Utah Scottish Festival

Gordon, thanks for putting on a tremendous games-the venue was just outstanding-- will definitely plan to make it back

It was great to meet and compete with all the Masters 40-49 and the 2 really old guy interlopers Jeff L and Mark B (both of whom provided tremendous examples of great ageless athletic performance, to include an impressive spinning WOB clinic by Jeff)

Brent-- way to eek out a "treacherous" clutch win in a very competitive M-40 class, I'm sure Eric is kicking himself as I am to lose by such a narrow margin 

Congrats to Ryan Stewart for the A class win to include a nice hammer throw that I actually got to see

As an aside, I would like to thank the very generous couple that picked up the check for my dinner on Friday night at the Harvest restuarant-- I had just arrived in town after a 9 hour drive up from Phoenix in which I didn't stop to eat, so I sit down in what turns out to be a fairly fancy restuarant wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.  I promptly devour everything in front of me and when I go to pay the check I am told that it was taken care of-- I suppose I must have appeared to be a starving vagrant that hadn't eaten in days-- anyway the waitress got a nice tip and I left well sated

Good Job Gordon, nice games. could have done without the rain.

Very fun A class! good throws all day long. Zach Barclay will be a beast.

Lots of fun watching the old guys battle it out all day. Brent Abbot is amazing,(for having no muscle and being old)  . Nothing but love Brent.

Eric Wechter did one of the most manly caber tosses I have ever seen. Raining like hell he picked it and it sliped about 8 times out of his hands. He kept shruging it up and finaly got it. just then a huge gust of wind hit the caber. he turned ran and fliped it. Just amazing.

Thanx Shawn for the kind words

Thanks Shawn, I thought it was all over for my chances at 5-peat when you and and Eric Wechter showed up! Not to mention sheafing against Mark Prows, Eric Wechter and you. -Isnt this a sport: I thought at the end of the day it would be 1.Shawn, 2.Eric, 3.Me and Shawn came over after it was tallied and told me the Sheaf put me over the top by 0.5 points - not only that, he offered and did drive my prizes home to Phoenix! the sheaf award was an engraved art glass bowl and didnt think i wanted to check it- thanks Shawn!

Thanks to Ryan Seckman and my girl Gretchen Conerly for getting me out to practice sheaf lately!! If you dont have a Highland Games throwing girlfriend, get one, and dont tell the wife.

Ryan, thanks for the tips on WOB and compliments on sheaf, great throwing and wish you the best for your Pro future.

John Springer and Rich Campbell - you know what I owe you!

thanks Gordon for putting on another great games. Also thanks to the Jeff Loosle and all my Utah bretheren I look forward to seeing every time. Your all welcome at my house anytime, especially games time.

Credit is also due to Rick and Sherry Lavallee for putting Me, Gretchen and Karyn Dallimore up and cooking awesome tri-tip - I will post pics of the party.

Gordon does a great job as A.D. and takes care of the athletes.  It is always nice to have an "athletic - by that a thrower" as an A.D. as they just understand so much without it having to be said.

It was nice to have the Idaho contingency down is such numbers.  And Doug Barclay, you are a warrior, been throwing since 1985 and still loving the games and throwing well!!

Brent nice job on the Sheaf.  28' after a complete down pour, with a soaked sheaf bag, standing in puddles, the last event of a long day, the skies still raining, lightning not far away, metal poles all around, soaked to the bone...  yeah, nice toss!!

And, Brent, thanks for posting the Atlas Stone photo. . .  Ok, at least thanks for saying there was an atlas stone not shown.  With the stone missing, I look like a sick Irish Step Dancer -- I owe you.

Fellow 40+er's, Mark and I had a great time throwing with you young guys.  Cannot believe the power some of you possess.  Thanks for letting us throw with you.  Good Luck Mark at MWC's!!

Eric, just always a treat to throw with you.  I have not had the chance to throw in the same group as you for years and it was great to share the field with you.  Your Caber Toss, as explained by Ryan, DAMN!!!!!!

Shawn and Andy you are both going to be sooo good.  A wee bit more technique and experience and you will be hard to touch. 

Shawn, 18' standing PR in 6 games. . ., stay with it, the standing.  Would be fun to see a 19 to 20'+ stand from you and I think you have all the tools to get it there!

Scot Fest is such a fun game and venue, wish we could do it every week!!!!!