Ever Want to Throw a Telephone Pole?  A Boulder?  A Battleaxe?  Slay a Pumpkin with a Sword?

November 13, 2021

Now’s your chance. Get ready for Highland Games! One weekend again! The Longhorn Council cares deeply about the health and safety of all Scouts and their families. All weekend events have been redesigned to incorporate the latest CDC, State, and BSA guidelines and make them as safe as possible during the covid-19 pandemic. Masks are required in crowded areas.

All events have new procedures for cleaning, sanitizing, hygiene, mask wearing, and social distancing to avoid crowds and to keep our Scouts outside where it is much safer than indoors.  We’ll provide the cleaning and sanitizing supplies to clean and sanitize each piece of Highland Games throwing or tossing gear for each participant’s use.

Featuring professional Scottish Highland games weights, hammers, and much more.  You will compete in fun and challenging Celtic tests of strength, endurance and skill.  Highland Games is held annually at Camp TBA and every 4 years at the council camporee.  It is both an individual event and a team event for groups of 4-8 participants from Venture Crews and Troops (AOL Dens may attend with a Troop). Teams choose their participants for each Highland athletic competition.  These competitions are open to all Scouts (AOL Dens may attend with a Troop), Venturers, Explorers and adults.

Camp Tahuaya Campsite Map 

Units are encouraged to make their own kilts!

There are 3 age divisions for youth in all the events.  “Light” are age 11-12 years, “Medium” are 13-14 and “Heavy Weight” are 15-17.”  There is also a Venturers division, an Adult division under 50, an Adult division over 50. Team and Individual Awards will be given in each class.

EVENTS

Turning the Caber.  A caber is a 16-20 foot long pole that is tossed end-over-end.  The object is to balance the Caber (pole) vertically over your head, run forward and toss it so that it flips end over end and lands vertically. We use a lighter variant of the 90 to 120 pound logs the Scots use but it’s fun just the same! We’ll provide the cleaning and sanitizing supplies to clean and sanitize the cabers for each participant’s use.

Sheaf Toss.  What’s a Sheaf?  A sheaf is a 16-20 pound bag of hay (10-12 pounds for the light weights).  What do you do with it?  Hurl it straight up into the air over an adjustable crossbar with a pitchfork.  It’s High Jump with pitch forks.  Highest toss wins. We’ll provide the cleaning and sanitizing supplies to clean and sanitize the pitchforks for each participant’s use.

Weight Throws.  Pick up the weight in one hand, sling it from side to side to gain momentum and throw it the farthest … or as far as possible. We’ll provide the cleaning and sanitizing supplies to clean and sanitize the weights for each participant’s use.

Weight Toss.  You’ll stand under an adjustable height crossbar, hold the weight and swing it back and forth between the legs.  On the final swing you bring the weight up in an arc.  Then toss it over the crossbar (we hope).  Highest toss wins. We’ll provide the cleaning and sanitizing supplies to clean and sanitize the weights for each participant’s use.

Clachneart.  It’s a rounded stone and you throw it – like a shot put.  You can spin if you want.  Distance Counts.

Braemar Stone.  What’s a Braemar Stone?  Well, it’s like the Clachneart, except bigger and you can’t move when you toss it (no shot put moves).  Again distance counts. We’ll provide the cleaning and sanitizing supplies to clean and sanitize the Clachnearts and Braemar Stones for each participant’s use.

Hammer Throw.  Now using professional Scottish hammers!  Another throw for distance event. We’ll provide the cleaning and sanitizing supplies to clean and sanitize the hammers for each participant’s use.

Farmer’s Walk.  In the farmer’s walk, the competitor picks up two weights, each weighing up to 150 pounds and walks around a series of pylons.  The winner walks the farthest.  We’ll go a little light on the weight: you’ll use hay bales, bulky but not nearly as heavy.  You get the idea… YOU must bring your own leather gloves for the Farmer’s Walk. 

Pumpkin Slaying.  Demonstrate your swordsmanship as you slay a pumpkin with a Scottish Claymore sword!  . . .  if  you can hit it! We’ll provide the cleaning and sanitizing supplies to clean and sanitize the swords for each participant’s use.

Battle Axe Throw.  The battle axe was issued to the 78th Fraser’s Highlanders, a military regiment from the Highlands of Scotland.  The axes were light enough to be used with one hand and heavy enough to dent or puncture armor.  The axes used in the competition are lighter than the original weapons, but safer to throw.  In competition, the axes are thrown at increasing distances towards a target.  The winner is the individual who’s axe, thrown from the greatest distance, strikes and sticks blade first in the targets. We’ll provide the cleaning and sanitizing supplies to clean and sanitize the Battle Axes for each participant’s use.

The Fell Race. The fell race gets its name from the hills of Northern England where it originated.  It’s a non-traditional endurance test of running and cross-country skills over rough terrain.  This cross country race typically features several natural and man-made barriers.  This event is just for the Fit!

Tossing the Wellie.  Legend has it that this originated when Scottish husbands wore their muddy boots in the house.  In retaliation, the wives threw the boots back at the husbands as they ran from the house to avoid the wives wrath. This game is all about distance and staying between the lines. We’ll provide the cleaning and sanitizing supplies for the “Wellies” for each participant’s use.  YOU must bring your own leather gloves for the Wellie Toss.

Stay tuned for a new event that will be added to the games