Long's Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival

Scottish Athletics

The blacksmiths threw their hammers, woodcutters threw tree trunks, masons threw large stones, and fleet-footed men ran long and hard to demonstrate their fitness for battle as fighters and messengers.

The origins of the Scottish athletic games are lost in the mists of time but they still reflect the rugged strength of the Highland dwellers who invented them. Today, many of these games are recognized Olympic events with both men and women competing. The best guess of their origin is that the games were the ancients' version of today's military physical. In the hand-to-hand fighting of early wars, strength and endurance were crucial for the survival of the clans.

On the Festival field, there will be hammer throws,
putting the stone, and caber throwing contests.
Come join us and see a mere man toss a 19'7",
140 lb. caber end over end!