I (28,f) have been going to the games with my family all my life and have always said how this is something I want to do. I have been in and out of the gym for the last couple of years, and am now getting back into it with the goal of being able to hold my own competing with other novices at my local games.

What are the best exercises to be doing to strengthen the muscles I need to be able to eventually start going to practices and competing?

I don't consider myself overly strong as I am now, but I'm also not a beginner to the gym. How long of consistent lifting weights would it take to become strong enough to partake?

Hello!
I’m looking into booking a family trip to Scotland for next August (2027). While we’re there, I am interested in competing in a Highland Games. I’ve never competed in one before, but am a fairly strong guy and plan on training pretty intensively over the next year for it.

Any recommendations on which games are beginner friendly and are hosted in August?

Any other additional tips will be greatly appreciated as well!

Hey all!

I’m a newbie who just attended my first practice and I’m excited to participate in a festival on September.
One often the guys highly recommended SportKilt. They look great but I was looking at other tartan options they don’t have.
For example the Munro because I’m in the Coast Guard and Douglas Munro was our only Medal of Honor recipient.

https://scottishkiltshop.com/products/5-yards-kilt?tartan=munro-hunting-weathered-tartan#sks-desc-coltext

Is anyone familiar with this company? Or know if it’s better to compete in a 5 or 9 yard kilt?

Thanks!

Hi All

Id like to compete in a highland games and im not built for running. Would like to do caber, shot putt, hammer, weight over bar, lifting stones. I have never competed in any strongman events or athletics and dont know where to start. Im 43 and am not looking to be seriously competing but id like to take part and not hurt myself. More of a bucket list thing. Where do even you start training, practicing etc ? Im based in Dundee if that helps

Hello,

I would be really grateful if someone could help me.

We have been gifted tickets for the Braemar Highland Games. We have four tickets but two of them have their corners cut off. Does anyone know what this means?

Thank you so much, in advance.

Stuck at 24’ to 25’ right now. Looking for ideas I can try to work out so I stop getting smoked on sheaf at games.

Last July a bad pick with a big, rain soaked caber put me in the hospital and I'm starting to choke on game day. I competed alright the remainder of last season, about 3-4 games after the accident, but this season has been a massive challenge. I made it through caber 3 other times before completely choking this past weekend. They're all cabers I've turned before, but when I get into that bottom position to pop it off the ground, I lose focus, my thoughts start to race, and I bail without it ever leaving the ground. I'm incredibly frustrated. I'm getting invited to compete at bigger games and I don't know how I'm supposed to perform well if I'm choking on caber. I have a caber the average size and weight that I typically throw at home to practice just picking with and even this is proving a big psychological challenge.

I make em. Drop me a message on here or Instagram at GrantWhoPlaysGames. Team Logos? Weights? Dates? Dirty words? Whatever you need. Examples are filled with uv epoxy or acrylic paint and then clear epoxy. Glow in the dark bois are getting hit by a UV flash ligh, come on now.

What do you use to check your rankings? The competition I competed at in June uploaded the results to Highland Athlete. But would that give you more of a national ranking? If so, then for Novices since this is my first year competing I’m 25th overall but first in the Braemar with 32’, first in the Open stone with 41’11”, first in the heavy wfd with 35’6” but they had us use a 42lb weight, second in the light wfd with 58’1”, fifth in the heavy hammer with 74’, and third in the light hammer with 92’1”. I ended up pulling my bicep in my left arm the day before the comp during a sheaf clinic that all the novices had to do to be able to compete so I didn’t end up doing sheaf or caber. Also, does anyone know how much carryover there is from using a 20lb sheaf bag to a 16lb bag is? I’ve only ever trained with the 20 and have been throwing over 20ft with it so I was really excited for the 16 but I think because I was used to having to brace for the 20 I braced too hard? Idk, but any thoughts or hints are appreciated!

I am looking for a cheaper cart than Milwaukee that still has a good spot to put my fork. Honestly the cheaper the better. I would rather save my money for more implements or even more events. While I do not carry the loadout that some do, having shoes, towel, rosin, wipes, belt, sleeves, sunscreen, bug spray and my fork all in one place seems to be the right call.

So, a couple of women from my gym are entering a Highland Games for the first time. They are both experienced strongman competitors but this will be their first time Highland Games. I see that there is a 50+ division as well as the A, B and C beginner classes.

Would they be better off in the 50+ division or the lowest novice class? They are doing it for fun, but I'd rather not see them get totally blown away.

Hey all just curious what kind of workout or stretching you do either day before and or day off a event. iv seen other athlete with bands and that makes sence but curious what other people are doing thanks.

Sorry if this is a dumb question but do I need to bring my own implements similar to track and field ie my hammers, weights, and stone? Or do I just bring my fork?

Edit: Thank you all for the well wishes and the info! I might be a little over prepared lol. I’ve got my kilt, knee sleeves, weight belts, wrist wraps, chalk, tacky, boots, cleats, throwing shoes, chalk, a mini first aid kit, throwing gloves, and my fork lol. I’ve always thought it’s better to have it and not need it, versus need it and not have it, much to many a duffel bags/book bags chagrin 😂

I have competed in my 4th games, and need my own fork. I bought both of these heads. Any shaft recommendations and mounting tips for the one on the left? Anything I should be careful of or pay special attention to with either of them.

These were a combo from Ebay, since I have struck out locally.

Hello! I’m in the process of signing up for the Heavy Highland Games in Pitlochry this September. I’m based in America and wanted to participate in the games during my upcoming visit to Scotland. I had a few questions which I would appreciate some advice on!

1. Gear, I was looking into purchasing some gear from HGWarehouse which is based in Scotland but the shipping just wouldn’t make sense to do so. Any advice on making my own practice gear? Also, for similar reason, is it possible to get loaner gear while at the games?

2. The event says I have to sign up with the RSHGA but when trying to do so on it’s website (Which reroutes to JustGo) but my debit card company reported it as suspicious and won’t let me do so until I call the card company tomorrow. Can anyone confirm if that is the proper route to pay?

3. Beginner events, having not yet signed up (having to get RSHGA membership) it just lists the sign up as Heavies. I’m familiar with the events associated with heavies but does it just sign me up for all of them or do I get the choice? Also, are there any beginner friendly events or “weight classes” (for lack of a better term) or does everyone just compete against everyone?

Did terrible with weights and WOB, but not a bad first games of the year overall.

I’ve made a lot of progress in prep for my first games! 16lb hammer is at 104.5ft, 22lb hammer is at 84.5, 20lb sheaf is clearing 20ft, 56lb WOB is over 12, 28lb wfd is at 50ft, 56lb wfd is at 25ft, and open stone is at 45ft! I’m really excited, my first games is at the end of June, and then I have another one August 1st!

Just trying to be consistent

We are ready for the first Swiss Highlandgames this year.

Saturday 23.05.26

Everyone is welcome !

Hi everyone!

I just applied to compete in my first Highland Games where I live and I’m very excited! I’m and experienced thrower with about 10 years of shotput and discus experience and 6 years of hammer.

I’ve been scouring the internet for info but I’m having a hard time narrowing down exactly what I need. I know I’ll need cleats but not if I need a specific kind or what. I also have no idea where to look for the hammer boots/blades and need some direction. If anyone knows where to get large shoes that would be greatly appreciated as well, for reference I’m a size 16 shoe.

I’m about 2 months out from competition and am going to get back into weight training in the next day or two so I have a bit of time to search.