Introduction History & Immigration Culture People Multimedia Resources
  Text Size: S | M | L
Culture > Sports and Games > The Highland Games:
Sheaf Toss

Culture: Sports and Games

Sheaf Toss:

Sheaf Toss
Sheaf Toss

Although technically not a heavy athletic event, the sheaf toss has been incorporated into many Highland Games. This traditional agricultural event was originally contested at country fairs in Scotland and in the Basque region of France. Using a pitchfork, farmers would hurl a burlap bag stuffed with twenty pounds worth of straw over a horizontal bar above their heads. Similar to the weight toss, each competitor has three chances to toss the sheaf cleanly go over the bar without touching it. The bar is raised after each round. This continues until all but one athlete is eliminated.

The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author and
do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.
Copyright © 2009 Windsor Mosaic Website. All rights reserved