50th Annual
Manitoba Highland Gathering
Saturday, July 2 – Sunday, July 3, 2016
The 50th Manitoba Highland Gathering will host for the first time ever, a Heavy Events competition pitting a team from Canada against a team from the USA. Called the Battle of the Border, the July 2nd event will be held at East Selkirk Legacy Park in East Selkirk. Four Canadian athletes will compete against 4 American athletes in 7 classic Scottish events, including the caber toss, hammer throw, Stone Put and Weight for Distance. These events are precursors to modern strongman competitions and to two Olympic track and field events (shot put and hammer throw)
“We’ll have top athletes from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington State, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario competing in a team format for the very first time at the Manitoba Highland Gathering. Our Gathering has always been a top draw for elite Scottish throwers from all over North America, but we have never assembled a more talented group of throwers for a single competition. We figured the 50th anniversary would be the ideal time to bring out the big guns and create a competition that puts some national pride on the line” said MHG Vice-President Jim Wilson.
Heading up the Canadian team will be 3 time Canadian Champ Jason Johnston, holder of a number of Canadian records and who currently holds the World record in the 16 lb. Sheaf Toss. Captaining the US team is Luke Crowley who hails from Wisconsin. Both are expected to put in strong showings on the day for their teams and will challenge some provincial and even national records. The competition is a one-day event beginning at 11AM on Saturday July 2nd and is free with admittance to the Gathering itself. An amateur Heavy Games competition will be held on Sunday July 3rd featuring primarily local Scottish athletes.
Legacy Park, East Selkirk – R.M. of St. Clements – HWY 59 and PR # 212
located behind the East Selkirk Recreational Centre
PR#212 and Strathcona Road
Map to Grounds
Come Rain or Shine
Bring your Lawn Chairs
Shuttle from parking lots to main area
For more information go to http://www.manitobahighlandgathering.org/
