BIRNAM HIGHLAND GAMES
Track & Field
Birnam Highland Games host a wide selection of Field & Track competitions throughout the day. Events include:
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Running
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Cycling
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Children's Races
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Fun Races
Robyn Bryden from Invermill Farm Caravan Park presents the prize to the winner of the
200m Open Handicap. Proud Sponsors of Birnam Highland Games for 70 years
Caroline Lindsay presenting the Breadalbane Finance Half Mile Championship Medal
Haldane Lindsay from H&H Construction (Scotland) Ltd presents the prize for the
90m Handicap Dash
Heavy Events
Tossing The Caber
The most spectacular of the heavy events involves a tree trunk weighing perhaps 150lbs, about 18 feet long and tapering from about 9 inches thick at one end to about 5 inches at the other. The competitor lifts the caber by placing his interlocked hands under the narrower end, resting its length against his shoulder. He then runs as fast as he can, stops dead and tosses the end he holds in the air so that the heavy end lands on the ground and the light end passes over it and lands pointing away from him. There is an erroneous belief that the winner is the competitor who tosses the caber the farthest, whereas it is in fact the one who tosses it straightest. The competition is judged with an imaginary clock face. The competitor delivers his throw at 6 o'clock. He tosses the caber so that it lands in the dial. A perfect throw is one that goes straight over, with light end landing at 12 o'clock precisely.
Throwing The Hammer
This event represents an old contest where young locals would compete to see who could throw the blacksmiths heavy sledgehammer the furthest. The sphere of the hammer now weighs 16lbs or 22lbs, and, unlike the Olympic hammer, the Scots hammer has a wooden shaft measuring 4 feet 2 inches long overall. No turning is allowed. The thrower stands with his back to the trig and takes a god grip with the aid of 6 inch spikes that protrude from the front of his boots. The hammer is swung round the head to gather momentum and then released. The hammer should fly off straight behind the thrower! It requires strength and good timing.
Putting The Stone
Traditionally the first event of the Heavyweight programme, this was originally a smooth stone from the riverbed, sometimes shaped by a local mason. The stones used to vary greatly in shape and weight, particularly those used for tests of strength, where stones up to 265 lbs in weight were used. Now the stone is either 16lbs or 22lbs. The weight is putt (delivered) with one hand only from the front of the shoulders. A run not exceeding 7 feet 6 inches from the trig is allowed.
Throwing The Weight For Distance
This is the most graceful of the heavy events, combining rhythm with power. The weight is an iron sphere of 28lbs on a chain with a handle on the end, which measures 18 inches overall. It is delivered from behind the trig with a run up not exceeding 9 feet. The thrower swings the weight to the side, then round behind him, letting the weight drag as far as he can. He then waltzes round once, twice, and on the third turn he heaves the weight round and throws it as far as he can. The main problem here is for the thrower, having gathered up so much speed in turning, to stop at the trig.
Throwing The Weight Over The Bar
The weight is 56lbs with a ring all arched. Like the high jump, each competitor has three attempts at each height. Great strength is required although this is belied by the nonchalant attitude adopted by most competitors. Thrown correctly, the weight narrowly misses the competitor on the way down. If it is thrown incorrectly the competitor may have to look lively in order to avoid being hit. The weight is equivalent to half a bag of coal.
Highland Dancing
Birnam Highland Games hold Highland Dancing Competitions which run throughout the day. Highland dancing is regarded as being one of the most sophisticated forms of national dancing in the world and whilst it is almost impossible for dance historians to separate fact from fiction when researching the more popular Scottish dances, the following explanations have gained great currency, probably because they are imaginative and picturesque stories.
The Highland Fling
This is the most famous of the solo Highland Dances, said to derive from the antics of a courting stag on a Scottish hillside. The raised arms imitate the stags's antlers. There are no travelling steps in the Fling, the whole dance being performed on one spot. The stag does not run after his women, he expects them to come to him.
Hullachan (Reel of Tulloch)
The Reel of Tulloch, or Hullachan, is reputed to have originated in the village of Tulloch, Perthshire. Where on a cold snowy morning, the minister was delayed and the congregation started swinging each other by the arm to keep themselves warm. Reels are danced by four people and the exact origin is obscure. The slow movement, the Strathspey, is thought by many to be a mourning dance following the path of the river "Strath" in the valley of the "Spey". The Highland Reel is a quick, livelier version of the Strathspey.
Barracks Johnnie
Several National Dances are performed in the kilt as they were originally men's dances. "Wilt Thou Go to the Barracks, Johnnie?" is said to be a dance depicting the strength, agility and determination which comes from a soldier's rigorous training.
Highland Laddie
This dance may have been performed as an invitation to a lassie to join a handsome lad for a stroll in the Highlands and perhaps for a picnic spread on his plaid.
Seann Truibhas
This is a graceful dance, in Gaelic meaning "old trousers", which starts slowly and increases in temp on the final two steps. This dance recognised the repression after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 when both Bagpipes and Kilt were banned. Any dancing had to be done in trousers and the slow tempo represents the disgust at having to do so whilst the shaking movements represent the shaking off of the trews and the quick steps are a display of pleasure when Scots were once more able to wear the Kilt.
Sailor's Hornpipe
Although not a Scottish dance, the Hornpipe has formed part of the Games tradition for a long time. It is performed in stylised Navy uniform and simulates the various jobs of pulling ropes, manning the yardarm and splicing the main brace which seamen had to perform in the days of sail.
Irish Jig
Another popular import is the Jig, performed in a traditional green and red outfit. The dance is a portrayal of anger as the man has donned a pair of clean, leather breeches which have shrunk and so grip him uncomfortably. His resulting anger expressed at the washerwoman is returned in kind.
The great highland bagpipe (Scottish Gaelic: a' phìob mhòr; pronounced [a ˈfiəp ˈvoːɾ] lit. 'the great pipe') is a type of bagpipe native to Scotland. It is a powerful and successful wind instrument with unique tonal qualities. In its present familiar form, this bagpipe was undoubtedly 'Made in Scotland’, but it is also the descendent of an ancient wind instrument family with a wide geographic distribution and remote origins. Bagpipes are generally thought to have originated in places such as Egypt, the Middle East, Turkey and India where a simple chanter and drone were played together. Later, a bag made of animal skin was used and this, fitted with a blowpipe, made a primitive form of the modern bagpipe. For all intents and purposes, it is a drone instrument, one that is rich in harmonics.
Types of bagpipes were played – and still are – in most European countries. At least two forms were played in Scotland from the mediaeval period, one being the bellows-powered bagpipe of the Lowlands, and another the mouth-blown bagpipe of the Gaeltacht (the great highland bagpipe). The former fell out of use by the mid-19th century but has undergone a revival in recent years, while the other flourished, due mainly to the raising of Highland regiments for the British Army.
Forms of bagpipes arrived in the British Isles from the early medieval period, and seem to have become home-grown instruments in Scotland by the 15th century. The great highland bagpipe flourished as the principal instrument of an assertive, confident, and successful Gaelic culture.
Pipe Band Performances
The Games are opened by the Blairgowrie, Rattray & District pipe band. The band marches from Dunkeld, over the Dunkeld Bridge and into the games park and at intervals throughout the day the band will perform in the main arena.
Solo Piping Competitions
Our Piping competition is split into two categories:
Ceòl Beag (sometimes called ‘Light Music) - In this category the competitors perform Marches, Strathspey's, Reels and Jigs. The tunes played are of the pipers’ own choice.
Ceòl Mòr (sometimes called ‘Piobaireachd’) – This type of music consists of a theme with variations throughout. The performer must make the piece of music interesting by playing with great feeling and self-expression whilst being technically correct and producing a sound which is pleasing to the ear.
There are separate Light Music Competitions for junior pipers where the pipers of the future compete and hone their skills, carrying the music and traditions of the Great Highland Bagpipe forwards for future generations.
PIPING
INFORMATION FOR COMPETITORS
Please pay your entrance at the gate. Registration thereafter is free and should be made in the Secretary's tent. This is the large white tent to the right of the main arena, as you enter the park. Pipers can pre-register by emailing the Piping Convenor at stuartletford@hotmail.com
All competitors – Junior and Senior – must register by 11:00. The draw for all events will be made thereafter, with the competitions commencing at 11:45 with the Seniors’ Ceòl Mòr. All other piping competitions commence at 12.00.
SENIORS
In the Senior competitions, pipers will on the day submit three pieces of Ceòl Mòr for the judges to then select one to be played. In the Light Music, pipers will submit three Marches and three Strathspeys for the judges to then select one of each to be played. Pipers will play their own choice of Reel. After playing their March, pipers will stop and re-tune briefly (if necessary) then play their Strathspey and Reel.
In the Jig competition, pipers are to submit three jigs and will be asked to play one. There should be no tuning on the platform in the Jig competition.
The tunes for all the above should be of a minimum four parts.
JUNIORS
In the Junior competitions, the following are held:
• Open Piobaireachd (ground only)
• Open March
• Open Strathspey & Reel
• Open Jig
• Local March
• Local Strathspey & Reel
• Local Jig
In all events, competitors will play tunes of their own choice. Entrants for the Local competitions may also play in the Open competitions.
COMPETITION BOARDS/PLATFORMS:
The Seniors’ Ceòl Mòr board is located at the top right corner of the field. The board for the Seniors’ Light Music competitions is located halfway up the left side of the main arena.
The Junior competitions will take place at the board at the top left corner of the field.
We are always grateful for feedback and suggestions for improvement.
I very much look forward to meeting you on the day.
Stuart Letford, Piping Convenor
Special Events
The World Championship Haggis Eating Competition
Anyone, 18 or over, can enter this great competition free of charge... but hurry as there is a limit on numbers. Please register in the competition secretary's tent, which is located to the right of the main ring.
The rules of engagement with the mighty Haggis are simple:
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Competitors must be over 18 years old.
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Fastest to eat all the haggis wins the Grand Prize.
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The Judges decision is final.
Overseas Visitors Dash
A traditional fun race open to all overseas Visitors!
Visitors and competitors from overseas are warmly invited to join in the spirit of the Games, alongside all those who take part on the day, and enjoy the camaraderie, tradition and good-natured rivalry that make the Birnam Highland Games so special.
