Stone put

If he saw anyone using it whilst he lived there he would call "Bide a wee" and join in the sport, always proving that he was the strongest man there.

Michael Brander, in his 1992 book Essential Guide to the Highland Games, reports on some of the stories concerning the stone put which have become traditional.

In addition to the Highland Games, throughout European history the stone put has been a popular form of exercise with records dating from Ancient Greece.

The practice of heavy stone throwing also continues as part of Unspunnenfest, which is a traditional Swiss festival which dates from the 13th Century.

[4] The stone put features as a competitive strength event in numerous cultural festivals found internationally.

There is also an 'open stone' variation which allows movement in the throwing area, similar to an Olympic shot put.

[10] This festival features a heavy sports event involving a stone put from standing.

The heavy athletics competition involves a Braemar event with a put from standing with a 19-28 lb stone.