Scottish traditions highlighted
Photos by Matthew Stephens and Rosalyn Stephens
SPOKANE VALLEY - Thousands of area residents filled the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. on Saturday Aug. 5 to enjoy a day filled with Scottish tradition and entertainment. The 66th annual Scottish Highland Games were an exciting highlight to the weekend in Spokane Valley.
Scottish tradition was highlighted in music, dance, traditional goods and the event was highlighted by the athletic competitions.
Guests watched athletes compete in traditional Scottish heavy athletics including the hammer throw, caber toss, Breamar stone throw farmer's walk and other events.
Perhaps the most recognized event is the caber toss in which participants have to throw a wooden post measuring 13 to 17 feet and weighing between 70 and 120 pounds. The point is to toss the post as far as possible while making it flip end over end.
The hammer throw pits competitors in a contest in which a round hammerhead is attached to a shaft and thrown for distance. Women's hammers weigh 10 pounds and men's weigh 16 pounds.
Holding the hammer by the shaft, athletes rotate it over their head and then throw it as far as possible.
The farmer's walk takes place at the end of the tournament, and competitors must lift 300 pounds of steel and carry it as far as they possibly can.
According to tradition, Scottish kings and clan chiefs would seek out their best men-at-arms during the highland games.
The fairgrounds were also filled with fun family friendly activities, musical performances, and animal presentations.
Musical acts included massed bands, pipe band exhibitions, individual bagpiping, heavy athletics, and highland dancing.
Pipers and drummers could be heard throughout the day playing music for the guests.
Dancers took the stage early for traditional Scottish dance competitions. Multiple dances were showcased through the day including many conventional dances.
Animals on site included a sheepherding demonstration which was put on by Dave Imus, who owns a farm in Cheney. Imus and his wife have a flock of 140 sheep, and they train their border collies.
A highland cattle exhibition was also on site. Two-year-old Thistle was the cow on site with her calf, and there was another calf accompanying them.
The cattle are also known as "hielan' coos" in traditional terms. This breed has been in the United States since the 1880's, and is recognizable because of the double layer of hair they showcase.
Heavy draft horses were also available for public interaction, as there was a Clydesdale horse exhibition. One of the horses presented weighs in at 1,850 pounds.
The Clydesdales were named for the region in Scotland in which they were first bred.
Historically, the farmer's of Lanarkshire evolved the type of horse over 200 years ago. Lanarkshire is where the River Clyde flows, and translates into the modern term Clydesdale.
Guests could also sign up to compete in "the Scots vs. the Irish" tug-of-war competition.
Visitors could see whether on not their family has Scottish ancestry. Folks could also buy authentic goods from Scottish and Celtic merchant booths.
There was also a British car exhibit that showcased British automobiles from the 1950's through the 1970's.
Levi Arbogast from Battle Mountain Forge was giving live blacksmithing displays. He creates historical weapons and armor along, but also does simpler smithing for silverware and smaller tools.
Matthew graduated from West Virginia University-Parkersburg in 2011 with a journalism degree. He's an award-winning photographer and enjoys writing stories about people.
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