Shaun and Jenni Ings out of Winnipeg are the organizers of the Highland Heavy Games at the Deloraine Fair. Jenni’s parents, Lee and Roberta Hutchinson, moved to Deloraine around 2021, and in 2022 Jenni and Shaun came for a visit during the fair weekend. After seeing the space and getting a feel for the community, they knew the fair would be the perfect venue to bring the Games to the area.
In fact, both Jenni and Shaun have roots in southwest Manitoba: Shaun’s family homestead is in Waskada, and Jenni grew up in Oak Lake. Not only that, but according to Jenni there are a lot of throwers from the area, including Souris and Pierson. In an area that tends to focus on team sports like hockey and baseball, the couple figured it would be nice to bring something fun and different to the area.
The Highland Games started gaining popularity in Manitoba around 25 years ago thanks to Folklorama, Winnipeg’s annual multicultural festival. That is where Shaun was introduced to them nine years ago.
“I used to powerlift, so I figured it was up my alley,” he said.
It did not take long before he fell in love with the sport and started travelling to competitions around western Canada. The word “competition” seems to be a bit of a misnomer, however.
“It’s very welcoming and non-competitive,” said Shaun. “The better I see others do, it pushes me to do better. It ends up being more of a competition with yourself rather than with the other throwers, you want to beat your own score.”
This support was exemplified at the Deloraine Fair when competitor Ariel Griffin wanted to try the caber toss for the first time. All of the other throwers were around her, showing her the proper stance, giving her tips and guiding her, then loudly cheering her on as she made her attempts.
Last year was Jenni’s first time competing in the Highland Games. She decided to participate because she wanted to see more female representation in the sport.
“It was intimidating, but I decided to try,” she said. “I wanted to show people that if someone my size can do it, anyone can do it.”
Three women, including Jenni, competed in Deloraine’s games and one even broke a few Canada-wide records. Stephanie Outhwaite of Killarney broke two records in Deloraine that weekend and already holds two other records in the Women’s Masters division.
There are three divisions that a thrower can officially compete in: lightweight (under 200 lbs), heavyweight (over 200 lbs), or masters (determined by experience and age), with divisions for men and women. Competitions consist of nine events where throwers earn points, however, generally the fewest number of points wins.
Events include the stone put, which is like Olympic shot put, but with an irregular, natural stone weighing up to 26 lbs for men and 18 lbs for women, and is judged by distance; the Scottish hammer throw, where competitors swing the equivalent of a sledge hammer overhead and release hoping for maximum distance; throwing weights (as much as 56 lbs for men and 28 lbs for women) for distance and over a bar; the sheaf toss, where contestants toss a burlap sack filled with straw over a bar using a pitchfork; and the crowd favourite, the caber toss, which involves a tapered log between 15 and 20 feet long and 60 to 180 lbs that has to be gripped, lifted, balanced, and then tossed end over end, preferably landing in the 12 o’clock position.
According to Shaun, getting the technique down is the hardest part.
“Some events require brute strength, some are more technique. Like with the caber toss, it focuses more on athleticism. You need strength, but you also need to know how to counter-balance and run with it.”
He said it can be tough to get the technique down without the proper implements, which has led him to make his own out of gym-style weights and even large stones.
Despite being nearly 1,000 years old, the Games continue to stay as traditional as they can. Throwers are required to wear a kilt (unless they are first-timers) and for the most part, events are performed in the same way they were back then. The largest difference now is that the Games are just for fun, not to determine a chieftain or the best soldiers, and that women compete as well. Diversity is growing in the sport, with some competitions able to have a full women’s’ division, but the real attraction seems to be the traditional aspect.
“I like the history behind it,” said Jenni. “Knowing that my ancestors did this helps me get closer to my roots.”
by JACQUIE MAYNARD
Recorder staff