Kay Cummings Tribute / USA v Scotland pics

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Below you will see some of the photographs that I have posted on Facebook from today's Highland Games International Match which saw Team Scotland lose to Team USA after a wonderful day's throwing at Newtonmore Highland Games.

My album is summarised on my Facebook page as follows in italics below. To be honest it was not easy to put into words what I had witnessed when I got back; because I did not know when I drove down from Inverness that I would be witnessing a ceremony to mark the passing of Kay Cummings.The links between Kay and Newtonmore started when he came to throw at Inverness and struck up a friendship with Rab Ritchie who is wearing the green jacket .  

"Scotland v USA Team match, a wonderful Haggis Eating competition and to put it all into perspective the scattering of the ashes of Kay Cummings on the pitch which were then toasted by having whisky poured on them. Sometimes my camera lenses enables me to capture all human emotions and as I focused on his lovely wife Susan I saw her pain, her sadness and then the comfort that comes from such moments. When we sat afterwards she told me how much it had meant to her to bring him to a place he loved so much."
I thought I would share this moment with you first by reproducing this tribute - then adding the pictures below....
~ In Memoriam ~

William Kay Cummings Sr.
1947- 2011

A Personal Tribute to Kay.

Growing up in New England, if you had told me that a logger from central Georgia would become one of the more influential people in my life, I would not have believed you.

I met Kay Cummings in 2001 during a throwers clinic in Ocala FL. I am positive he made fun of my last name that day. Something he would continue until the last time we spoke more than a decade later.  I didn't know it that first day, but I was meeting a man that would help shape the rest of my life. 

With the support and guidance of Kay and Susan, the Highland Games has grown into a major part of who I am. Friends I have made, trips I have taken, experiences I have had, and stories I have heard are all due to my involvement in the games. I have grown as a participant in the games in so many ways, and much of that is due to the influence of the Cummings. 

The best part about my story, is that is it a very common one. It would be difficult to find a highland games participant, particularly in the South, that has not been directly affected by the devotion Kay had to our sport. 

Kay was a tremendous competitor of the highland games. His devotion to the growth of amateur Scottish athletics was fierce. Kay created the Southeastern Scottish Amateur Athletic Association in large part to champion his cause for the development and growth of amateur heavy athletics in the US. Athletes worldwide have participated in SSAAA games and clinics. Many throwers have spent time at the Cummings home seeking to make themselves better throwers. Many of the perks that amateur Scottish athletes take for granted are things that Kay had fought for, and continued to fight for in his final days.

The signature games of the SSAAA have become the upper echelon for amateur competitions. Invitations to the North/South and USA/Scotland games are cherished rewards for amateur Scottish athletes, and milestones for throwers seeking to rise to the professional ranks. 

With Kay's passing, the games have lost a true champion in all aspects of the word. However, Kay's legacy will live on through the association he created, the competitions he helped mold, the friendships that were made though his influence, and through his wonderful family. I am eternally grateful for knowing him.

Kay was a great friend, mentor, and teacher. Thank you Kay.

- Kevin 

Edited by greynolds177 - 8/03/14 at 4:59am

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greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Kay Cummings Tribute / USA v Scotland pics Posted: 8/02/14 at 2:37pm
	Below you will see some of the photographs that I have posted on Facebook from today's Highland Games International Match which saw Team Scotland lose to Team USA after a wonderful day's throwing at Newtonmore Highland Games. My album is summarised on my Facebook page as follows in italics below. To be honest it was not easy to put into words what I had witnessed when I got back; because I did not know when I drove down from Inverness that I would be witnessing a ceremony to mark the passing of Kay Cummings.The links between Kay and Newtonmore started when he came to throw at Inverness and struck up a friendship with Rab Ritchie who is wearing the green jacket . "Scotland v USA Team match, a wonderful Haggis Eating competition and to put it all into perspective the scattering of the ashes of Kay Cummings on the pitch which were then toasted by having whisky poured on them. Sometimes my camera lenses enables me to capture all human emotions and as I focused on his lovely wife Susan I saw her pain, her sadness and then the comfort that comes from such moments. When we sat afterwards she told me how much it had meant to her to bring him to a place he loved so much." I thought I would share this moment with you first by reproducing this tribute - then adding the pictures below.... ~ In Memoriam ~ William Kay Cummings Sr. 1947- 2011 A Personal Tribute to Kay. Growing up in New England, if you had told me that a logger from central Georgia would become one of the more influential people in my life, I would not have believed you. I met Kay Cummings in 2001 during a throwers clinic in Ocala FL. I am positive he made fun of my last name that day. Something he would continue until the last time we spoke more than a decade later. I didn't know it that first day, but I was meeting a man that would help shape the rest of my life. With the support and guidance of Kay and Susan, the Highland Games has grown into a major part of who I am. Friends I have made, trips I have taken, experiences I have had, and stories I have heard are all due to my involvement in the games. I have grown as a participant in the games in so many ways, and much of that is due to the influence of the Cummings. The best part about my story, is that is it a very common one. It would be difficult to find a highland games participant, particularly in the South, that has not been directly affected by the devotion Kay had to our sport. Kay was a tremendous competitor of the highland games. His devotion to the growth of amateur Scottish athletics was fierce. Kay created the Southeastern Scottish Amateur Athletic Association in large part to champion his cause for the development and growth of amateur heavy athletics in the US. Athletes worldwide have participated in SSAAA games and clinics. Many throwers have spent time at the Cummings home seeking to make themselves better throwers. Many of the perks that amateur Scottish athletes take for granted are things that Kay had fought for, and continued to fight for in his final days. The signature games of the SSAAA have become the upper echelon for amateur competitions. Invitations to the North/South and USA/Scotland games are cherished rewards for amateur Scottish athletes, and milestones for throwers seeking to rise to the professional ranks. With Kay's passing, the games have lost a true champion in all aspects of the word. However, Kay's legacy will live on through the association he created, the competitions he helped mold, the friendships that were made though his influence, and through his wonderful family. I am eternally grateful for knowing him. Kay was a great friend, mentor, and teacher. Thank you Kay. - Kevin Edited by greynolds177 - 8/03/14 at 4:59am
	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 2:41pm

	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 2:45pm
	As for the match - which I hope is now put into some kind of perspective - Highland Games are fleeting moments during the short time we are looking enough to be on this planet.... well I don't have the results yet but what I do have is a lot of pictures that I hope you will enjoy. All the best folks Gerry
	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 2:46pm

	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 2:48pm

	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 2:49pm

	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 2:53pm

	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 2:58pm

	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 2:59pm
	Haste ye back guys! Sheer Class!
	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 3:31pm
	A new record for THE SHEAF was set at Newtonmore today
	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 3:32pm
	A new record for Newtonmore in The Sheaf is launched upwards
	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/02/14 at 3:35pm
	Happy Dance in the Scottish Highlands!!!
	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.

greynolds177 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Postaholic Joined: 4/12/07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1752	Post Options Post Reply Quote greynolds177 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8/03/14 at 5:04am
	Big thanks to Bill for the proof reading!
	A.D.Inverness 1999-present; MWC2006, World Championships 2007, MWC2009 and MWC2014. Organiser of Guinness World Record for Caber Tossing. Scottish Masters International Hall of Fame Inductee 2014.