2001 Bearsden & Milngavie Highland Games

A selection of photos shot at Bearsden & Milngavie Highland Games held on 1st June 2001

The Art of Backhold Wrestling
Scottish Backhold is a style of wrestling originating in Scotland. The wrestlers grip each other around the waist at the back, with the right hand under the opponent's left arm and the chin resting on the opposite right shoulder. When the referee is sure that both wrestlers have taken a firm grip, he shouts "hold" and the bout starts. Should either wrestler break his hold or touch the ground with any part of his body except his feet, he loses. There is no ground work and the bouts are usually best of five falls. The rules may be found on the website of The Scottish Wrestling Bond PIctured on right Scottish Champion Wrstler: Robert Clark
Throwing the Hammer
Fraser Ewen throwing hammer at Bearsden Highland Games 2001. Hammer Throw: a round metal ball (weighing 16 or 22 lb for men or 12 or 16 lb for women) is attached to the end of a shaft about 4 feet in length and made out of wood, bamboo, rattan, or plastic. With the feet in a fixed position, the hammer is whirled about one's head and thrown for distance over the shoulder. Hammer throwers sometimes employ specially designed footwear with flat blades to dig into the turf to maintain their balance and resist the centrifugal forces of the implement as it is whirled about the head. This substantially increases the distance attainable in the throw.