January 31, 2023 – Ancient Athletics has announced they will return to Decatur to open their 2023 season.
“Ancient Athletics is excited to be returning to Decatur. With 70 participants, last year’s D-Town Throwdown Highland Games was a great success, and we expect a better turnout this year. The Decatur Conference Center and Hotel is great. The field is perfect for us, and our participants can stay right on site.” said Dan White, of Ancient Athletics.
The D-Town Throwdown Highland Games, held on April 29th at 10am at the Decatur Conference Center, will be free to spectators and will feature Scottish Heavy Athletics. The Heavy Athletics side of the Highland Games is generally comprised of 9 events:
The Caber toss: Has come to symbolize the Highland games and no gathering in the world would be complete without it. A length of tree trunk between 14′-22′ long is ‘tossed’ with the primary objective being to turn the caber end over end falling directly away from the athlete.
The Sheaf toss: A burlap-wrapped bundle weighing between 10 and 20 lbs is tossed vertically with a pitchfork over a bar that raises with each successful throw. Athletes get 3 attempts, and the greatest height wins.
Heavy Weight over bar: An implement weighing between 28 & 56 lbs is thrown vertically using one hand over a bar that raises with each successful throw. Athletes get 3 attempts, and the greatest height wins.
Heavy weight for distance: An implement weighing between 28-56lbs is thrown one-handed using any technique. The longest throw wins.
Light weight for distance: An implement weighing between 14-28lbs is thrown one-handed using any technique. The longest throw wins.
Heavy Hammer: With the feet in a fixed position, a 16-22lb hammer is whirled about the athlete’s head and thrown for distance over the shoulder.
Light Hammer: With the feet in a fixed position, a 12-16lb hammer is whirled about the athlete’s head and thrown for distance over the shoulder.
Braemar Stone: A stone weighing between 13-26 lbs is thrown one-handed with no movement allowed.
Open Stone: A stone weighing between 8-22 lbs is thrown one-handed. Thrower is allowed any throwing style so long as they do not step out of the throw box. The games sometimes also include events such as tug of war, stone lifting, and a kilted mile footrace.
There will be a $40.00 registration fee for competitors which includes lunch and a t-shirt. Registration can be found online via AncientAthletics.com
In addition to the Highland Games, there will be representatives of the St. Andrew’s Society of Central Illinois present to provide membership information. The St. Andrew’s Society Celtic Dancers will appear and there will also be a Clan Row. The Clan area is a colorful and educational part of any Highland Games.
