Athletics

4th ANNUAL MIDWEST
HIGHLAND GAMES CHAMPIONSHIP

Sponsored By

The Columbus Area Visitor Center

Athletics

The Scottish Highland Games or Heavy Athletics are the modern continuation of an ancient Celtic tradition. Each event tests the athletes strength and skill. It may seem that the sport requires brute strength alone, but developing good technique is essential to succeeding in the games.

Each athlete wears a kilt and Scottish hose, yes, real men do wear kilts! If you have any doubts, just show up at the games.

Athletic competitions originally were held between neighboring clans. During the reign of King Malcolm Canmore (1058-1093 AD), clan chiefs would hold competitions to pick the strongest men as body guards and the swiftest to be couriers.

Annual Midwest Highland Games Championship

The Columbus Scottish Festival is proud to host the Annual Midwest Highland Games Championship. Competition is held on the Clara Elizabeth Robertson Memorial Athletic Field.

With the exception of the Pro/Am Class, the 2012 Midwest Highland Games Campionship will be an open competition. Anyone wishing to compete must contact Lannie Pullon: e-mail: lanniepullon@yahoo.com . The Pro/Am Class will be by invitation only.

2011 Competition

Click here for 2011 Athletic Photo Gallery

The third Annual Midwest Championship was held at the 2011 Columbus Scottish Festival. There were 3 Games records Set or Broken.

The competition was for both amateur and professional athletes. The contest events were the following:

  • Open Stone Throw
  • 28 lb Weight Throw for Distance
  • 56 lb Weight Throw for Distance
  • Heavy Hammer
  • Caber
  • Sheaf Toss
  • 56 lb Weight Throw for Height

Brad Miller set new Games Records in the following Master Class events:

  • 28 lb Weight Throw for Distance - 69.5 ft
  • 16 lb hammer - 107.7 ft
  • 56 lb Weight Throw for Height 19 ft

Columbus Games Records

16lb open stone      
  Pro  Cory Martin   62 ft 7 in 2009
  Open Jeremy Gillingham   50 ft 11 in 2009
  190lb Luke Hilgers   43 ft 9 in 2010
  Master Barry Winters   37 ft 6½ in 2009
  Woman  Adriane Blewitt   46 ft 0 in 2009
           
56lb Wt. Throw      
  Pro  Kerry Overfelt   43 ft 8½ in 2009
  Open Jeremy Gillingham   35 ft 6 in 2009
  42lb 190lb Luke Hilgers   41 ft 4 in 2010
  42lb Master Mike Shea   50 ft 2 in 2006
  Woman (28lb) Adriane Blewitt   44 ft 2 in 2010
           
28lb Wt. Throw      
  Pro  Kerry Overfelt   80 ft 1½ in 2009
  Open Jeremy Gillingham   69 ft 6½ in 2009
  190lb Luke Hilgers   61 ft 11 in 2010
  Master Brad Miller   69 ft 6 in 2011
  Woman (14lb) Adriane Blewitt   79 ft 5 in 2010
           
22lb Hammer      
  Pro  Kerry Overfelt 111 ft 9 in 2009
  Open Lannie Pullon 100 ft 6 in 2005
  190lb Colman Ballard   75 ft 5 in 2010
  Master Doug Ballard   74 ft 3 in 2004
  16lb Woman  Adriane Blewitt   80 ft 3 in 2009
           
16lb Hammer      
  Open Lannie Pullon 125 ft 9 in 2006
  190lb Dave Carl   78 ft 85 in 2006
  Master Brad Miller 107 ft 8 in 2011
  Woman (12lb) Adrinne Blewitt   80 ft 4 in 2010
           
20lb Sheaf      
  Pro  Kerry Overfelt   28 ft 0 in 2010
  Open Jeremy Gillingham   29 ft 0 in 2009
           
16lb Sheaf      
  Open Jeremy Gillingham   32 ft 6 in 2008
  190lb Colman Ballard   27 ft 0 in 2010
  Master Rhett Bobzien   30 ft 0 in 2007
  Woman (12lb) Emily Berchet   24 ft 0 in 2010
           
56Lb Wt. Toss      
  Pro  Kerry Overfelt   17 ft 0 in 2009
  Open Lannie Pullon   15 ft 0 in 2006
  42lb 190lb Luke Hilgers   15 ft 0 in 2009
  42lb Master Brad Miller   19 ft 0 in 2011
  Woman (28lb) Adriane Blewitt   17 ft 0 in 2010