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)
Fanny Charters
I’m happy that Wizard James Recovery Service was able to retrieve my stolen cryptocurrency. I lost my hard earned money to a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment broker a few months ago. After investing $200,000 in Bitcoin and Ethereum on this platform, I was unable to take my money back. My coworker informed me about Wizard James Recovery Service and their experience with the recovery procedure. After researching the company and concluding that it was a legitimate and trustworthy recovery service, I got in touch with them right away and gave them all the information they needed. When they successfully recovered my stolen cryptocurrency funds from these broker accounts, I was blown away. I sincerely appreciate their assistance, and I think it is appropriate to provide this information in case anyone else needs their help. Wizard James Recovery Service is incredibly trustworthy and dependable. You can contact them directly at ( Wizardjamesrecovery@usa.com )
WEBSITE: ( https://wizardjamesrecovery.com )
WHATS-APP: ( +447418367204 )
bullsindia
Do you need a financial help? Are you in any financial crisis or do you need funds to start up your own business? Do you need funds to settle your debt or pay off your bills or start a good business? Do you have a low credit score and you are finding it hard to obtain capital services from local banks and other financial institutes? Here is your chance to obtain a financial services from our company. We offer the following finance to individuals-
*Commercial finance
*Personal finance
*Business finance
*Construction finance
*Business finance And many More:
and many more at 2% interest rate;
Contact Us Via Email:bullsindia187@gmail.com
Whats-app: +918119862018
Paul Scott
My Bitcoin Recovery Experience with Cloudstrike Cybersecurity
A few weeks ago, I made what I thought was an irreversible mistake — I accidentally sent about $117,000 worth of Bitcoin to the wrong wallet address. It was supposed to be used for a major purchase, but one typo changed everything. The moment I hit “send” and realized what had happened, my heart sank. I honestly felt like my world was falling apart. That money was everything I had.
Like many people, I’d always heard that crypto transactions are final and basically impossible to recover. I started reading forums, asking around, and all I saw were messages telling me there was nothing I could do. It felt hopeless.
Then I came across a company called Cloudstrike Cybersecurity . I’ll admit — I was skeptical at first. It just sounded too good to be true, but I figured I had nothing to lose. I contacted them through their email[Cloudstrikecyber@gmail.com]
To my surprise, they responded quickly and professionally. They asked for all the relevant transaction details — the wallet address I sent the Bitcoin from, the one I sent it to, the transaction ID, and a few other things. I sent it all over, still unsure if anything would come of it.
But within 48 hours, they got back to me with incredible news: they had tracked down the transaction and recovered my funds. I couldn’t believe it. I actually had to reread the email a few times to let it sink in. They guided me step by step and transferred the recovered Bitcoin back to my wallet. I was in shock — and honestly, beyond grateful.
I never thought recovery like this was even possible, but Cloudstrike Cybersecurity proved me wrong. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, I highly recommend reaching out to them. They truly saved me.
HOW CAN I RECOVER MY LOST BITCOIN, USDT?/MALICE CYBER RECOVERY WILL SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS
When I discovered I had fallen victim to a sophisticated crypto investment scam that cost me $238,000, I was overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation. The scammers had expertly laundered my funds through numerous blockchain addresses, making the trail nearly impossible to follow for someone without specialized knowledge. That’s when I reached out to Malice Cyber Recovery a team renowned for their expertise in cyber forensics and crypto asset recovery. From our first conversation, their professionalism stood out. They laid out a clear, methodical plan to track the stolen funds using advanced blockchain analytics tools and forensic software. Malice’s experts meticulously traced each transaction across the blockchain ledger, mapping out the flow of my stolen assets through countless wallets and decentralized exchanges. Their ability to interpret complex on-chain data was impressive they pinpointed the exact movement patterns scammers used to obfuscate the trail. Beyond just tracking, Malice coordinated with global crypto exchanges and regulatory partners, pushing to freeze accounts linked to my stolen funds. Their network and legal know how were instrumental in this phase. After weeks of intense investigation and negotiations, Malice successfully recovered the majority of my $238,000. Their relentless effort not only got my money back but also restored my confidence that justice can be served, even in the shadowy world of crypto crime. If you ever find yourself in a similar nightmare, Malice Cyber Recovery is the team to trust they transform complexity into clarity and loss into recovery
Email: malicecyyberrecovery@contractor.net
WhatsApp: +61410262541
Rick Harmon
I used to think crypto recovery was a myth until I became a victim of a scam that wiped out my entire portfolio through a fake investment scheme. Every attempt to recover my funds was met with more fees and empty promises. For two exhausting weeks, I got nowhere.
That changed when I reached out to Morphohack Cyber Team, a trusted and legitimate crypto recovery service recommended by a friend who had successfully recovered his digital assets through them. Their expertise and professionalism made all the difference.
I’m sharing this to let other scam victims know: it’s not over until you get your funds back. Your crypto wallet and digital assets can still be recovered.
Don’t wait, contact Morphohack Cyber Service today. ( Morphohack@cyberservices. com)