For many, the Scottish field events are the heart of a Highland Games. Indeed, many games in North America have gotten their start as small competitions held between athletes and then gradually expanded as pipers, dancers and clans adopted these small games.
THE CABER TOSS is the most famous of the Scottish field events. The caber might be best described as a "baby" telephone pole which can be 12 to 19 feet long and may weigh 30 to 120 pounds. The contestant "walks" the caber until its perpendicular (with the somewhat smaller end down) and then hoists it into a carrying position, resting on the shoulder. From the carrying position, the contestant takes a few steps forward, then abruptly stops and swings both arms upward, hoping to flip the caber completely so that the small end, which was down, falls straight ahead, or at "12 o'clock". 12 o'clock is perfect, but all good scores come within the 9 o'clock to the 3 o'clock area. Timing and momentum are the keys in this event, not mere strength. All contestants in the caber events start with the lighter and short cabers and work their way up until they are eliminated.
THE SHEAF TOSS involves a burlap bag filled with straw weighing about 16 pounds. The object is to toss the bag over a cross bar using a three-pronged pitchfork. The world record for the sheaf is 26'4".
THE STONE PUT is similar to the conventional shot put event in track meets but with two exceptions. Instead of using a metal shot, the men use a stone weighing 17 pounds and the women use and 11 pound stone. Also, the style of throwing is different. The contestants dont get to make an approach like the conventional style, but must throw the stone as far as possible keeping one foot stationary against the trig. This is called the Braemar Style and the world record is 62'11".
THE WEIGHT FOR HEIGHT event uses a metal weight with a handle, the whole thing weighing 56 pounds for men and 28 pounds for women and high school boys. The object is to toss the weight as high as possible over a cross-bar using only one hand.
Only the mens division competes in the WEIGHT FOR DISTANCE event, using a 28 pound weight with a handle. The object is to throw the weight as far as possible from a trig (toe board), using only one hand and one-half turns before release. Unlike the conventional hammer, the Scottish Hammer is thrown from a fixed stance. Each competitor gets three throws, with only the longest counting.
THE ROLLING PIN is an event just for the women and girls. The pin is actually a section from the caber with a handle at one end - weighing around 20 pounds. Contestants throw the pin using and underhand one-hand throw.