The hammer throw. The Braemar stone put. The weight toss for height. The weight toss for distance. The tossing of the caber.
These are only a few of the events to expect this weekend at Steele Indian School Park. Formally known as the the Glenmorangie Scottish Highland Games & Gathering, the Highland Games are an annual celebration of all things Scottish.
The games are on Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult tickets are $15; children get in for $5.
Arizona’s top-ranked amateur competitor, Jake Sullivan, will be donning a sport kilt to compete against fellow athletes in this weekend’s events.
Sullivan, a 28-year-old insurance adjuster from Mesa, developed his love for weight lifting at the age of 19. At the time, his dream was to become a bodybuilder. But because he had been overweight most of his young life, dieting down to a bodybuilder’s physique was very difficult, he said.
“I got down to eight percent body fat,” Sullivan said. “I held it for four days before eating some macaroni and cheese, and it went all away. I said, ‘What’s the point?’”
In 2009, Sullivan became more involved in Strongman competitions, and his success there led him to pursue other weight-lifting events. He became friends with a Highland Games promoter, and the promoter pushed Sullivan into joining the games himself.
“Jake came to the Highland Games through Strongman events and power lifting,” said Richard Wells, athletics chairman for the Highland Games. “I’ve seen several folks coming to us through that route that have had trouble converting from a pure strength sport to the Highland Games, which combines strength with an almost dance-type footwork that several of our events take.”
Since 1964, The Caledonian Society of Arizona has carried on the traditions of Celtic culture through the Highland Games and other celebrations throughout the year. The Highland Games has been the only host of the Women’s World Championships for Scottish athletic events since 1992.
“Our event is the largest (Highland) Games in the state,” said Jackie Carro, who does public relations and marketing for the Caledonian Society of Arizona and has helped organize the games for 17 years. “We draw attendees from all over the country and Canada to compete, participate and attend for fun.”
Sullivan said he prepares for events by going to the gym two or three times per week. He spends a lot of his time throwing things. He has frequently been injured while training for the games due to the technical nature of throwing, he said.
“I was practicing with the stone, and I pulled my groin,” Sullivan said. “I’ve hurt myself more doing the games than I have doing anything else. It’s because of all the complex positions you have to get into.”
Sullivan said athletes interested in getting involved in the Highland Games should watch a lot of videos and reach out to someone who is good at a specific event. Sullivan helps train the next generation of competitors by providing clinics all around the state.
“One of the best things about Jake,” Wells said, “is his willingness to help other athletes with their throwing skills.”
Sullivan’s most recent clinic in Tucson was a three-part series, and by the end, his students were all setting personal records, Sullivan said.
“I try to give back as much as I can because I’ve had a lot of people help me throughout the years,” he said.
The caber toss is usually the most popular event, Sullivan said, although he isn’t particularly fond of throwing a wooden beam that’s similar to a telephone pole.
“It’s not my favorite event because I can’t practice very much. It’s so dry here in Arizona, they would just break,” he said.
Hundreds of years ago, the Scottish games were competitions of strength between rival clans to vie for honor and prestige. The games today are a friendly variety of the competitions. Throwing events in the modern Olympics originated from Scottish games, Sullivan said.
When he isn’t competing, Sullivan usually walks around the events to enjoy the vendors with his family, and he cheers for friends who come from all over the country to compete.
“It’s competitive, but the thing I like about the games is it’s like a brotherhood,” Sullivan said. “Everyone roots for each other. Even if someone just threw better than me, I tell him he did a great job and then try to beat him.”
The Highland Games were held at Mesa Community College until five years ago, when organizers decided they wanted to be more centrally located and be able to serve alcohol at the events. Every year, at least 100 community volunteers come to help support the games, said Carro, of the Caledonian Society of Arizona.
Sullivan’s 15-month-old son has already started taking on his father’s habits as a weight lifter.
“He doesn’t throw anything yet, but he picks up a rock and puts it down,” Sullivan said. “I remember one time, I had just got off a 65-pound bar, and he just went up to it and started shaking it.”
Sullivan will compete in the Highland Games as long as his body will let him, so long as it doesn’t get in the way of his family life.
“I love hanging out with my wife and son,” Sullivan said. “This is more of a lifelong hobby.”
Contact the reporter at dmzayas@asu.edu
