The Scottish Highland Games is rife with a whole host of amazing throwers. Over the course of history, many gifted athletes have donned a kilt and hurled the stones, hammers, weights and cabers of the world. Arguably one of the longest tenured sports, the Highland Games poses some difficulty in narrowing down the list of the greatest to just five, but … I’m gonna try.
So starts my list of the five greatest heavy athletes in Scottish Highland Games history. Let’s break down the criteria I used to help me with this endeavor:
- World Championships Won
- Longevity of Dominance
- Personal Bests in Relation to History
- Personal Bests in Relation to Fellow Contemporaries
Staring off this list of incredible throwers is none other than the “Big Chief,” Jim McGoldrick. Winner of five World Championships, Jim McGoldrick came to the sport the same way that many do - from Track and Field. Specializing in the dicus, Jim threw 65.56m (215’1”) while chasing the elusive national spots against the likes of Mac Wilkins.
Jim got into the sport a little later than he had liked; looking back, he wishes he had started earlier, as he won his fifth world title at age 40. Perhaps that late start is what made it hardest for him to compete in as many games. For years, people have told me that McGoldrick kept his games number low each year so he could peak for the games he wanted to and better control his throws for the season. Jim, said otherwise, “I couldn’t get into as many games as the others! I usually threw at 10-12 games a year, with 17 or 18 being my most.”
Considered by many to be the greatest caber tosser in history, I asked Jim how he got so good at. His response was simple, yet missed by many of the throwers today, “I practiced. There was an open field across from my apartment, so I’d go throw the caber there by myself. It was 18 to 18 feet six inches, and around 130 pounds. I’d stand the caber up against some spikes I drove into the ground, pick it, and then throw.”
Even for Jim, it wasnt always 12:00s for him - he had his downs in the event. He tells the story of 1983 in Santa Rosa when Bill Anderson and Grant Anderson were helping him to figure out the event. “Grant was telling me I was pulling it way too late. He simply told me to pull earlier, so I gave it a go on my second throw. I pulled so early on that stick that it fell back at 90 degrees. But, I turned it on my third throw.” If you aren't up on your games history, those are three names synonymous with Caber greatness.
In 1986, this distinction as caber expert was further reiterated, again, by another champion, Bill Anderson. Jim tells the story, and it’s one I wish I could have experienced in person. “It was a top heavy stick that we had to throw in wood chips. I had turned it and walked back and asked Bill, ‘Bill, what’s the toughest stick you’ve ever seen?’ Bill looked at me and said, ‘That one you just turned!’”
Even with five world titles, McGoldrick still had his weak events. “The hardest part was figuring out the hammers. I found that the best style for me was the Sandford style - more of a wind over the right side of my body. You see, during my era, you could survive with a couple of bad events.”
Modest as he is, even McGoldrick's "weak events" could still win.
It was McGoldrick’s body that finally did him in. “My ideal competition weight was 255-265 pounds, but as I got older I tired compensate with greater strength and size to help me power through the events. I was over 280 pounds in my last year, and that was simply too heavy for me.”
I asked Jim who his best throwers of all time might include, and without hesitation he included Geoff Capes of England. “Geoff does not get the credit he deserves. He was so dominant. You couldn’t beat him in the stones or the weights for distance. You hoped to equal him in the weight over bar, but when he was 360-370 pounds, he was at his best in the sport.” Two-time World Champion Grant Anderson is also on McGoldrick’s list of some of the greatest.
In the end, Jim’s greatest part of the journey isn’t his five titles or countless victories, but the relationships and bonds he built along the way. “I just got off the phone with Phil Martin. I wouldn’t know him or have him as a friend all these years if it weren’t for the Highland Games.”
Jim McGoldrick. One of the greatest this sport has seen, and will ever see. Oh, and not even Jim knows where the nickname, “Big Chief” came from … he figures he owes Phil Martin some thanks for that one.
(photos from Jim Jardine)
Jim McGoldrick Stats:
World Champion (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993)
Braemar Stone: 46’8”
Open Stone: 55’6”
Heavy Weight for Distance: 42'3"
Light Weight for Distance: 88’11”
Heavy Hammer: 110’
Light Hammer: 132’11”
Weight Over Bar: 17’3”
(Personal bests courtesy of The Warrior Breed by Douglas Edmunds)
John Patrick
HIRE A LEGITIMATE CRYPTO RECOVERY EXPERT // VISIT WEB GENIE RECOVERY Has a cryptocurrency fraud affected you? WEB GENIE RECOVERY is available to help. Recovering assets from cryptocurrency fraud of all kinds is their area of expertise. I found out that the cryptocurrency market was a clever investment hoax after being duped into making an investment. They were successful in extorting $970,000 of my hard-earned cash. After I lost a lot of money to scammers posing as recovery specialists,I was able to recover my cryptocurrency thanks to WEB GENIE RECOVERY. Getting all the information you need about the scam is the first step in recovering your lost cryptocurrency. Next, contact trustworthy recovery experts such as WEB GENIE RECOVERY. An authentic specialist in cryptocurrency recovery services. A total of $970,000 was recovered from the funds taken from my wallet account after providing the professional recovery expert with all pertinent information and needs. I was ecstatic to have made this full recovery. I sincerely appreciate your accuracy and professionalism. Therefore, get in touch with WEB GENIE RECOVERY if you find yourself in this situation and wish to recover from an online cryptocurrency scam. All you have to do is explain your incident and follow through.
WebSite:(www.webgenierecovery.com)
Email: mailus@webgenierecovery.com, webgenierecovery@mailo.com ,Telegram : @webgeniereciovery
Ask any questions and get back your lost funds immediately.
Esther Joseph
FROM LOST TO GLORY: THANKS TO PASSCODE CYBER RECOVERY I DID NOT LOOSE MY CRYPTO
In August 2025, I fell victim to a sophisticated phishing attack that nearly cost me everything. After clicking on what appeared to be a legitimate email link in my Gmail inbox, hackers gained remote access to my smartphone. Within minutes, they began targeting my Trust Wallet, which held over $600,000 worth of Bitcoin. It was a devastating moment but thanks to the swift intervention of Passcode Cyber Recovery, I was able to recover my stolen funds and secure my digital assets. The attackers attempted to bypass security on my Trust Wallet and extract my private keys, but they were met with a strong device passcode and app level security, which delayed their efforts just long enough. As soon as I noticed suspicious activity on my device, I contacted Passcode Cyber Recovery, a cybersecurity company specializing in crypto wallet breach response and asset recovery. The team at Passcode Cyber Recovery responded immediately. They walked me through a rapid incident response protocol: disconnecting my phone from the internet, preserving digital evidence, and preparing a secure, clean environment to restore access. I had fortunately stored my recovery phrase offline, which allowed me to safely regenerate my wallet on a new device. Once my access was restored, the team assisted me in creating a brand new secure wallet. With their guidance, I moved the remaining funds into this new address and revoked all permissions that the hackers may have exploited. At the same time, Passcode Cyber Recovery’s forensic team tracked the movement of stolen assets on the blockchain and contacted major exchanges in real time to flag suspicious wallets. Their timely response and network of partners helped freeze a portion of the stolen Bitcoin before it could be laundered or cashed out. In the end, I was able to recover the vast majority of my funds, a near miraculous outcome in the world of crypto theft. I now share my story to warn others “If it weren’t for Passcode Cyber Recovery, I would have lost everything. Their expertise, speed, and professionalism saved my life savings.
Passcode Cyber Recovery
WhatsApp: +1 (647) 399-4074
Telegram: passcodecyberrecovery11 Email: passcodecyberadexec.com
Today, I use a hardware wallet, multigeniture protection, and keeps my recovery phrase offline and split across secure locations, all best practices taught to me by Passcode Cyber Recovery.
Kenneth Wall
THE BEST AND LEGITIMATE HACKER IN THE WORLD /WIZARD LARRY RECOVERY EXPERTS
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Wizard Larry Recovery Experts, a skilled bitcoin recovery specialist, for helping me retrieve my stolen cryptocurrency after I fell victim to a cryptocurrency scam. I thought I would never get my money back, but Wizard Larry Recovery came to my rescue and gave it back. Within 72 hours of my recuperation, I received a refund for 97% of the money I had lost. If you are having similar issues and need assistance getting your money back, I highly recommend getting in touch with Wizard Larry. His cryptocurrency recovery services are excellent. It can be accessed by
Email; info@wizardlarryrecovery.com or through
WhatsApp ; +1(616) 292-4789
Website; wizardlarryrecovery.com
matt cole
Crypto Asset Recovery for Bitcoin // USDT // ETH // Contact iFORCE HACKER RECOVERY
Hiring iForce Hacker Recovery was one of the best choices I ever made. After being defrauded by a foreign investment company, their expert team traced and recovered my initial capital. They uncovered that the profits I saw were fake figures, exposing the scam entirely. Their honesty, professionalism, and constant communication set them apart. Every staff member I interacted with was respectful and transparent. iForce Hacker Recovery truly restored my financial dignity and peace of mind. If you’re struggling to reclaim lost funds, I highly recommend contacting them and you won’t regret it.
Their Website; ww w . iforcehackers . c om
Email; iforcehk @ consultant . co m
Whatsapp; +1 240-80-33-706
Hannah Jackson
UPS DRIVER TESTIMONY --MUST READ
Every day, I hit the road as a UPS driver, delivering packages and doing my best to support my loved ones. But one dark moment nearly broke me—losing $48,000 to a scam that promised quick riches. I felt hopeless, trapped in a cycle of despair. Then, I found JetWebHackers through a fellow driver. Their team didn’t just promise—they delivered. In just 48 hours, they tracked down the scammers and recovered my hard-earned money. Their expertise and dedication gave me a new sense of hope I thought I’d lost forever. Recently, I received a blank ATM card from JetWebHackers, and with it, I withdrew $15,000—money that’s now helping my family get back on their feet. I know it’s a risky move, but in my situation, it’s been a blessing I couldn’t have imagined. If you’re struggling or have fallen victim to scams, don’t lose hope. Reach out to JetWebHackers—they genuinely want to help people in their darkest hours.
Get in touch today:
Website: [jetwebhackers.com]
WHATSAPP: +1(763)357-2550
Email: jetwebhackers@gmail.com
Telegram: @jetwebhackers