Other Scottish Heavy Athletics organizations in the States are:

• North American Scottish Games Athletics (Eastern U.S.)
• Rocky Mountain Scottish Athletic Group (Middle U.S.)
• Southeast Scottish Amateur Athletic Association (Southeastern U.S.)

For those interested in getting started in Scottish Heavy Athletics, try the San Francisco Caledonian Club's page at http://www.caledonian.org/history/letsgo.html. (Thanks to Jim Jardine)

Generally:
Scots were (and are) a hardy lot. In the old days, they were forever holding contests of strength, sometimes to determine who would lead into battle, or who would become the next Chief of the Clan, but more often than not for the same reason Sir Edmund Hilary climbed Everest--- "because it was there..." Put simply, the Scots competed with each other because they enjoyed it immensely. Over the years, the events coalesced into the competitive Heavy Athletic events we see today at Highland Games throughout the world.

There are six classes of competitive athlete: Open or Professional Class, Class 'A' Amateur, Class 'B' Amateur, Class 'C' Amateur (Novice), Masters Class, Womens' Class.

Professionals don't always compete at each event: they come from such diverse places as Melbourne, Australia Joe Quigley); San Jose, California/USA (Jim McGoldrick); London, Ontario/Canada (Harry MacDonald). These athletes compete for trophies and prize money. Frequently they're granted 'appearance money' to help defray the cost of a long trip to compete at the Games.

Amateur athletes are generally current or former college track and field competitors. A look at the Amateur athlete roster sees competitors from all over the States: Dunedin FL, Mesa AZ, Enumclaw WA, Myrtle Creek OR, Reno NV, etc.

Some 'A' Class Amateurs are former Olympic qualifiers. These athletes compete for trophies and medals. They're the top of the line in amateur athletic competitions at the Highland Games.

'B' Class Amateurs aren't quite up to the performance standards displayed by the 'A' lads. A move-up to Class 'A' requires the Class 'B' athlete to equal or surpass standards set by SAAA in each of five events; and when he meets the tests he then qualifies for Class 'A.' The Class 'B' competitors are usually those men who have been working on their strength and proficiency and hope to make the move-up to 'A.'

Additionally, there is a Class 'C' or Novice class. These are athletes just getting started. As their proficiency increases, they move up to more demanding classes of competition.

Masters Class are usually former Class 'A' or 'B' athletes who have crossed that bridge nearly all of us come to: they are over fifty years of age.

Womens' Class is a classification recognizing that Women's Scottish Athletics are every bit as valid and viable as anything the men do. The ladies throw lighter weights than the men, but otherwise they train with the same intensity and compete with the same ferocity as any braw lad could do.

PUTTING THE STONE (Braemar Style)
In the Braemar event, the only difference between this and Regular Style is the stone weighs 28 pounds and no run-up is allowed.

SCOTTISH HAMMER
The Scottish hammer requres an athlete to plant his feet in place, facing away from the throwing area. He whirls the hammer around his head three times and finally releases it downfield. He's not allowed to move his feet until after he releasess the hammer or he disqualifies. Hammerheads are of metal, and weigh either 16 pounds (light hammer) or 22 pounds (heavy hammer).

WEIGHT FOR DISTANCE
Here, the choice of weight is 28-pound or 56-pound. In either case, a competitor tries to throw the metal weight-chain-handring combination for distance after up to a 9-foot runup. Competitors may use only one hand, and are required to be standing when through. Scottish athletes take their cues from the Greek discus throwers: they frequently spin a time or two before releasing. Again, stepping on or past the trig results in a disqualification.

56-POUND WEIGHT FOR HEIGHT
The object here is to make a one-handed toss of a 56-pound weight over a bar high above the ground. An athlete is not required to compete until the bar is at a height where he wishes to enter the competition. Thereafter, having made his height upon entering, the competitor must successfully throw each time the bar is raised. Each athlete gets three tries to clear the bar. A "touch," where the weight touches the bar on the way over but doesn't dislodge it, is judged a successful throw. If more than one competitor fails at the same height, then the one who made the previous height with fewer misses is the winner.