FT WORTH KICKOFF GAMES - Feb 23, 2013

This weekend is the first Texas Games of the 2013 season (I think?), and I’m excited.   Miss B is going to be judging and running the games as part of the North Texas Heavies Group (www.facebook.com/northtexasheavies). 

I, however, will be enjoying the day throwing my little heart out and messing around with the great women throwers that are going to be there. Lots of fun people have signed up.

Date: Saturday, Feb 23, 2013

Time – Throwing starts at 9:00 am and should run all day until 3 – 4pm (aprox.)

Location: Ft. Worth Zoo, 1989 Colonial Pkwy,  Fort Worth, TX 76109

This is a great venue, lots of shade trees, lions roaring in the background, and the people just can't be beat.  I'm really looking forward to it.  If you are in the area and need a fun afternoon activity, bring yourself and your family down for a bit.

Dublin TX Highland Games & St. Patrick’s Day Festival

The little town of Dublin TX (Irish Capitol of Texas, so says Rick Perry!) is the site of the Dublin Highland Games. This year we got to throw on Saturday the 17th, St. Patricks Day itself.

Dublin is a small town with a huge heart; the people are out in droves at the parade and fairgrounds. Everything is done up in green, from the painted shamrocks on the intersections, festival signs, streamers and all the fabulous dressed up in their best Irish outfits. Lots of good food, fun and frivolity, and even historical re-enactment!

It was a beautiful day, not too sunny, little wind and no rain; it couldn’t have been a more suitable day for throwing. There was a big class, for the men and masters divisions. The women’s class was 4 throwers, and it was an excellent showing for the ladies.

As always the festival atmosphere at Dublin is great, with a crowd of people always moving in and around the throwers, hooting and hollering for the big throws and everyone loves the caber toss. Dave and Nancy (who also host the Salado Highland Games) do an amazing job and make the day easy and enjoyable.

I was very pleased with my throwing that day, and picked up some good scores as my sheaf is coming together, and my stones are moving in the right direction (i.e. farther away from me!). The best part is always the people, spending a day with the fun Highland games people makes all the travel worth while and enjoying a laugh with everyone is the best part of the day.

The drive home reminded me that Texas is a surprisingly beautiful place.

Vincent Brothers Clinic - Feb 25

Vincent Brother Clinic – Fort Worth Texas
Feb 25, 2012

The newly turned professional Highland Games Brothers. Andy and Matt Vincent put on an amazing Highland Games Throwing Clinic in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday Feb 25. It was held in conjunction with the Noth Texas Heavies Kickoff Games.

The Saturday clinic was an all day affair with a good crowd that had a variety of experience. There were brand new - never thrown in games before people, all the way up to Competitive A men’s throwers years of competition under their belt. Andy and Matt Vincent are lifelong athletes with an extensive background in sports, and their guidance over the day showed that they have amassed a wealth of knowledge about movement, speed, power and how to get the most out of what you have.

The day started in order of the classic events. Stones, weights for distance, hammers. Then cabers, followed by the height events, weight over bar and sheaf.

Personally speaking, it was the most useful day that I have spent learning and exploring what to do with the implements for Highland Games. I was totally gassed the next day for the competition, but it was worth the sacrifice for what I learned. Seeing the different styles of Open stone movement that they discussed with each person really gave me the sense that Matt and Andy were taking into consideration each individuals ability. Personalized attention of that detailed nature is rare is a mass setting and I think it really demonstrates their eye for explosive movement and throwing, as well as the fact that they really wanted everyone to get something from them that day.

I got a great view into how a power athlete looks at the events, some different stances to try and I really made some massive improvements in all events. I am excited to see this carry on into my season. I can’t wait for the next clinic so that I can get some more lessons and refine my throws some more.

Andy and Matt placed 1 & 2 in their first Pro games in Phoenix, AZ last weekend. Congratulations to them both and another nod to them for putting on this amazing clinic.

Matt can be found HERE on the interwebs.
Andy can be watched HERE doing his thing.

Season Opener in Texas: North TX Kickoff Games & Clinic

First Games of the Season are at the end of this month!




The North Texas Kickoff Games in Ft. Worth, TX.


The North Texas Heavies are putting on their season Opener the Kick Off Games in Ft. Worth at the Zoo Park on Feb 26, 2012. Saturday, Feb 25th, they are hosting a clinic put on by the Vincent Brothers, who are some pretty outstanding throwers! I am personally really pumped to hear what they have to say.


The North TX crew are pretty much experts at putting on an amazing games. I have never had a bad moment at any games these fine fellows (and their partners) have put on. The judges are great, everything is set up, the swag is sweet, and the food is awesome. It’s a pretty amazing set up, plus, the lions at the zoo occasionally like to let it be known that they are just beyond the trees!

Vincent Brothers Clinic:
When: Saturday, Feb 25th
Where: Forest Park, Fort Worth, TX
Time: 9am sharp

Kick Off Games:
When: Sunday Feb 26
Where: Forest Park, Fort Worth, TX
Time: 9am sharp

If you haven’t signed up for the clinic or the games and you want to (and why wouldn't you want to)– please contact: Mark Cannon or Duncan McCallum at info@northtexasheavies.com or call Mark at 1-214-675-2829.

The entry form is at the bottom of the upcoming event page.




http://www.northtexasheavies.com/Upcoming_Events.html

Texas Scottish Festival - Recap!

Texas Scottish Festival, in Arlington, Texas, boasts three days of throwing, live music, shopping and history for attendants.  Two separate fields at opposite ends of the festival allow crowds to see the the whole festival while visiting throwing events on each end. The main field sits just next to the main music stage, offering up a variety of Celtic music throughout the day and well into the evening.

Texas Scottish Festival - Arlington June 3, 4, & 5th

This weekend starting Friday afternoon through Sunday the biggest Scottish Festival in Texas is taking place at the Maverick Stadium (link to map) in Arlington (just outside of Dallas).

The Texas Scottish Festival

The Women's Highland Games are taking place starting at 5:30PM on Friday night and the games run all day both Saturday and Sunday.

We are going to be there competing Friday and hope to see lots of supporters cheering us on! Come out for the rest of the excitement as well... games, food, music, Scottish dogs, drinks, wares and the fabulous people!

April & May Catchup!

Pardon our long quiet spell.

There is a monstrous amount to catch up on so I’ll try to keep it brief!

April 30/May 1
Scarborough Faire went off without a hitch and all involved had a great time. The ladies places were:
1 – Brittney Boswell
2 – Miranda Vahle
3 – Sarah Densmore
4 – Kim Dotson

May 7/8 – Th’ Gatherin’ - Wakeeney, KS
There was a huge class of women at this games – 13 in total. There were 3 teams of 4 and one single. It was a great day of competition and both myself and Brittney (the traveling Texans) were on the winning team, “Magically Malicious” . Hot, dry and windy, the people were amazing and the after party was first class.

May 14/15 – Wichita, KS
2nd Annual Wichita Highland Games and Celtic Festival
Brittney also made it out to these games and placed a very excellent second with a number of personal bests!

In our thoughts:
Joplin, MO held their highland games last weekend and sadly a tornado ripped through the lovely little town. None of the highland games people that we know of where injured. However there were 116 lives lost that weekend and I’m sure all would appreciate it if you can keep them in your thoughts.

Upcoming:

June 3-5
Texas Scottish Festival, Arlington, TX


June 10-12
Kansas City Games

Scarby Highland Games TODAY!

Good Luck to all the throwers at the Scarborough Faire Highland games today!

2011 Women’s Highland Team Challenge - Texas

The Inaugural Women’s Highland Team Challenge is going to be held on Saturday October 15th 2011 in the Dallas/Ft.Worth metroplex area. It's being held in conjunction with the Celtober Highland Games, the men’s events are on Sunday, October 16th at the same venue. Which is next to the Zoo! If you have not thrown a stone and then heard a lion roar… you are missing out!

Hosted by the North Texas Heavy’s - they are very excited about this event, and hope you can make it! Your entry and waiver must be postmarked by August 15th, 2011; for a copy of the rules and an entry form drop an email to Duncan at (Duncan.mccallum01@gmail.com).

Or you can follow the links for the FORMS and WAIVER.

All the games events will be contested

(Braemar Stone and Open Stone, 14# and 28# WFD, Hammers 12# and 16#, caber, 10# Clevenger Sheaf, and WOB - spinning allowed) as well as some team-oriented challenge events for bragging rights.

NASGA/RMSA rules apply; these are Amateur events and a standard waiver will be required before competing.

The athletes will be put into teams and compete as a team and as individuals.

There are amazing prizes up for offer (sheaf’s, forks and more goodies!), as well as free food from My Fit Foods, all complimented by the great Texas crowd and hospitality. October is also warm (for your northerners!)

There is a Host hotel, The Marriott Courtyard West. It’s down the street from the games venue that is offering rooms for a reduced rate of $85/night. They will also have a free shuttle to the grounds.

This promises to be an amazing event and worth the trip. We ladies here in Texas hope you can come and join us.

Texas Games - Scarborough Faire Highland Fling Weekend

April 30 and May 1st the Scarborough Faire Festival is hosting its Highland Fling weekend.

An event not to be missed, there will be all the regular events at a Renaissance festival (food, craft, costumes, & entertainment) plus the Highland Games and Caber Championship that Saturday and Sunday.

Its going to be packed full of amazing competitors!

San Antonio Games Results

The San Antonio Highland Games were a complete success!

There were 6 women competing, crowd & supporters were loud and cheering all day, and the weather was beautiful.

This was the second invitation that women throwers have had to these games, and I’m proud that the competition was so excellent and that women had a very exciting showing for the crowd.

The overall winner on the day was a Southern Carolina athlete, Kelly Niklason. Our own native Texan Brittney Boswell was second. The field was rounded out by 3 more Texan residents: Tammy Kentner, Sarah Densmore, and newcomer to the games Lisa Moretta. This was the very first games that Lisa competed in and she did great! The final competitor was Tomasina Miller from Louisiana. Tomasina blew us all away in the sheaf toss, she is a natural! (photo of Tomasina in action)

There were a lot of personal records for the women set that day and I believe some field records were made as well. The scores are yet to come out on the NSAGA website. When they do I will be sure to update the final places.

The festival itself was fantastic; lots of music, dogs, Celtic wares, sporting and traditional displays, and Clans were there to browse. The men’s and masters completed both Saturday and Sunday. There were a number of World Records that were broken by the masters.

April 2 & 3, 2011 - San Antonio Highland Games!

This weekend is going to be an exciting Scottish Festival and Highland Games in San Antonio, TX.

There are going to be competitors from as far away as Japan! Yes, that was not a typo. Japan!!! One of the ladies class is traveling from South Carolina to join us in South Texas. What a great bunch of athletes for the weekend!

San Antonio Highland Games, April 2-3, 2011

Hello Scottish Games fans (and soon to be fans).

The next 2011 summer games that is coming up in Texas is in the lovely San Antonio in 2 weeks.

Link here http://www.sahga.org/

This 12th annual festival will be the host to a myriad of activities including traditional Scottish heavy athletics, Celtic dance and music performances, a solo bagpiping competition, geneology information in the Clan Village, children's activities in the Kid's Glen, Living History activities and seminars, parade of Scottish dogs, and sheep herding trials.