Build a caber and they'll come

Well, it's not quite that simple, but how many places can you go to practice with a caber, Braemar stone, or sheaf and highbar? Six of our competitors met for such a practice session this past Saturay, September 20th, as a reschedule of our Sept. 6th date that was a rainout thanks to Hanna.
We had Kathy and Jeannie returning to tune up for their sibling rivalry on Game day. We regret that Robin had to withdraw but heartily support her in this decision. Our ladies 'had at it' with stone, sheaf and caber and are looking better everytime they throw. The bar keeps moving up for the sheaf toss!
Our men were represented by Chris Mitchum and our three competitors from last year: Mike, Chuck and Paul; Paul made the drive from Aldie, VA, so you know he's motivated. Chuck narrowly missed an airborne collision with Mike's demo stone toss for the ladies. Mike is supposed to be the responsible athletic director; you'd think he'd look down field before letting lose. Chuck was spared a trip to the ER and Mike learned an important lesson.
We welcomed newcomer, Chris Mitchum, of Joppa, MD to the practice field. Chris and Paul had personal firsts in turning caber #1; now how about caber #2 guys? Congratulations to all on a successful practice and some personal bests.
This is all firing up to be a great competition for ladies and men on October 25th. Next and final practice is Saturday, October 4th, fittingly a birthday for our own Chuckie Mchaggis.

Highland Games faces for 2008

Things are going to be different at The McCullough Scottish Games this year, at least as far as our competitiors. Thanks to my sisters, Kathy and Jeannie, and my wife, Robin, we will have a Ladies competition. They are competing in Highland events of stone put, sheaf toss, and caber, so come and cheer them on. Over the next three months they will continue to practice in preparation to 'have at it' on October 25th. The ladies will be first up, no pressure of course, but I'm sure they'll be psyched and maybe a little nervous, but that should flee after the first throw or two.

All of our men from last year: myself, my brother Paul, and Chuck Trader, are returning for this year's fight. Joining us with super enthusiasm is Aaron Stout from Millersville, MD. Isn't that name 'Stout', just what you'd expect for a HIghland Games competitor? We hope to add one or two other guys of like caliber, novices like the rest of us.

Our men will do the Braemar stone toss, sheaf toss, stone for height, weight over bar, the Scottish light hammer, and the caber. There's a lot of hype this year over the new caber. Much to the liking of our men, last year's caber will also be available. If you have an opportunity to see the Games you'll know why we say "see iron, stone and wood take wing".

Highland Games Practice_July 12, 2008

A warm, humid late morning start welcomed the first summer practice leading up to The McCullough Scottish Games in October of this year. I practiced with Chuck Trader, long-time friend and returning athlete from last year's Games. Chuck has been working out at Bali's since last year and is ready to compete. Way to go 'Big Guy', your hard work will pay off!
We started off with the over the bar toss of a 42# stone, then on to weight over bar with our 35 pounder. I introduced Chuck to the Scottish hammer and he did well with this "new" event; we will continue to work on our throwing technique. A priority of our practice time was to work with the caber from last year, which we now affectionately call 'Toothpick" as we also attempted to handle the new caber of 16+ feet and 80+ pounds, which we call '%*@$^!!!!!!!!'. All we can do is continue to throw and, in time, we will get better.
It wouldn't be an "official" practice without the due humor and harrasment from my English neighbor David, who concurred with Chuck that I am definitely a 100% bonified madman. I wonder if the kilt had anything to do with this?
We missed our other athletes:
Kathy, who is away for the month at Cape Cod, Jeannie, who suffered a bump to the head this week and is recuperating - "Get well soon, Jeannie", Aaron who was waiting on Comcast's installation at his new apartment - "Congratulations on your new job and apartment, Aaron"; and Paul, who was at the dentist's - "Hope he used Novocaine, Paul", and my dear Robin, who will be practicing tomorrow.
Our visitors at the end of today's session were Patrick Vadnais, his Mom, who is visiting from Springfield, MA and Pat's son Ryan.
Next practice is Saturday, August 2nd at 10:00AM. Hope to see you all there!

Practice makes better

This weekend of May 3,4 marked our opening athlete practice for those interested in competing in our McCullough Scottish Games on October 25, 2008. Let me first give a well-deserved congratulations to Robin, Kathy, Jeannie and Aaron who came out to attempt the previously untried Highland events to prove again that "practice makes better". Practice sessions this weekend were held Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. The rain never showed up Saturday during practice and Sunday was clear.

It looks like we will be able to have our ladies competition this year. Our daring threesome set out Saturday to learn the caber toss, stone put and sheaf toss. We used what I referred to as a "ladies caber" made of two milled 2 x 4s, eight feet in length, a good height and weight to learn the elements of the caber toss. I thought I had sanded it enough but Jeannie said she was getting splinters in her neck...oops. Kathy requested that the caber, sheaf and pitchfork be brought to her home for our Mother's Day celebration, so we'll be "taking the show on the road".
A special thanks goes to Robin for coming out to practice after a particularly tough week at work and late night on Friday.

I heard this week from Aaron Stout of his interest in competing this year, so we arranged a Sunday afternoon practice as this is my usual time for my own Highland Games workout. Aaron brought with him a good measure of enthusiasm and hung in there with the six events: stone put, caber toss, light hammer throw, sheaf toss, stone over bar and weight over bar. I will let you know that he was able to turn the caber on his third attempt, not bad at all.

This was a terrific start to our open training sessions of 2008. Remember that practice will make you better, so keep the future scheduled sessions on your calendar radar.


Closing thought:
Just as practice will make you better, become your best in life by finding God's purpose for you in relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.

No, siriusly .... but I am sirius

So what do you do in Scottish Games? "Well it involves what are called heavy athletics, in which weighty objects are thrown about." As you find yourself explaining this do not be troubled by the thought of being labelled eccentric, or weird, especially when you get into the kilt thing. Americans are not use to men going about in kilts, much less doing athletics in them. So if you get the reply "You're not serious!". Just remember The Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black, and firmly reply "Yes, I am Sirius".

Caber quest

Having never attempted a caber toss before 2007, I can say that it is a daunting task. While it is not as technique intensive as the weight for distance throw, which I will stay away from for some time yet; it is nonetheless a profound challenge to pull off. You'll probably beat your collarbone area up pretty bad with bruising as you learn to balance the caber after lifting it off the ground instead of letting it rest too far backwards. Once lifted and balanced you then must run forward to build up speed before you release the caber with an upward pull of the arms.
After your success with that first caber you'll want to test your learned skills out on one that is larger, as in longer and heavier. This is where we find ourselves for the next McCullough Scottish Games, for we are on a quest for this new challenge caber. I am glad to say that the new caber was felled on March 9, 2008 in a location that must remain somewhat of a mystery for now. The raw stock piece is from a red maple and must be weighed and dimensioned before it can be cut to exact specifications of weight and height. I'm hoping for a finished caber of 16 feet and 95 pounds.
So if you compete in our Games of '08 you'll have a choice of two cabers, last year's model and the '08 beastie. Of course your score will be higher for a successful toss of our new stick. I think this all started when Dad and Mom got me that Lincoln Log set.

May I have a piper please!

Pictured here is the gentleman who played the bagpipes at our inaugural McCullough Scottish Games held on 03 Nov 07. Franklin McQuay is a friend of my brother Paul. When we were planning last year's Games, Franklin came immediately to mind. I knew he had been playing for many years and is an accomplished piper. Thankfully he was able to accent our competition with Scottish music and instrument and, as you see, came dressed for the occassion.
Our family had the opportunity to visit Great Britain over the Easter week of 1997. The latter half of that week we spent in Edinburgh starting off with Easter morning service at Carrubbers Christian Centre, a church on the Royal Mile. While in Edinburgh we stayed at the Falcon Crest B&B, which I can highly recommend. Walking through the streets of the "new" town I remember hearing the strains of bagpipes playing and as we followed our ears to find the source we came upon a young man attired in kilt and handsome dress, the originator of the sound so very much associated with Scotland.
We look forward to having Franklin return for the '08 Games on October 25th. Please join us for a taste of Scotland right here in Baldwin, Maryland.