Scotland to face Germany, Iceland and Austria

International competitors are heading for Scotland to take part in this year’s Cowal Highland Gathering.

The event’s most fiercely contested competitions will this year welcome a fourth international team, as Austria joins the athletes battling to be crowned Cowal International Heavy Athletics Champions.

Introduced to the Gathering in 2016, the Cowal International Heavy Athletics Championship is the only international heavy athletics event to be held in Scotland.

Having attracted teams from Scotland, Germany and Iceland for the last three years, CHG organisers are delighted that a team from Austria will join the 2018 competition.

Teams consist of four athletes – three men and one woman – all of whom take part in the Gathering’s individuals’ contests. The points scored by each person then go towards the team total, and at the end of the Gathering on Saturday, 25 August, the team with the highest total will be crowned as Cowal International Heavy Athletics Champions and presented with a trophy.

CHG chair Ronnie Cairns said the addition of Team Austria would add an extra level of rivalry to what is already one of the Gathering’s most popular annual attractions.

He said: ‘I never fail to be astonished at the level of strength and determination our heavy athletes show every year. They leave nothing in the tank, and put on an incredible show for the crowds who flock to see them compete every year.

Iceland’s Heisi Geirmundsson gets ready to throw the Cowal Stone

‘This is the first time we’ve had a team from Austria competing at the Gathering and I’m sure this will add some extra spice to what is already an extremely tough competition.

‘Last year’s winners, Team Germany look as though they’ll be hard to beat, but with national pride on the line, it’s certainly not a result I’d like to predict, although I’m sure the home crowd will be in fine voice to support Team Scotland.’

CHG’S headline sponsor again this year is the Scottish Salmon Company (SSC), which also sponsors the heavy athletics competitions.

Craig Anderson, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Company, said: ‘We are proud to support to the Cowal Highland Gathering for the fifth year.

‘The Gathering is famous across the world as a celebration of Scotland’s finest traditions with warm hospitality and fantastic entertainment. The annual Heavy Athletics event is something we always look forward to and we wish all competitors from near and far the best of luck.’

This year’s Cowal Highland Gathering runs from Thursday 23–Saturday 25 August. Cowal Highland Gathering is supported through EventScotland’s Beacon Funding Programme.

For information or to book tickets, visit the Gathering’s website or contact the event office by emailing info@cowalgathering.com or phoning 01369 703206.