Beaver Island Celtic Games - July 23, 2005

[Rich]

Following is a press release relating to the upcoming Beaver Island Celtic Games which will be held the weekend of the 22nd of July. There will be a demonstration event at 3pm on Friday with the main games through the day on Saturday. Be sure to join us.

Kilted strongmen from across
> Michigan will be converging on Beaver Island July 23
> for the first Beaver Island Celtic Games.
> These large men will be competing on the island in
> seven traditional Irish and Scottish strength events
> designed to test their skills and power. In addition
> trying to throw large, heavy objects farther than each
> other, they will entertain the crowd with their
> on-the-field antics and provide valuable history
> lessons in Celtic culture.
> "It is a lot of fun to watch the athletes of the
> Celtic games compete, not just to see their skill at
> throwing weights and large trees that look like
> telephone poles, but because of the history you can
> learn in the process," said athlete and Scottish
> bagpiper Jeremy McBain, of Charlevoix, an organizer of
> this event.
> McBain will be one of the 13 athletes taking part in
> the Celtic games.
> The athletes will be competing in seven traditional
> Celtic strength events. For distance, they throw 28
> and 56 pound weights with one arm, 22 pound hammers
> and large rocks. For height, they throw another 56
> pound weight straight up in the air with one arm, as
> well as use a three-pronged pitchfork to toss a 20-25
> pound burlap bag filled with twine in the air.
> These Celtic strongmen will also be tossing the caber
> - one of the best known Celtic heavy events.
> The caber is a 18 foot to 20 foot long, 150-plus pound
> tree that has had all of its branches removed, making
> it look like a long telephone pole. The athletes hoist
> the caber straight up in the air and balance it on
> their shoulder. After a brief run, they throw it
> straight up in an attempt to get the pole to flip
> end-over-end.
> The goal is to get the end that was in their hands to
> land directly away from them. The closer the get to
> this goal, the more points they receive.
> Throughout the games, the athletes and judge will
> provide commentary about the events and their history.
> The lessons are filled with Celtic pride and humor.
> Each of the athletes will also be wearing the
> traditional Scottish kilt of their individual clans.
> National rules for Celtic games dictate that athletes
> must wear kilts in competition.
> The results of the games will be used in the athletes
> national rankings with the North American Scottish
> Games Athletics association.
> In addition to watching the action on the field, the
> audience will have a chance to show off their strength
> along with the athletes in the Beaver Island Stone of
> Strength.
> The Stone of Strength is a 90-plus pound boulder that
> must be picked up by a contestant, lifted into the air
> and, after a short run for momentum, thrown for
> distance. The winner of this event will have their
> name written on the stone for all to see.
> Plans are also in the works for a traditional keg toss
> for athletes and audience members. In this event, a
> competitor takes an empty beer keg and throws it in
> the air for height, using only one arm.
> The Beaver Island Celtic Games are being hosted by the
> Beaver Island Historical Society in connection with
> its Museum Week. While there is no fee to watch the
> games, T-shirts commemorating the event will be sold
> and donations are being accepted. Proceeds from this
> will go toward paying for the games and to raise
> funding the Beaver Island Historical Society.
> McBain said, "We are hoping to expand these games in
> the future to be more of a weekend event in the fall
> and include more competitors and more Celtic-type
> events, such as music, food and dancing. This year's
> game is just the start of something great."
> The games will begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 23 at
> the Beaver Island ball diamonds, near the north Beaver
> Island lighthouse. The games will run until around 5
> p.m.

[JMcBain]

In addition to the games, there will be a few celtic dancers and a piper joining us Friday and Saturday.
There will be a demonstration of the dances Friday night at the Shamrock Bar and the dancers will do their thing, teach the crowd some dances and have a small dancing competition with the crowd throughout the day on Saturday.

[Guest]

Will there be a beer tent and food.

[JMcBain]

Apparently a hot dog vendor will be on site.
BYOB

[Rich]

Don't forget to visit the Celtic Games or their demonstration dance Friday night at the Shamrock!! Donations for the benefit of the Historical Society will be greatly appreciated!!

[J.McBain]

On behalf of all the athletes at the Beaver Island Celtic Games Saturday, we want to thank the people of Beaver Island for their allowing us to bring these games to your home. The athetes kept commenting on how they have never been to a place such as Beaver Island, with its wonderful people and beautiful location. The atheltes love performing for the crowd and many of them said the crowd at Beaver Island was the largest consistent one they have seen at many larger games throughout the nation.
Furthermore we would like to thank all of the people who volunteered, Mr. and Mrs. Cole who sailed in from Chicago to help keep score, the Drebenstedts who helps measure, Richard Gillespie for his cherry picker and time and the Gary (or Dave, we are still not sure which name he went by because he answered to both) for shagging the implements for us and the Beaver Island Historical Society for bringing us over. There are many more who have provided us with help, but as I write this my body and mind are urging me to rest after that game.
Lastly, we would like to thank Bill Cashman, who as the athletic director helped make sure the games went off without a hitch. Bill did a wonderful job. The Beaver Island Historical Society is blessed to have him.
The athletes are looking forward to further shows and competitions on the island in the future.
Yours,
A very tired and sore Jeremy McBain