In the Throws of Scottish Life

COSTA MESA — Swinging a square, 28-pound weight between his legs, Jere Cherryholmes of Bell launched the “widowmaker” up and over a 12-foot-high horizontal pole. The crowd gasped as the weight crashed to the ground just inches away from his head.

“It’s a test of manhood,” said Cherryholmes, 47, wearing a red-and-green plaid kilt with green knee-high socks. “But it’s a lot more in-depth than that. There is a lot of pride in it.”

The Highland Games originated as a challenge for family honor, including the “widowmaker” toss for height and distance. Participants in the games also throw the hammer, a plunger-shaped 22-pound weight with a 50-inch handle; hurl a 22-pound rounded rock like a shot put; and toss the cabor, similar to a 90-pound telephone pole.

About 50 burly athletes participated in the Highland Games Saturday as part of the 65th annual Scottish Festival at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Many of the athletes, who will compete again today, do not represent a Scottish family or “clan,” but participate in an effort to promote Scottish culture.

Six-year-old Brandon Butler of Anaheim Hills struggled to keep hold of 5-foot log as he balanced it in his palms. His father, Bob Butler, 38, quickly snapped a photo.

“This is as close as we get to visiting out relatives in Scotland,” Butler said.

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A loud grunt erupted from a nearby field, where athletes tossed the longer logs for competition. After one competitor stood the pole upright, another hoisted it to his waist, walked about five feet while balancing it in his palms, and tossed the log end over end.

The goal of the event, which originated as a way to cross rivers, is to toss the log in a straight line. Points are based on an ideal 12 o’clock mark, not on distance.

The crowd sighed as only a few athletes were able to make the log cartwheel. After one dropped the pole, spectator Pat Havenhill, 58, of Corona, remarked, “He grunted too quickly.”

Still, Havenhill was happy to watch. “It’s better than listening to that music over and over,” he said of the bagpipes.

Aaron Shear of Upland High School, who heaved into a bagpipe he learned to play five years ago, likely would not concur with Havenhill. Shear wore a green plaid kilt with a horse-hair purse hanging in front, argyle socks and a green feather in his black felt cap.

The 18-year-old senior plays the saxophone in the school’s marching band, but said after seeing bagpipers in the Rose Parade, he wanted to play the more challenging instrument.

“I love it,” he said. “I have a bumper sticker on my truck that says, ‘Real men wear skirts.’ I get weird looks sometimes, but I don’t mind. I actually enjoy it.”

He even wore his kilt to his high school prom last year.

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Megan Tanner, 14, of Sacramento, learned Highland Dancing eight years ago to perform the Highland Fling--a celebration dance--for her Scottish grandparents’ 45th wedding anniversary.

Hopping on her tiptoes, she performed the Seann Triubhas on Saturday, a dance about the English forcing the Scottish to wear trousers. When she shook her legs, it was to show how the Scottish disliked the trousers, she explained. When she jumped more freely, it signified the wearing of kilts.

“It’s great exercise,” she said. “And I get to learn about my heritage.”

Bagpiper Shear said he also enjoys learning about the culture, although he is not Scottish.

Not even a little bit?

“I’ve seen ‘Braveheart,’ ” he said, as he marched away with his whining instrument.