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THE HIGHLAND GAMESFirst established by the kings and chiefs of Scotland

as a method for choosing the best men at arms, the

highland games have become a symbol of Scottish

and Celtic culture across the globe.

During 1952, the games debuted in Oregon when the first

Portland Highland Games were held at Jantzen Beach

Park Arena. In the decades since, the Games have evolved

into a family-friendly celebration of Scottish heritage that

honors age-old traditions including Celtic dancing,

piping competitions and Scottish heavy athletics.

GAtHER

REAL MENWEARSKIRTS

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HE IS A BOLD MAN WHO FIRST ATE A HAGGIS.

GLORIOUS

— MARY TODD LINCOLN

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SHEAF TOSSDuring the sheaf toss, a pitchfork is used to hurl a 16-pound burlap bag stuffed

with straw over a horizontal bar above the competitor’s head. Each competitor

has three chances to cleanly toss the sheaf over the bar. After all challengers

have made their attempts, the bar is raised and all successful competitors

attempt the new height. This continues until all but one athlete is eliminated.

FAIR IS FOUL AND FOUL IS FAIR.

- Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 1

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ESThe weight throw consists of two separate events — one using a light weight

and the other a heavy weight. Men use 28-pound and 56-pound weights, while

women throw 14-pound and 28-pound weights. Each weight is made of metal

with a handle attached either directly or by means of a chain. Typically, a spinning

technique is employed to throw the weight as far as possible using only one hand.

WEIGHT THROW

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The object of the caber toss is not the distance of the throw, but the

direction it falls. A perfect toss ends with the original top end nearest the

thrower and the bottom pointing away. Each throw is scored by treating the

caber as though it were the hour hand on a clock, with a perfect toss landing

at 12:00. A typical caber is a 19.5-foot-tall log that weighs over 175 pounds.

CABER TOSS

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JOIN THE GAMESWith a beer garden, a variety of delectable eats and a

wide spectrum of live entertainment, the Games offer

something for everyone. So whether you’re a first-timer,

a dedicated spectator or an avid competitor, there’s a seat at

the 2011 Portland Highland Games reserved just for you.

If that’s not enough, you can get closer to the action by

becoming a member of the Portland Highland Games

Association, sponsoring this year’s event or signing

up to volunteer on the big day.

Get the scoop at phga.org, find us on Facebook, or follow

@PDXScottishGames for the latest updates on Twitter.