Mississauga News
Noreen Farooqui, October 17, 2003
Don’t tell Gillian Daughton that the Scottish Highland Games are just for men.
The 5-foot-9 Mississaugan may just pick you up and toss you further than a 12-foot caber.
Competing in the Champions division at the Highland Games in Maxville, Ont., she placed second all-around and first in the caber toss.
The caber toss is the main attraction in the series of heavy events. It involves throwing what looks like a telephone pole over a bar, and competitors are judged for style and technique as well as distance.
“The caber toss is more for accuracy than strength. You flip the pole so it goes end over end. Twelve o’clock is the best score,” explained Daughton.
The Highland Games are comprised of seven different heavy events that demand a great deal of power and strength on the part of the competitor. There are two main categories; amateur and professional. Gillian turned professional two years ago. Traditionally, the Highland Games has been a man’s domain. Only recently have women been accepted.
When world champion Shannon Hartnett from the United States began competing 10 years ago, she was the lone woman in the field.
“When Shannon started out, she used to compete by herself. When I started out, there were three of us on the field. Now there are 12 women on the field,” said Daughton.
Born and raised in Mississauga, Daughton attended the Highland Games as a child with her Scottish parents. After observing the games for much of her life, Gillian decided she wanted to be more than a spectator. She also credits an exboyfriend for motivating her to compete.
“My ex-boyfriend was a part of the games and I would watch him compete for years. One day, I said, ‘I’m gonna compete’ and I started training. I’ve been training for four years now,” she said.
Competing in the Highland Games demands a rigorous training schedule and a lot of discipline.
“I wake up at 4 a.m. every morning and go to the gym for weight training and power training,” said Daughton, who has a personal trainer and works out at Gold’s Gym in Mississauga. She also has a special trainer for the Games.
Canadian Champions coach Warren Trask, the former world record holder for the sheaf toss, an event that involves using a pitchfork to toss a bag of hay over a bar, has tutored Daughton for two years. They met at a week-long training school in Fergus that prepares competitors for the Highland Games.
The Scottish Highland Games are held around the world.
And thanks to The Highland Games Daughton has had the opportunity to travel to far-off places.
“Next year, I’ll be competing in Hawaii, Colorado and Indiana,” she said.
In Ontario there are events in Fergus and the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville, a prestigious event that has attracted the likes of Lloyd Robertson and Prime Minister Jean Chretien as official Games openers.
But the Highland Games aren’t just about sports. It’s also a time of celebration.
The cultural tradition includes clans, traditional music, a formal dance called ceilidh (KAY-lee), vendors, animals and dancing.