Highland Games

The Highland Games are traditional events with athletic competitions. These were originally part of the meetings ( gatherings ) of Scottish clans in the Scottish Highlands. There, they are still at home, but also can be found everywhere around the world where Scots have settled.

In Scotland there are annually up to 100 Highland Games, organized by the Scottish Highland Games Association ( SHG ). The most popular games are held in Braemar every year in early September. These are under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth II, whose traditional summer home is the nearby Balmoral Castle and is therefore present in person regularly.

Worldwide, organized by the International Highland Games Highland Games Federation ( IHGF ); this organized since 1980 and world championships.

The Highland Games are accompanied by traditional music, especially the piping, and dances. Again, competitions are held.

The Games are a festival for the whole society and also attract hundreds of thousands of tourists.

The Highland Games are from the period of the Celtic kings of Scotland. They were held to find the strongest and fastest men in Scotland, which often were for the king 's bodyguard and messenger.

Disciplines

The competitions are held at SHGA games in the following discipline groups:

  • Running
  • Heavy Events
  • Cycling
  • Tug -o -War
  • Wrestling
  • Light Field Events
  • Hill Race
  • Solo Piping
  • Pipe Band Contest
  • Highland Dancing

The most famous events are among the heavyweights. They are: " Tossing The Caber " ( tossing the caber ), " Putting the Stone" (stone put), " Throwing the Hammer" or " Scottish Hammer" ( hammer throw ).

With the Highland Games there are over 50 different sports.

Competitions outside of the Scottish cultural sector

Also in Germany, Austria and Switzerland - here with licensed Scottish judges - are carried out for some years Highland Games.

In Germany the DHGV awards since 2009 every year the official German Championships for single competitor (A- Heavies and women) to a provider (2009: Angelbachtal, 2010: creators ). Prior to 2009, the organizers in their creators Highland Games called the German Championships. The International Highland Games in creators will be held under the auspices of the British Embassy and are considered the largest Scottish event in Germany. 2012 talk about the Highland Games for reasons of space and on the soil condition in makers in the castle and the park Trebsen. The first German Championships for teams were held on September 4, 2010 in Rüsselsheim to the Mainland games. For 2010, 28 Highland Games were announced in Germany.

The staged in Germany team competitions with participants and spectators enjoy great popularity. On a day here many competitions are held: a mix of Scottish Heavy Events, strongman competitions and skill competitions such as horseshoes or log slalom. The devices used are, however, more easily than in the original event. Participants can for the individual competitions (Heavy Events ) qualify, which are usually organized according to team competitions on the day About the team competitions.

In Austria since 2006, takes place every year the Austrian Highlander Cup ( AHC), in which the Austrian Highlander of the Year is searched. There are used the individual results for tossing the caber, weight throwing, high weight throw and down a pint of selected Highland Games. For 2011, the Tyrolean Highlander Games, Langenzersdorfer Highland Games, Vienna Highland Games and the Veitscher Highland Games were elected. Total found in Austria annually 15-20 Highland Games by AHC rules instead, be in the discharged as a team competitions. The individual rating is subtracted from each of 3 competitions. The was holding competitions are only partially the otherwise standard international events like heavy, and are usually discharged with lighter throwing devices. As part of the AHC competitions there are also some contests which no Heavy Events are such as Quick Beer drinking and eggs distance casts. In the team races and tug of war comes to removal. This mix of Scottish and Austrian races ( the original Carinthian Highland Games ) established a group of Carinthia already in 1984. The First Carinthian Highland Club will be hosting its Classic Games still annually in September.

The AHGF (Austrian Highland Games Federation ) organizes every year in collaboration with various local organizers Heavy customary international events with the specified throwing devices and casting weights in Austria. In 2011, in Vienna Stadlau first time Austrian Champion title for A- Heavies, B- Heavies and women awarded. The AHGF is one of the IHGF (International Highland Games Federation ) established association. The strongest athletes in the AHGF went in 2011 for the first time at international championships IHGF at the start. The first Scottish Heavy event in Austria was held in Vienna in 2005 and is since then Stadlau annually.

In Switzerland, the Highland Games Swiss Championships are held annually in St. Ursus. The sporting disciplines are stone throwing, high weight throw, tossing the caber and weight throw. In addition there Bagpipe competitions are held.

Also in South Tyrol have been conducted since 2006 Highland Games.

On the Swedish island of Gotland in the Olympics of Gotland with similar disciplines will be held in the manner of the Highland Games.

Master lists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Germany:

Austria:

Switzerland:

Scottish highland dance Machern Weight throw#Weight throw for height
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