Stone Put
THE GAMES : Stone Put
The Stone Put, or 'Clachneart', is a popular Highland Games event, which involves competitors flinging stones of up to 10kg. This event is similar to the modern-day shot put as seen in the Olympic Games. Instead of a steel shot, a large stone of variable weight is often used.
A regular throwing stone for a Highland Games competition is about 6-10kg for men, and between 4-6kg for women. Contestants must 'put' the stone as far as possible from a starting toeboard called the 'trig'. There are two versions of the stone toss events, differing in allowable technique.
The 'Braemar Stone' does not allow any run up to the 'trig' to deliver the stone, i.e., it is a standing put. In the 'Open Stone', the thrower is allowed to use any throwing style so long as the stone is put with one hand with the stone resting cradled in the neck until the moment of release. Most athletes in the open stone event use either the "glide" or the "spin" techniques.
The stone to be used for the Games is a rock which was recently collected from the Mzinyathi (Buffalo) River valley which formed the boundary of old Zululand and Colonial Natal and was brought to be used at the Games as a symbol of unity and recognition of the bravery of two great nations - the Zulu and the British.
