It is believed that the origins of the Highland Games came from the 11th century, when King Malcolm III (infamous for killing MacBeth), held a contest in the Braes of Mar to find the fastest runners and toughest fighting men. Other games events have been added over the centuries, perhaps stemming from the events such as weddings, and from the simple amusements of working men. During various times of the English occupation, from before the Wars of Independence to the suppression after the Jacobite wars, the men of Scotland were forbidden to bear or train with arms, in an attempt to prevent another popular Scottish uprising. Scots continued to train for war; they simply did so with the implements of war replaced with the implements of the Highland games.

The events that will be in the competition at the Northeastern South Dakota Celtic Heavy Games are the Caber Toss, Sheaf Toss, Putting of the Stone, Traditional Tug of War, Hammer Throw, Weight for Distance, and Weight over the Bar.  Clicking on the Athletic Events in the menu above will give you a quick description.

Interested?  Click Here for an athletic entry form.  Hope to see you there!