grove Oregon)

http://axeandfiddle.com

Had some outstanding loaded Mac and Cheese to carb up for Saturday. Unfortunately, on the drive from I-5 to the coast we passed through a few small towns and while being regaled by another of Kel's great Highland Games stories, I did NOT pay attention to the local speed signs. I was only tooling along at about 40 mph but apparently I missed a couple of spots where the sign said 25 and the red and blue lights lit up my rear view mirror like the fourth of July and I was forced to take a little driving break! I apologized appropriately to the officer, took my lumps, admitted my lack of responsibility and waited with baited breath while he took my license and registration back to his own party in a police car, whose lights reminded me of a Disco Ball on steroids as they spin around waiting to find out whether I would be celebrating WITH them or trying to figure out how to pay the piper!

The Officer had pity and my clean driving record will now have a chance to make it into it's 14th consecutive year! Whew!

We made it to our campsite on the coast about an hour later and with only the truck lights set up and tucked ourselves in with the knowledge that we were going to stop at the local Pig-n-Pancake establishment we happened to spy on our trip through town.

I do NOT know how they grow their swine in this particularly green state but they do it right! Best bacon I've ever had the next morning along with some pancakes, eggs and toast!

We made it to the field on time, found a GREAT parking space and that was to be indicative of the entire day!

I would recommend these games to anyone! Great people, they ran the show very well and efficiently! We stated throwing at 9, threw all nine events and were done right around 3 O'Clock. No excessive waiting that tends to tighten these old muscles up, a huge pyramid of Gatorade and water to hydrate with, bananas and apples to tide one over and even lunch!!!

Now for the throwing, not a fantastic day, no PRs but not bad either!

We started with Open Stone. It was a space ship shaped 17 lb. monstrosity that had NO handle but on the other hand everyone had to throw the same rock. Just short of 32 but good enough for 2nd.

Next was the Braemar. They called it the Lougha it was made from some of the vast amounts of volcanic rock that blankets the Northwest and it was 25 lbs! It looked VERY much like the Braemar the pros throw in Pleasanton! I was VERY happy to get it over 27 feet which was close to my PR last year with a 22 lb stone! Again enough for 2nd place (a well worn tune I would be hearing often on this day).

Weights were next! Someone talked them into letting us do the heavy first this time. This thing has just been FEELING heavy to me all year. It may be because I have been working too much in the light weight to the neglect of this 42 lb. beauty. I may have to balance that out. In any case I got it out around 32 which is a little better than I have done the last few games. Again, 2nd!!!

Light weight for distance was next. My brother Paul has really been improving on this. (He beat me on it in Bakersfield). I am starting to gain just a hair of confidence in my two spin on this one. Lately I have been earning the reputation of pulling it out on my last throw. Believe me, with the weight of these things procrastination is NOT helpful. However, on my last throw he was ahead of me and I asked him exactly what his best throw was. He, rather tentatively obliged me, spitting out that he had a 46, but went back to his chair shaking his head and telling everyone to watch because now I was gonna pull one out my hat to just beat him. I got him by 6"! BUT ... STILL 2nd!

Now we went to the sheaf and of course, this was the highlight of the day as Jay (Big Daddy) O'Neil and Bret (Hoss) Lathrop, the guys who give us a hilarious Fork Talk podcast about every two weeks, were going to enjoy their favorite Highland Games event with their 3 pronged forks! We started out a 18 feet (one of the reasons that the show ran so efficiently!) Almost everyone passed to 20 so we were on our way! The bar kept raising, two feet at a time. I came in at 22 and got 24. It took me two tries to get it at 26! Then on 28, I left on in front, one just under the bar and on my last one I smacked the upright just wear it intersected with the cross bar. Close ... but NO CIGAR! However, the bright side was that I actually WON this event AND ... set a field record!

Heavy hammer was next! Not great but tolerable. I think it was my 3rd or 4th game with a 68 something. Gotta get over that 70 mark again soon! AND ... Back to ... 2nd Place!

Light hammer was average and while I got three throws over 80 the best I could come up with was around 85. I HAVE to get my arms straight on the last two rotations. While I didn't grossly T-Rex it and I did golf rather than swing a baseball bat, those bent arms are holding me back! You guessed it ... 2nd place!

WoB was next! I came in at 13 and handled it but had a little trouble at 14. I think that I am becoming TOO relaxed! My brother Paul also missed his first at 14 but then got his second as well. We went to 15 and again, I was too relaxed. I think I am taking it for granted! There has to be a balance between pressuring yourself too much or not enough! We both missed three at 15. BUT we both set a new field record in WoB! AND ... because he had a little more trouble at 13 than I did I squeaked out another 1st!

Last on the say was Caber. A fierce Pacific wind had arisen and it wreaked havoc on everyone in kind. The Caber was 17'10" and it was a VERY real tree with a couple of very pronounced but unobtrusive Knotholes! (One could turn them away from your body so they weren't in the way. However, it was uncharacteristically even in weight from top to bottom. That, along with the prevailing winds coupled to make it unturnable in our class. I had one turn that I thought was going to fall and didn't but it was an 85 and that was good enough to get ... YES! another 1st place!

Overall I came out second but it was closer than I thought it would be and even though there were no PRs it felt like a pretty decent day!

Now, since we had gotten done so early we all headed over to the Beer tent where the real fireworks started. First, we took a side trip over to the Meat Pies wagon where Jay's daughter's Grandma was keeping a birthday cake for her and sang a rousing hymn of Happy Birthday!

Then while we sere standing around with a beer in our hands and recapping what a fine day it was, we saw a line of pipers snaking it's way through the crowd and at the beginning of the line was the Haggis! I've seen it piped in at Burn Dinners but this was something else altogether as a mini Pipe band followed in the wake of the Haggis!

The announcer proclaimed that we would be blessing the Haggis for the Haggis eating competition. Two seconds later I saw my brother bolt for the Haggis Piper Congo line proclaiming to anyone who would (or could) listen that he was going to win this thing.

The next thing you know, his big kilted hind end was sitting at at the table in front of hundreds of screaming Haggis worshipers and he was adorned with the official Haggis eating T-shirt with a pile of haggis placed in front of him. When the whistle blew he was downing haggis faster than you could shake a disgruntled shepherds crook at him and then he standing up and slamming a 16 oz. bottle of water.

Jay, who was standing next to me yelled at him to quit wasting time on the water. I told Jay not to worry, he wouldn't waste valuable time like that ...

He was DONE!

Every athlete in the place roared as loud as the rest of Paul's screaming fans and the celebration was just about to begin in earnest, when the announcer's voice pierced the crowd noise telling us that was only the first round!

Paul barely even slowed down in rounds two and three and one reporter at the event opined that Paul didn't just win, he DESTROYED the competition! He also earned a birth in the National Haggis Eating Competition at the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem PA, later this year.

Man, how could you top that!

Well, we went out for dinner next, Paul didn't eat much that night, got a good nights rest, fueled up at the Pig-n-Pancake again and set off for home. We took part of the way along the coast and at one time had to pour out of the truck to help remove about a 100 foot tree that had fallen across the road. It took about 30-40 guys to do it! The rest of the trip was uneventful until Kathy talked us into stopping at this little out of the way place for lunch! It was truly and aptly named, "Heaven on Earth" and if you are ever on I-5 between Grants Pass and Roseburgh in Oregon you HAVE to take exit 86, even if it's just to sample the Marion Berry Pies and Cinnamon Roles they store, hot out of the oven, right where you walk in the door!

Open Stone	31'-11"	2nd
Braemar Stone	27'-3.5"	2nd
Heavy Weight for Distance	32'-6.5"	2nd
Light Weight for Distance	46'-6.5"	2nd
Sheaf	26'-0"	1st (FR)
Heavy Hammer	68'-1.5"	2nd
Light Hammer	85'-3"	2nd
Weight over Bar	14'-0"	1st (FR)
Caber	85	1st