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The stone put (Scottish Gaelic: clach air a chur) is one of the main Scottish heavy athletic events at modern-day Highland games gatherings. While similar to the shot put, the stone put more frequently uses an ordinary stone or rock instead of a steel ball. The weight of the stone will vary from 16 to 30 lb for men (or 8 to 18 lb for women) depending on which type of stone put event (Braemar stone or Open stone) is being contested and also on the idiosyncrasies of the event (mainly because stones in use have no standard weight). There are also some differences in allowable techniques and rules.

Robert Burns was keen on stone putting and apparently left his favourite putting stone at Ellisland Farm near Dumfries. If he saw anyone using it whilst he lived there he would call "Bide a wee" and join in the sport, always proving that he was the strongest man there.^[1]

Origin of the stone put

The throwing of a heavy 83.5 kg stone is a traditional event practiced at the Swiss cultural festival, the Unspunnenfest

As with most aspects of the Scottish Highland games, and Scottish Highlands culture generally, a certain amount of legend has grown around the origins and antiquity of the stone put.

Michael Brander, in his 1992 book Essential Guide to the Highland Games, reports on some of the stories concerning the stone put which have become traditional. He discusses what have become known to tradition as the "stones of strength" which were of two types. In one, the Clach Cuid Fir (or Manhood Stone), a very large stone of well over 100 lb is employed and the test is to be able to lift it to a certain height or place it on a wall.

In the other type, the Clach Neart (or Stone of Strength), a smaller stone, variable in weight, but around 20 or 30 lb, is employed. The object is to see how far the stone could be thrown or putted.

In addition to the Highland Games, throughout European history the stone put has been a popular form of exercise with records dating from Ancient Greece.^[2] It was also a popular leisure activity in the medieval ages. The practice of heavy stone throwing also continues as part of Unspunnenfest, which is a traditional Swiss festival which dates from the 13th Century. It features the throwing of an 83 kg stone. The event, called the steinstossen, typically uses a two arm throwing style. Similar events also continue as part of cultural festivals found internationally, such as the Ohio Swiss Festival^[3] and the German-American Festival, in addition to professional strength competitions such as the Arnold Strongman Classic.^[4]

International events and variations

The stone put features as a competitive strength event in numerous cultural festivals found internationally.

USA

Stone Mountain Highland Games

Features a weight throw involving the one armed put of a heavy stone. There are professional and amateur divisions, and divisions for men and women.^[6]

U.S. National Highland Games

The Braemar stone event involves the putting of a 24 pound stone from standing.^[7]

Phoenix Scottish Games

The 'Braemar Stone Put' event involves the putting of a heavy stone from standing. There is also an 'open stone' variation which allows movement in the throwing area, similar to an Olympic shot put.^[8]

Scottish Highland Gathering and Games

This festival features heavy athletics involving two stone put^[9] events: the Braemar stone put, featuring a 22 lb stone, and the open stone put featuring a 16 lb stone.^[10]

Canada

Canmore Highland Games

This festival features a heavy sports event involving a stone put from standing. In 2023, the women's event was won by Siri Svensson.^[11]

England

The Peak District Highland Games

'The Giant Stone Throw' involves the two-handed throw of a stone over the head from standing.^[12] The thrower starts off facing the opposite direction to the throwing sector before crouching down to preload the throw, and then throwing the stone vigorously over their head behind them into the sector. The longest throw wins the contest.

Richmond Highland Games

The heavy athletics competition involves a Braemar event with a put from standing with a 19-28 lb stone. The feet are allowed to be reversed after the throw. There is also an open stone event involving a 16 lb stone and where taking an approach before the throw is allowed.^[13]

France

Bressuire Highland Games

These games feature a light and heavy stone put. The light stone weighs 7.5 kg and the throw can be taken after a run up. The light stone is made out of granite taken from the Berson quarry in Largeasse, in 2003.^[14] The heavy stone is 10 kg and thrown in the Braemar style, without a run up.^[15]

Germany

International Highland Games Angelbachtal

Features a single arm stone throw for distance. The men's event uses a 7 kg stone and the women's event a 4 kg stone.^[16]

World records

One-arm throws

Braemar Stone

13.5 kg (30 lb) – 11.65 metres (38 ft 3 in) by Pétur Guðmundsson (2000)
12.5 kg (28 lb) – 12.47 metres (40 ft 11 in) by Pétur Guðmundsson (2000)
10 kg (22 lb) – 15.39 metres (50 ft 6 in) by Pétur Guðmundsson (1997)
9.1 kg (20 lb) – 17.37 metres (57 ft 0 in) by Geoff Capes (1981)

Open Stone

11.4 kg (25 lb) – 14.15 metres (46 ft 5 in) by Brian Oldfield (1979)
9.1 kg (20 lb) – 16.33 metres (53 ft 7 in) by Paul Ferency (1985)
7.7 kg (17 lb) – 19.23 metres (63 ft 1 in) by Brian Oldfield (1979)
7.3 kg (16 lb) – 19.30 metres (63 ft 4 in) by Nick Kahanic (2013)

Both-arm throws

Steinstossen

83.5 kg (184 lb) – 4.11 metres (13 ft 6 in) by Markus Maire (2004)

Stone block throw

25 kg (55 lb) – 7.86 metres (25 ft 9 in) by Bill Kazmaier (1987)

References

^ Peel, R (1984). 'Anecdotal Evidence' in the Burn's Chronicle No. 9. p. 74.
^ Homer (1846). Homer's Iliad. Vol. I. Translated by W. Munford. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown. p. 179.
^ Dolph, Andrew (2021). "Steintossen at the Ohio Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek". Times Reporter. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
^ "2023 Arnold Strongman Classic". strongmanarchives.com. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
^ "Scottish Competition". 23rd Highland Games Sychrov. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
^ "Stone Mountain Highland Games". 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
^ Gamiz, April (2023). "A rainy Celtic Classic and Highland Games in Bethlehem". The Morning Call. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
^ "Scottish Heavy Athletics Competitions". Phoenix Scottish Games. 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
^ "Scottish Heavy Athletics". The Scottish Games. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
^ "Pleasanton Scottish Games". The Scottish Games. 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
^ Thompson, Matthew (2023). "Getting heavy at the Canmore Highland Games". Rocky Mountain Outlook. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
^ "Peak District Highland Games 2023". Visit Chesterfield Area. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
^ "Smithwicks Games Field - Heavy Athletics". Richmond Highland Games. 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
^ "Light stone". Highland Games. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
^ "Heavy stone". Highland Games. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
^ "Die Disziplinen der Mannschaften". International Highland Games Angelbachtal (in German). Steinstoßen. Retrieved 6 March 2024.