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Competitions
HEAVY GAMES
Heavy athletics refer to the athletic events which require significant strength and power and include stone-throwing, weight tossing, hammer-throwing, caber turning, and sheaf tossing.
Weight for Height & Distance
The 56lb. Weight for Height is the same as used for distance except it is shorter. The weight is tossed over a cross bar with one hand. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, then he is out of the competition. The 56lb. Weight for Distance can be either block or spherical shaped with links and a handle. The overall length cannot exceed 18″. The weight is thrown with one hand in a throwing area 4′ 6″ x 9′. The thrower must keep one foot inside this area and not step over the back line or inside face of the trig or the throw is a foul.
Stone Put
The Open Stone Put is similar to the shot put except a stone is used that usually weighs between 16 and 22 pounds. It is called “open” style because any style of putting is allowed with the spin and glide styles being the most popular. The throwing area is a box 4′ 6″ wide and 7′ 6″ long. The thrower must keep one foot inside this area and not step over the back line or inside face of the trig or the throw is a foul. The Braemar Stone Put uses a heavier stone usually between 22 and 28 pounds and it must be put from a standing position. The same throwing area and fouls for the open stone apply.
Sheaf Toss
The sheaf is a 16 or 20 pound burlap or plastic bag stuffed with either chopped rope, straw, or mulch. The sheaf is tossed over a cross bar with a pitch fork. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, the he or she is out of the competition.
The 22 lb. Hammer Throw & 16 lb. Hammer Throw
The hammer has a lead or steel head with a bamboo or rattan handle affixed through a hole in the head. The overall length cannot exceed 50″. The athlete stands behind the trig with his back to the throwing area, winds the hammer around the head and releases over the shoulder. The athlete’s feet must remain in a fixed position until the hammer is released. Boots with blades attached to the front of them are usually worn to keep the feet on the ground and in a fixed position.
Caber Toss
The Caber is a tree that has been cut and trimmed down so one end is slightly wider than the other. It can vary in length from 16 to 22 feet and between 100 and 180 pounds. The caber is stood up for the thrower with the large end in the air. The thrower hoists the caber up and cups the small end in his hands. He then takes a short run with the caber, stops, and pulls the caber so that the large end hits the ground and the small end flips over to face away from the thrower. The caber is scored for accuracy as though the thrower is facing the 12:00 position on a clock face. A judge behind the thrower calls how close to the 12:00 position the small end of the caber landed, 12:00 being a perfect toss.