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Cabers, Kilts and Ceilidhs
The Lusaka Highland Games
By Hugh King
It’s that time of year again when the caber gets dusted off, the tug
o’ war rope gets mended, sticking plasters, sun cream and bandages
get bought and the beers put on ice. Yes, the Lusaka Highland Games
has come to town!
But first, a bit of history.
The Past
Traditionally, everyone in the Highlands of Scotland (Caledonia)
used to belong to a clan (a tribe) with a Clan Chief at its head.
Life was tough in the early days – people were desperately poor and
had to endure very harsh living conditions in a harsh climate - and
the different clans were almost always at each other’s throats and
raiding each other’s cattle (a symbol of wealth) and even their
womenfolk. Over the years life gradually became more peaceful as
alliances of the clans developed and dialogue and communication
between the clans improved.
Originally a Highland Games (or Highland Gathering) was a gathering
of the old clans in Scotland. They would all come together to
compete against each other in various feats of strength, endurance,
athleticism or bravery. Afterwards they would all meet up socially
to share a meal and a few drinks and would be welcomed by the Chief
of the clan that was hosting the Games. It was a way for the
different clans (who often had a very warlike history of fighting
various other clans) to test their strength and bravery against each
other in a peaceful and honourable way without resorting to battle
in order to settle their differences. The social aspect of the
Games afterwards (a ceilidh) was always as important as the actual
Games themselves – people would recite stories and poems, perform
songs and dances, play instruments and generally have a good time.
Over the years, Highland Games have evolved to what they are today –
a general social get-together where various activities and events
(some more competitively sporting than others) take place with the
emphasis very much on the taking part, the camaraderie and the
sporting/good-natured character of competitors and spectators
alike. As before, the importance of the meeting together and the
social aspect afterwards remains crucial.
The Present
This year sees the 5th Lusaka Highland Games in its present format,
although I am aware that there have been previous ones held in
Lusaka.
I dread the day when a Highland Games “purist” comes to visit Lusaka
and drops in on the Lusaka Highland Games. There are all sorts of
low-down, dirty, mean tricks played by some team members to either
gain an advantage or nobble the opposition. But, what the heck,
it’s a lot of fun!
The core of the Games has stayed the same over the years – it is a
team event (eight per team, of whom a minimum of two must be female)
and teams take part in a variety of events such as Toss the Caber,
Throw the Welly, an Obstacle Course, various water-based events, Tug
o’ War and many others – although each year we add/change a couple
of events.
Over the past four years, there have been many outstanding
memories:- the excellent Safetech team led by Spensley/Vidmar being
worthy champions two years in a row and then being pipped at the
post last year by LeisureQuest; one team composed of five girls (who
shall remain nameless to protect modesty) who lifted their T shirts
in an attempt to distract the powerful Safetech team in the Tug o’
War (see what I mean about dirty, low-down tricks?); Sharon Andrews
(former GB Commonwealth Games athlete and sadly not here this year)
effortlessly thrashing all the macho male hunks who thought they had
muscles at all the throwing events; the MultiChoice team, despite
having a couple of young kids in the team, consistently winning the
Fair Play award, and many others.
This year’s Games will be held on Saturday 18 September at the
International School of Lusaka (see Wot’s Happening section in this
edition). Last year sadly we had to turn away two teams as we were
already full. If you want to take part this year, please get your
registration form and payment in early. The Caledonian Society
(organisers of the Games) is very grateful to ISL for allowing us to
make use of their excellent facilities, to our main sponsors (at the
time of writing MultiChoice Zambia, Safetech, Spar, Zambian
Bottlers, Data Care and BDO) and to SES Emergency Services for
medical back-up. There is an all-day bar, burger stalls, play
facilities for the kids and it is a good fun day. Look forward to
seeing you there.
Did You Know …? (Eight Pieces Of Trivia To Bore Your Friends)
The Highland Games are the world’s longest-running continuously held
sporting event? (More than can be said for the Olympic Games!).
The first record of a ‘Highland Games’ was in 1829 B.C.? These were
the Tailteann Games, held in what is now known as Tellton, County
Meath, Ireland.
King Malcolm Ceanmore founded the “modern version of the Games in
1027?
Highland Games were banned by the English in 1746 after the Battle
of Culloden? The ban lasted 35 years although was widely ignored by
most Highland Clans.
Queen Victoria was an ardent supporter of Highland Games, starting a
royal connection that still exists today. (All members of Britain’s
Royal Family are regular attenders at Highland Games all over
Scotland).
Caber
comes from the Gaelic word for tree?
A proper full-size caber is 16 – 22 feet long and weighs up to 150
lbs?
Alexander Gyfford accidentally killed his son with a wayward hammer
throw at a Highland Games in 1566? |
September 2004