With the Royal Highland Games set to take place in Aberdeen on the first weekend of September, your intrepid scribe thought it might be interesting to look at the whole phenomenon of highland games.

Aside from being a mainstay of the summer events schedule throughout Scotland, highland games are held in just about every city and town in North America from Las Vegas to Moose Jaw Saskatchewan, but it doesn’t end there. Games are regularly staged in such unlikely locales as Jakarta.

While debate rages among Scots, as to when and where the first highland games were actually held, there can be little doubt that traditional games of agility and strength have been practised in the Highlands from very early times. Formalisation and annual gatherings began around 1820 as part of the revival of “Tartan and Highland Culture” encouraged by Sir Walter Scott. In 1848 the Braemar Highland Games was attended by Queen Victoria.

By the mid 1800s the competitions were much as they are today - with the so-called heavy events (traditional stone and hammer throwing and tossing the caber) - as well as piping, dancing and track events such as running and jumping. In recent years highland events, not just in Scotland, but worldwide have enjoyed a surge in popularity. The British Royal family often turns up at the Braemar gathering.

Whether you get to experience the games of Braemar or Lincoln New Hampshire, here is your definitive guide to some of the competitions you’re likely to witness.

Putting the Shot is probably the oldest of the heavyweight sports and was the easiest for young lads to take up - all they needed was a smooth stone from the riverbed. The stones vary between 13lb (5.9kg) as at Tomintoul, and 28lb (12.7kg) as at Glen Isla and Braemar.

That variation makes it impossible to compare the results from one event to the next, although there is a move to use one of two standard weights, 16lb or 22lb. The shot is thrown with one hand only from in front of the shoulders. A run not exceeding 7ft 6ins (2.3m) is allowed up to the trig (the release point). 

Tossing the caber is easily the most recognisable trademark of Scottish Highland games, and is one of the most spectacular of the heavy events. The origins of the caber toss are unknown, but it is believed that foresters trying to prove their strength to each other developed the contest.

The caber - or cabar in Gaelic – is essentially a big log that can vary in size and weight but usually averages about 150lb (68kg) and is about 18 feet (5.5m) long. Caber trivia: the largest caber recorded in the Guinness Book of records is 25ft (7.62m) and 280lb (127kg).

Inexperienced caber watchers don’t realise that the caber is not thrown for distance but for style. Officials will set the caber on end with the thickest portion at the top. The athlete rests the caber against his shoulder and, clasping his arms around it, performs the difficult task of lifting it up off the ground whilst keeping it perfectly balanced. When he’s achieved that, he will give it a quick flick up and move his hands under the narrow end. He’s now ready to throw.

So if not for distance, what? Imagine clock-face on the ground in front of the thrower, with him facing the 12 o’clock position. Balancing the caber the competitor runs until he hits the desired speed, then stops abruptly at the 6 o’ clock position, and heaves the caber up so that its heavy end lands in the middle of the clock and the caber tumbles end over end, with the narrow end pointing towards the 12 o’clock position. The closer the caber is to the 12 o’clock position the higher the points awarded.

Throwing the weight is often confused with the hammer throw. First we’ll address throwing the weight. This is divided into two different events: throwing it for distance and throwing it for height. When going for distance there are two standard weights, the most common being 28lbs (12.7kgs).  The weight consists of ball, chain and handle, the overall length of which must not exceed 18 inches (0. 45m).

The thrower grasps the weight in one hand, spins round and throws it as far as possible. The thrower has a distance of nine feet (2.7m) before reaching the trig or release point. Grasping the weight and facing the trig, he stands beside the peg and swings the weight to the side and then round behind him. He’s now ready to start his throw consisting of three waltzing turns to gather momentum. On the third pirouette and at exactly the right moment, he heaves the weight as far as he can. (A protective cage extends around the sides and rear of the thrower to safeguard the public!)

Throwing the weight for height involves a 56Ib (24.5kgs) box weight with a ring attached. As in the high jump, a bar is raised between two posts and each contestant has up to three attempts to get the weight over the bar at each height. The weight soars through the air, over the bar and lands just inches from the competitor. It may look easy, but it has been compared to throwing a young lad over a double-decker bus with one hand.

Throwing the hammer dates back to the days of the blacksmith, when they threw wooden-handled sledgehammers. In days of old, throwers spun round repeatedly to gain momentum and distance but a slight error in timing often left spectators looking face to face with a flying hammer. Today the thrower uses a 16lb (7.3kg) or 22lb (10kg) metal weight on a rattan or bamboo shaft. The thrower stands with his back to the trig (the throwing mark), swings the hammer round his head to gather momentum and then releases it over his shoulder. In this game, distance rules.

Track events at the games include running jumping and or course the traditional tug or war. Aside from the athletic competitions, any highland games event worth its Glenfiddich will also have a generous share of pipe bands and highland dancing. There’s always lots of traditional food and drink and it’s a great way to spend an afternoon.

For more information on the Braemar event on 3rd September 2011, visit http://www.braemargathering.org. For this season’s events on the other side of the globe, visit http://www.scotsofaus.org.au/highgather.html#berwick.

Local Scottish societies can be contacted through http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2403988213 (Dubai), http://www.adscots.com (Abu Dhabi)