Stone for height

[Kilted_MJM]

As part of our first Highland Games competition I introduced an event called "stone for height". Using the same bar as for the sheaf toss and weight over bar, you make a two-handed throw of a 42 lb stone. It's like the Braemar Stone Toss in that you throw in place without any approach. See me demonstrate this on YouTube

Tell me what you think; would you include this event in your Highland Games competition or like Hamish's father in Braveheart, when speaking of the Irishman Michael, he muttered the missive "insane Irish"?

[Yaish]

You can't just "add" it as an event for official consideration, there are only nine authorized events for the purposes of ranking in the Highland Games.

It could certainly be added as a challenge event, but I would suggest getting a bigger, heavier stone.
The problem I see would be with the dynamics of the event itself. Whenever doing a height event it takes forever for each competitor to attempt each height. Especially for a challenge event where no one is likely to know how high they need to come in and will likely come in early, thus making everything go longer.
That's the reason I don't really like the keg toss as a challenge event. It just takes too long and it doesn't look that dramatic. It doesn't hold the crowds interest that well when they watch.

My favorite challenge event would have to be the Anvil Toss (for distance) and the Idiot Stone (100 lbs, for distance). It goes quickly, it looks great for the audience because they can see this huge stone being hurled, and you don't have to stop and fix the bar like in the height events when someone hits it.

[Kilted_MJM]

Yaish,

With respect to your comments on my query of adding "stone for height" to Highland games competitions, I will clarify my intent. You are correct to point out that this is not a "sanctioned" event and cannot be added as such, though I do like the prospect of innovation with new events. You make a plausible connection between my "stone for height" and challenge events that are part of some Highland games. The latter have perhaps been influenced by Strongman competitions and so we also see Strongman athletes taking part in Highland games on an international scope. How many of us have seen the caber turned by Sebastian Wenta?