It is a late summer morning in Altamont, shadowed by the Helderberg escarpment and the morning mist covers the field.  In the distance, a lone piper can often be heard.  It is now that they begin to assemble, representing varied clans and nations. They are sometimes imposing figures, often they are not, some young and others not so. They are fierce competitors and they arrive to begin their day of Highland Athletic Competition.  

There are five classes of athletic competition at the Capital District Scottish Games. They include; Men's Open, Men's Masters, Men's Senior Masters, Amateur and Women's Open.   The first three classes compete on Saturday of the Labor Day Weekend. The Amateur and Women's competition will be held on Sunday. 

A registration is required to compete, there are no on field registrations.  The classes are limited in size and preference is given to those who have competed before.  CLICK HERE FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM. 

There are seven events in the competition and athletes are required to participate in all events. The events are as follows (click here for NASGA Rules): 

Stone Throw -  The stone is a common field stone weighing between 14 and 16 pounds and is thrown for distance.  It is usually thrown like a shot-put. 

Weight for Distance -  There are two separate events here the first is the heavy weight (42 to 56 pound depending on the Athlete class) and the light weight (14 to 16 pounds) .  It is a cast or molded metal weight on the end of a handle and short chain. Depending on the weight the throwers use various methods achieve the distance throw. Heavier weights are usually a pendulum method between the legs and the lighter weights are sometimes done with a spinning motion .  In both of these events and in the Stone Throw, the athlete is required to throw from behind a trig and from within the throwers' box.  The implements are again scored on their distance thrown from the trig to the impact point on the ground. 

Hammer Throw-  This event uses  a Hammer, ( not a framer's hammer or sledge hammer) a weighted ball from 14 to 22 pounds depending on the class on a handle ( PVC, Bamboo and Rattan are common)that is no longer than 50 inches. The hammer is thrown from a fixed standing position and thrown for distance. 

Caber Toss - This is the crowd favorite, and no, it's not a telephone pole!  It is a wooden pole ranging from 15 to 20 something feet in length and the weight varies, normally over 100 pounds . The caber in a perfect toss will pass through the vertical position and land with the small end pointing directly at 12 o'clock away from the competitor in an imaginary straight line extending from the competitor through the initial landing point and in line with the direction of the run. 

Sheaf Toss -  The sheaf resembles a bale, it is usually a bag, burlap or plastic weave, filled with straw or rope, weighing between 12 and 22 pounds and tossed with a pitch fork over a bar for height.   

Weight for Height -   It is the same heavy weight used earlier in the day but with a shortened handle and again thrown over a bar for height. 

For further information regarding the athletic competition: 

Bill Schmitt, Chairman

209 Consaul Road

Albany, NY 12205-3607

518-857-6164

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