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The day started too early. Friends took us out to dinner on Friday night, and I gog none of my anticipated prep-work done that night, so it all needed to be done this morning when I woke up. Not terrible, it just means I had to get up a bit earlier than I'd have like. This was also compunded by the fact none of the participants received their entry packets in the mail, so the earlier we arrived, the less chance there was we'd have to pay to park, since we hadn't received our free parking pass. So we were up, and out the door, and at the event by 8:45, which was later than I'd have hoped, and we almost had to pay for parking.

The "C" class competitors (Bottom of the barrel. Not quite beginners in most cases, but not really seasoned athletes, either), which is my group, gets to start on the Hammer throws, which are, historically, my worst two events. Well, get them out of the way early and move on to the stuff I'm really good at. Well, holy hell was I surprised at my performance. I knew some things I'd been doing wrong and could readily correct - it was just a matter of if I remembered to do them. Apparently I did. My throws were good. Very good, for me.

Then it the Braemar. This would be my worst event on the day. I was not the bottom of the barrel, but I was not at the top, either. Need more work here.

After the stone was a brief interruption for the sheep dogs to do their thing. They did, and we were back to throwing. Light and Heavy weight for Distance, two of my best events. And despite a rough start in warm-up (My first throw sent me ass-over-tea-kettle in the grass. Fortunately, it was a warm up and did not count), these two events continued their trend. Ladies, you will be sorry you missed this one. My first 'for real' throw sent my Kilt flying to the ground. But it was a good throw. I fouled my second throw, then ripped my third throw, adding a few inches to my distance. I lost my kilt here, too. I felt like a Windows™ commercial: Me, to the power of Naked. The Heavy Weight (56 Pounds of Steel) - she was very, very, good to me. The light weight (28 pounds), also very good. No loss of Kilt here, but I more than doubled my heavy weight distance.

Then to Caber. By all rights, I should own this event. I have not finished in less than first place in caber at Arlington ever. Until today. The first caber was such a bitch that no one rotated on the first turn through the rotation order. I was in the lead with a whopping 60-degree throw. So they changed cabers on us - to the one I've been throwing three times a week for the last 16 weekends at Scarborough Faire. Second turn through the rotation, and I and one other guy both get perfect throws. Third time through, he gets another perfect and I got cocky. Which is a polite way of saying I f$cked up, and basically handed Efraim the gold medal in the event.

The day ended as all Highland events end - with the Height events. The Sheaf was not my friend today, and I came in four feet under my personal best. Weight over bar, however, paid off in spaces, and the applause I received from the audience and my fellow competitors as I finally hit the height I've been trying to hit for three years was nothing short of amazing.

And so the results of the day are:

So the net result:
3 1st place finishes
2 2nd place finishes
2 3rd place finishes
Overall: 2nd place

It was close enough that if I had placed in the Braemar Stone, I would have taken 1st place. There is a mixed blessing here, though. I didn't win the day, but that also means I do not have to move to the "B" class, and experience a whole new level of ass-whuppin'. It will probably happen this year, though. Not looking forward to that, so much. Though it'll still be a great feeling when it happens.

And I celebrated by finally purchasing a real-live honest-to-God kilt of my very own, in the new County Sligo Tartan. I can finally dump the Sport Kilt - which has been very nice, but has it's issues. Like falling off of me when I throw.

Pictures are available in the Gallery