Track and Field

Putting the shot or stone
By tradition a smooth, round stone from the riverbed is used, weighing approx. 16lbs. The stone and now also a cast ball or shot, putted from behind a straight stick 4'6" long and 6' high called a trig. The throw is measured from the centre of the trig to the first mark made by the stone. The stone used at Inveraray is from the River Aray.

Weight for Distance
The weight is a ball and chain with a handle on the end weighing 28lbs or 56lbs. Nine feet is allowed for stepping back. The thrower stands facing the trig, swings the weight to the side and then round behind him. On the third pivot the thrower heaves the weight round and throws it as far as he can.

Hammer Throwing
The Scots Hammer had a wooden shaft and developed from throwing the blacksmith's hammer or farm mallet. The hammer used at Inveraray, with its round head and whippy shaft, is made from Molakin cane. The thrower stands with his back to the trig and digs in with the aid of two 6" spikes, which protrude from the front of his boots. The shaft is grasped firmly with hands made sticky with resin. He then swings the hammer round his head 3-4 times and lets go.

Weight over the Bar
This weighs 56lbs and is thrown over a bar. Three attempts are allowed at each height and failure to clear leads to elimination. The competitor stands underneath the bar, picks up the weight with one hand, swings it between his legs and then heaves it up and over the bar - hoping the weight misses him on the way down!

Tossing the Caber
Caber tossing started as a strength competition among woodmen to see who could turn the biggest tree over. A typical caber is a tree trunk weighing about 150lbs and is 18ft long. The Challenge Caber at Inveraray Highland Games is one of the longest in the games circuit measuring an impressive 21 feet and 6 inches! The caber is not tossed for distance but style, the competition is judged on an imaginary clock face. The competitor runs up balancing the caber, stops and tries to toss the caber over. The point where the competitor stops is taken as 6 o'clock then the caber lands end first and completes its fall to the ground. A perfect throw is one, which goes straight over and lands at 12 o'clock. The judge has to run behind the