Roger Saunders 2013 Season Log

[RogerWS76]

Well, we kicked off the season with the small Chilled Kilt Classic in Citrus Heights, CA on January 5th. It was a sunny but cold day. No wind like last year but still pretty cold for Californians. (In the 40's in the AM and warming to the fifties.)


Not a notable day. No PR's but no big embarrasments either. We got to do every event but the Sheaf toss. Field was wet so it was very easy to mark. The implements prettu much stuck where they landed like a gold medal gymnast! An average day for the first time out this year.

Here's how it came out:

Braemar Stone	26'2"
Open Stone	33'
Heavy Weight for Distance	32'10.5"
Light Weight for Distance	43'11.75"
Heavy Hammer	67' 5.25"
Light Hammer	79'5"
Caber	12:00
Weight over Bar	13
Sheaf	N/A

[RogerWS76]

Lookng forward to the Queen Mary Games this weekend! It will be a tough competition. Four guys will be there that I have never placed ahead of yet. My brother, Paul, also joins us in the 50+ Masters this year so it will be fun to throw with him again!!!

I made some discoveries in the weight for distance this week that I think will help. I always have just a little trouble with balance. From watching tape on you tube I noticed that turning my right heel, keeping my toe in place, so that it is in line with the weight coming around until from the back until my foot is perpendicular with and pointing to the left line of the trig BEFORE I start to turn helps my balance a lot AND keeps me from bringing the implement around to early!

I also found on the WoB that taking one small swing back to the side and then up into starting position about shoulder high BEFORE I swing back between my legs helps me get better extension to the back before the big lift! (and it relaxes the shoulder a bit so it can work better as a hinge)

Can't wait for Sunday! Hope to see some of you there!

AND ... my wife, who works most weekends gets to come to so we will celebrate a little Post-Valentines and Pre-Anniversay aboard the Queen Mary Saturday night and then visit Micky and Minnie on Monday and Tuesday!

[Alan H]

I think John McClure won't be there, but I'm sure Richard Campbell will be...and I think that Al Stagner is coming.

Have fun!

[Martin Roy]

Have a great time, Roger. I'm sorry that I won't be there, but I'm just not game ready quite yet.
See you at Bakersfield.

[RogerWS76]

Mark Buchanan is coming too! John says he won't be there.

[RogerWS76]

Queen Mary was great fun! A few Clan members came up from San Diego to watch. The weather was pleasantly cool to even a bit chilly when the wind blew (which wasn't so great for older muscle groups that tightened up)

We started out with the Stones. Braemar was first. Three guys: Stagner, Buchannon and Campbell threw very closely in the 28 foot range from 28 3.5 to 28 11.75. I was able to get a couple of throws over 27, which was the first time I've done that, which I was satisfied with.


Next was the Open Stone. The top two guys, Buchannon and Stagner were within an inch and a quarter of each other at just over 34. I can normally get somewhere close to that but on this day I had the worst performance since I started throwing the rock. It may be because I have been working more on my Braemar throwing but it was awful. Didn't even get to 30 feet. I am going to have to get this back on track!!!

We then went to the Heavy Weight for Distance. I am still only doing one turn on this but getting better at getting to the power position. Need more work but got three thows over 32 feet which is an improvement in consistancy if not PR. The same top three guys ranged from 33-35.

The Lightweight is one where I am feeling better all the time. I need to get consistency in getting to the power position on my second turn. Now that I am feeling more comfortable with it, I need to concentrate more on the delivery. I actually broke into the top three with two tosses over 48.

Heavy hammer was almost a disaster. My first two throws were under 60 feet but then I concentrated on catching the wind and relaxing the shoulders, I got one out over 66. NOT great but at least average and again good enough to crack the top three.

Light Hammer turned into a slugfest. Five of us were over 80 and I edged my brother Paul out for #4 by 2.5 inches. Need more reps on this to keep the rythym correct. Felt so good at the end of last season but I guess it's NOT like riding a bicycle.


Then we did the caber and they didn't pick an easy one. It was one of the SAAA pencils and while not heavy at 72 pounds, the 17.5 foot length made timing critical. On my first try I was literally doing the two step with that piece of wood until I finally ran out of room and had to pull it. I was lucky to get a 65. While I was able to get better control on the next two pulls I still pulled late and ended with a dismal 80, which was only good for fifth place.


Next was Weight over the Bar. By this time the back was pretty stiff and the wind picked up so a LOT of stretching was in order. I came in at 13 (my goal is to come in at 14 by the end of the year but not today!) I hit on the first try on 13 and 14. Hit the second try on 15. There were still 4 of us left when they moved the bar to 16. We all missed our first throws and then Rich popped his second over. On my last two throws I left it out in front but my wife got video proof that I "had the height" which in this isolated circumstance was actually encouraging. It is a strange feeling to throw 15 and only end up 4th!


Last was the Sheaf. I had planned to come in at 22 but while the bag while wound tight was a weird sort of oblong shape so I decided to hop in at 18 for some practice. That may have been a mistake but I made the call. Everyone was in by then so I figured ot wouldn't hurt. I made every toss on the first one up to 24. Then I made the second attempt at 26. That left just Al Stagner and I to try for 28. I DID get close and I think if I had been a step back I may have made it because it peaked before the bar but it is hard to know if that would have helped for sure. IN any case I missed all three and Al finally hit it on his third try for the win.


I couldn't feel bad coming in 4th overall on this group of guys but I sure would like another crack at them some time. It was a fun day. EVERY one of the guys throwiong was a blast to spend time with and get to know. I even found out that Richard Campbell grew up in my Grandfathers home town of Wendell ID where Paul and I used to go every summer to visit Grandpa on his Sheep and Alfafa Farm. Small world! Here's how I ended up.

Overall 4th PLace

Braemar	27' 4"	4th
Open Stone	29' 7.5"	4th
Heavy WFD	31' 10.5"	4th
Light WFD	48' 2.75"	3rd
Heavy Hammer	66' 5.5"	3rd
Light Hammer	82'9"	4th
Caber	80	5th
WoB	15'	4th
Sheaf	26'	2nd