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June 18, 2005

Out of my League

Huntsville, Alabama.
The town I graduated High School in.
Last year, a week too late, I learned there is a Highland Games 5 miles from my mother's house.

I still have friends there. So I decided I wanted to throw at the event.

It was a merry chase tracking down the Athletic Director. NASGA lists one athletic director. Upon contacting him, I find he's no longer doing it. He gives me the name of another man. I contact him, only to find he is also no longer in charge of the game and doesn't know who is. I email the group sponsoring the games directly and they finally put me in touch with the correct individual.

My friend Jessie and I came to throw together. 11 Hours by Pickup.

The event is unlike any other I have participated in. It is smaller. The other athletes are gregarious and friendly. Classes of Athletes are not what we are used to, so there's some confusion with that, but we settle in nicely.

Weather was beautiful, about 85 degrees and intermittently cloudy. Reasonable humidity. I'm not sure I ever broke a true sweat, though the band of my hat was fairly soaked at the end.

There are three flights: an A/B Open flight, an A flight and a Pro/Super A/Ladies flight. Jessie and I are in the open flight. We start with Sheaf. Starting with the Height event promises to be beneficial, as we won't be wiped out when we get to them.

I set a new Personal Record of 22' in the 16# sheaf and tied for second place with Jessie.

Weight for Height still needs work. It's just a number, but 11' seems to be my limit on this event. It makes four competitions in a row where I've been close enough to touch 12' but haven't been able to clear the height. Jessie as well. It's a mental thing that we have to get over. But at 11 feet we tied (again) for second place.

Caber: The stick we threw was 'somewhere around 17 feet' (direct Quote from the Athletic Director) and the weight is unknown. What I do know is that it is a tree-trunk that was felled two months ago. It was knobby all the way to the base, and the end had been rounded just a touch for throwing. Tacky was not needed to throw this stick as it was still seeping sap. I scored a 1:00 throw, and took third place. Jessie did not rotate.

Open stone is an event I've never thrown before. It's similar to the Braemar, but you get a running start, and supposedly use a lighter stone. Our stone was not lighter. I threw somewhere around 23.5 feet. I did not place. Jessie threw about 30 feet and took first place.

Then we broke for lunch - which was provided by the competition. Domino's Pizza. I ate two slices, and Jessie ate two. Any more would've been too much. 30 minutes. And Gatorade. It was good.

Then to Heavy Weight for Distance. I threw something like 22" 10 inches. Two feet shy of my best, but all I had on this given day. Jessie threw something like 26 feet. Personal Record for him and good enough for 1st place. My throw was enough for 3rd, and would be my last placing on the day.

Jessie also took 1st in light weight, and 2nd (by 3 inches) in Heavy Hammer.

Jessie is also the Athlete of the day and has won himself a very nice Scottish Basket Hilt Sword. He has also very probably earned himself a spot at the 'A' table for all his future events. Go Jessie. Better you than me :)

This event is a keeper. We hope to return next year, bringing a couple other friends in tow. They have a womens division, which will make my friend B very happy.

Posted by Shannon on June 18, 2005 9:26 PM

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