(Tucson, AZ) The Tucson Tartan Day Games is a Scottish heavy athletics event hosted by the Tucson Celtic Hammerheads. The games will consist of nine events including:
Light Weight for Distance
Heavy Weight for Distance
Depending on the competitor’s entry class, the weight will be 14, 28, 42, or 56 pounds.
The weight is thrown with one hand in any method and the distance is measured from the ‘trig’ to the initial impact point of the implement.
Light Scottish Hammer
Heavy Scottish Hammer
Men throw a 16 and 22 pound hammer and women throw a 12 and 16 pound hammer.
The hammer is a metal ball attached to a handle approximately 50 inches in length.
The hammer is thrown from a stationary position and distance is measured from the ‘trig’ to the initial impact point of the implement.
Braemar Stone
The stone will vary in weight from 13 to 26 pounds. The stone is thrown with one hand from a stationary position like a shotput.
Open Stone
The stone will vary in weight between 8 to 22 pounds, depending on the entry class of the competitor.
The open stone may be thrown in any manner, including an approach or spin, but must be thrown with only one hand.
The weight will be 28, 42, or 56 pounds. It is thrown using one hand over head to clear a horizontal bar.
Sheaf Toss
A weighted burlap sack, simulating a hay bale, is thrown from a pitchfork overhead to clear a horizontal bar.
The sheaf will weigh 12, 16, or 20 pounds.
The games will include athletes of all ages. A junior’s class will include any athlete from 13 to 17 years of age. Many events include a Men’s and Women’s A, B, and C class (A class being nearly professional and C class being amateur or beginners), a lightweight class, and several Masters classes starting at age 40 in ten year increments. The Tartan Day Games this Saturday, April 1st will host four classes: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s Masters, and Women’s Masters. There will be several elite, semi-professional athletes participating in the games including Tucson locals Anthony Barrasso, Peter Doyle, and Amarissa Hawker. There will also be at least one world record holder competing in the Women’s Masters 70+ group, Sarah Stevenson.
The games are open to anyone, including first time throwers who can register on-site the day of the event. It is a fantastic environment – while there are prizes for the top three competitors in each class, each athlete is really only competing with themselves trying to set a new PR (personal record). Seasoned athletes will provide pointers throughout the events, helping the newer competitors improve their technique.
Athlete Registration will start at 8:00am on site at the Forty Niner Country Club driving range – 12000 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson AZ 85749. The games will begin at approximately 9:00am
Anyone interested in giving the events a try can join the Tucson Celtic Hammerheads for practice every Sunday morning from 9:00 to 11:00am in the winter and 8:00 to 10:00am in the summer. We practice at “Goathead Field” in South Tucson, across the street from Las Puertas Community School at 100 W 37th St, Tucson, AZ 85713. Search “Tucson Celtic Hammerheads” on Facebook for more details.
Press Release courtesy of Tucson Celtic Hammerheads – Trisha Whysong
