IHGF World Highland Games

The Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games will be the site of the 2008 World Highland Games. This annual event for professionals, is sanctioned by the International Highland Games Federation, and includes participating athletes from Scotland, Canada and the United States. Only the best athletes in the World are invited by the IHGF to compete in such sanctioned events.

The IHGF was founded by David Webster who is also the President of the IHGF.  David is also a World renowned historian on Highland games and strongman, and has written over forty books on such events.

It is our aim for the IHGF to take Highland Games to promote world class events and Championships with the best athletes internationally,  and to continue the tradition of highland games as it has been done over the many years, and to establish games where ever possible.

IHGF highland games have now become a major attraction in countries around the World for tourists and locals alike during the hot summer months held in some of the most beautiful settings, castle grounds, lochs, hills and glens amidst dramatic scenery making an optimum stage for the day’s series of traditional competitions and Strength events. This is our heritage and we are proud to be associated with it.  All the events originated in Scotland, piping, Highland dancing, shot putting, weight throwing, hammer throwing and caber tossing.  In fact two of these events, the shot putt and hammer throw, were borrowed from the Scottish Games to become an integral part of Modern Olympics re-established in Athens in 1896.

The Highland games Heavy Athlete and Worlds Strongest men are a rare breed indeed. He must possess a high level of strength, power, speed, agility, mobility and technical skills in eight events or more to be successful in his sport.  Then he has to compete all day in climatic conditions ranging from the searing heat over 100F, to temperatures just above freezing in torrential rain, this must surely be one of the most grueling forms of athletic activity?  

The techniques of these events, when performed correctly, create an image of “Awesome Herculean power” though masked by the fast moving and graceful footwork resembling a ballet dancer:

• shot and stone putt,
• 28lb and 56lb weights for distance,
• 16lb and 22lbs hammers,
• 56lb weight over the bar,
• caber toss

IHGF events now flourish world-wide on a scale greater than ever in Canada and the USA, Japan, Africa ,New Zealand, Australia, Germany, and Iceland to name just a few.  This is a talent at it’s best on display and the Champion must also possess an almost “Terrier” like determination to succeed, to win titles, and break records.

To find out more about IHGF events go to www.worldheavyevents.com