Antigonish Highland Games
Light Weight for Distance
In Scottish styled games, there are two separate weight throw events, the light and the heavy weight. In either event the weight is attached by a short chain to a metal handle. The light weight is 28 pounds, or two stone (12.7 kg). The heavy weight is 56 lb, or four stone (25.4 kg). The technique sees an athlete throw the weight one-handed from inside a rectangular area usually 4.5 feet by 9 feet from behind a fixed positioned toe board.
The athlete must stay behind the board to have their throw count. While athletes may vary their technique it usually involves a turning motion for momentum then the excruciating “grunt” before the power release. Each athlete is permitted three attempts. Distance places determined by the best throw.