Scottish hammer throw
Scottish hammer throw is a traditional throwing event derived from ancient Scottish Highland games. It involves heaving of an implement consisting of a wooden handle with a spherical weight attached to one end of it as far as possible.[1][2]
History, implement and technique
[edit]The event dates back centuries and is regarded the precursor to the modern track and field Hammer throw seen at Olympic games. However, the traditional Scottish hammer throw has distinct differences in both the implement and the technique.
The implement consists of a metal sphere weighing 16 lb (7 kg) or 22 lb (10 kg) for men, and 12 lb (5 kg) or 16 lb (7 kg) for women,[3] which is attached to the end of a shaft about 4 feet (1.2 metres) long made primarily of wood or occasionally bamboo, rattan or plastic.
With their back facing the field and feet in a fixed position,[4] competitors whirl the hammer around their head once, twice or thrice[5] and throw it over the shoulder, twisting the upper body nearly 180 degrees.[6] Hammer throwers sometimes employ specially designed footwear with flat blades[7] to dig into the turf to maintain their balance and resist the centrifugal forces of the implement as they whirl it. This substantially increases the attainable distance and is allowed by all Highland games federations.
World records
[edit]- 7.3 kg (16 lb) light hammer for 48.03 metres (157 ft 7 in) by Daniel McKim
(2014 Utah Highland Games)[8] - 10 kg (22 lb) heavy hammer for 40.31 metres (132 ft 3 in) by Daniel McKim (2014 Utah Highland Games)[8]
- → Holding both records, McKim arguably is the greatest of all time at this event. Some other all-time greats who have held both records are Matt Sandford, Stephen King and Bill Anderson.[9]
Progression of the world records
[edit]7.3 kg (16 lb) light hammer
[edit]| Distance | Holder | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46.08 metres (151 ft 2 in) |  Bill Anderson |
1969 | Lochearnhead, Scotland |
| 46.66 metres (153 ft 1 in) | Bruce Aitken |
1997 | Pitlochry, Scotland |
| 46.68 metres (153 ft 2 in) | Stephen King |
1998 | Inverary, Scotland |
| 47.22 metres (154 ft 11 in) |  Matt Sandford |
1998 | Halkirk, Scotland |
| 47.62 metres (156 ft 3 in) | Matt Sandford |
1999 | Estes Park, Colorado, USA |
| 47.76 metres (156 ft 8 in) | Bruce Aitken |
2000 | Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
| 48.03 metres (157 ft 7 in) |  Daniel McKim |
2014 | Salt Lake City, Utah, USA |
10 kg (22 lb) heavy hammer
[edit]| Distance | Holder | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37.61 metres (123 ft 5 in) | Bill Anderson |
1969 | Crieff, Scotland |
| 37.70 metres (123 ft 8 in) | Grant Anderson |
1983 | Santa Rosa, California, USA |
| 38.13 metres (125 ft 1 in) | Stephen King |
1998 | Inverary, Scotland |
| 39.58 metres (129 ft 10 in) | Matt Sandford |
1998 | Halkirk, Scotland |
| 39.61 metres (129 ft 11 in) | Daniel McKim |
2014 | New Mexico, USA |
| 40.31 metres (132 ft 3 in) | Daniel McKim |
2014 | Salt Lake City, Utah, USA |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Why It's So Hard to Nail the Hammer Throw". Nick English for www.barbend.com. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ Forbes Cowan (March 1, 2013). "Highland Games Sports". www.scotland.org. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ Erin Udell (June 19, 2017). "What are Highland Games? 'Guys in kilts throwing trees'". COLORADOAN. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ "What are Scottish Heavy Athletics?". St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit Highland Games. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ "Scottish Heavy Events". Antigonish Highland Society. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ "Ultimate guide to Scotland's Highland games". Jemima Kirkwood for www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ "Throwing the Hammer". Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ a b "STRENGTH RECORD, Section 06 - Throwing". www.strengthrecord.com. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ Francis Brebner and the team (January 31, 2001). "Highland Games Record Progressions". www.highlandgames.net. Retrieved May 14, 2025.