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Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Part 1 has me thinking the 90s really were awesome
by Kevin Hofer
Woman power at the Highland Games: carrying tree trunks and archery for the first time
8.7.2025
Translation: Julia Graham
At the Highland Games, I shoot stones, arrows and tree trunks around – or at least I try to. At my first competition, I’m taking part in the championships with a women’s team.
Until recently, the Highland Games were unfamiliar territory. When a friend asked if I wanted to join a women’s team with her, I first had to say: pardon? After a brief explanation, I was thrilled. I only found out later why there are only a few women in this sport.
Of kings and warriors: the history of the Highland Games
The Highland Games date back to the 11th century in Scotland. According to tradition, the competitions were created by King Malcom Canmore to find the best men for certain jobs. As a result, the men from different clans had to prove their skills in various disciplines. As well as being fighters and messengers of their clan, the winners also received fame and honour. After 1848, the English royal family also supported the competitions and they became known internationally. This is how they found their way to Switzerland. Since the 19th century, women have also been allowed to take part.
Source: pixabay/jimmy2820
The events vary in type and quantity depending on the location, but they’re similar. I’m taking part in the Highland Games Hasenstrick in Zurich, where there are eleven events. Here’s a rough overview:
- weight over the bar
- log obstacle course (varient on traditional caber toss)
- shot put
- farmer’s walk (carrying 2 × 25 kg)
- caber toss
- obstacle course
- archery
- axe throwing
- log pulling/tyre pulling
- two surprise events
The website (in German) roughly explains the disciplines but my head is still ringing alarm bells. What do you mean stones, axes, LOGS? My friend’s brief explanation was probably too brief.
My preparation: hardly any
Josi (my friend) had mainly asked me because I was the sportiest woman in her friendship group. Even without the flattery, I’d have agreed as I actually like the sporty challenges. After studying all the events in more detail, I put together a kind of workout plan. Or as well as you can with gym and home workout equipment.
I end up doing one of my typical full-body workouts, but with a backpack full of weights. I only have two weeks until the Highland Games anyway. That’s not enough for serious preparation, but too much to make me nervous and question my life decisions until then. Josi reassures me that others are also taking part for the first time. In the meantime, my motto is: being there is all that matters.
The people: a huge feel-good group
On the day, when Josi and I get to Zurich Oberland (the Zurich Highlands), we’re met with the kind of warm friendliness I rarely encounter. We’re instructed and kitted out by the Berner Clan Walhall Highlanders (site in German). A kilt is, of course, compulsory. We also get shirts with the stylish Berner Clan logo, so we’re ready to go.
Before the march-in and start of the events, we chat to the Walhall Highlanders as well as other people from opposing clans. There’s a high-spirited atmosphere. What’s quite special about this day is that there are only two women’s groups competing. Not only that, the opposing team has travelled from Germany and therefore can’t be crowned Swiss champions. So only we can win. A refreshing change that keeps my nervousness somewhat in check.
The atmosphere: welcome to the romanticised Middle Ages
The exuberant atmosphere continues as we line up for the march-in and enter the large grounds for the opening of the Highland Games. We file through the wonderful market stalls with handmade goods, kilts and delicious food to the centre of the meadow, with the sun almost too strong. The fact that we’re handed bottles of water is more than convenient. It doesn’t stop at water. We’re introduced to a custom when clan leader and president of the Hasenstrick troupe, Dominik Mäder, gives the opening speech.
Source: Katrin Buri
He holds a large quaich in his hand – a traditional drinking vessel from Scotland – and explains that it’s only for strong spirits. Everyone is meant to take a sip in turn and the rest is tipped into the meadow in memory of the deceased. It’s kind of nice, but the whiskey is already soaking up the heat when I just smell it and pass it on without having taken a swig.
Now I’m ready for anything. I think.
How the competition unfolds: using brains, muscles and footwork
We can complete the events whenever and in whatever order we want, we just have to stick to the time limit of six hours. So you don’t just need muscles, you also need brains to work out when each event makes sense. It’s an exciting undertaking because everyone in the team is different. For example, we can divide up the obstacle course according to what we are best at, as each of us only has to complete part of it. Afterwards, we do a round of shot put to give our legs a break after all the running.
One surprise event in particular requires a lot of planning and discussion: we have to transport a large rabbit from A to B as quickly as possible. The rabbit is made up of a tractor tyre, wooden ears and paws and a huge stone as a pom-pom tail. Only one participant is allowed to carry a piece at a time. This requires a plan for sequencing and a division of labour. It’s worth it, though, as we’re among the fastest of all the groups.
Source: Katrin Buri
At first I think I have to show pure muscle power with the caber toss. But it actually requires something totally different. The caber is over three metres long. You need to carry it to a line and then throw it so it rolls over once and goes as far as possible. My problem is balance. The trunk isn’t just long, it’s also much thicker at the top than the bottom.
This discipline highlighted how friendly the clanspeople are. It doesn’t matter if I’m in their clan or an opposing one, everyone just wants me to get it right. I’m cheered on, get tips and help from all sides and receive thunderous applause for my (pitiful) attempt – with two more tries to go. To give you an idea, here’s my best attempt:
I feel pretty cool after this discipline, if only for having brought myself to do it. When I then summon up enough courage to throw a heavy weight into the air over my head in the weight over the bar event, I’m finally full of adrenaline and dopamine.
The fact that I get so much encouragement and support helps to get over the fact I’m doing everything for the first time. So, I get to celebrate a few successes with my group after all.
Although most of the events are incredibly strenuous, which is exacerbated by the heat, we always do our best. In the log obstacle course, we beat the other women’s team by a few seconds on the second run.
The view: beautiful and needs to be seen again
At the award ceremony, the situation with the women’s teams is explained and the German group is automatically eliminated. Which was actually pretty mean. It makes us the winners despite being seven points down. But still: 319 points against 326 for a team that has known most of the events far longer than us.
In any case, we’re more pleased about the fact that we successfully mastered our first Highland Games without any injuries and that we get a gift basket with delicious jams and cakes. We definitely had a lot of fun and are now shattered and looking forward to a cold shower.
Source: Walhall Highlanders
If you’d like to take part yourself, everyone is welcome at the Highland Games. The next one is in Bern on 15 – 17 August (site in German). I’ll even drag my fellow editor Kevin along and we can try our hand at a mixed team. I’m excited to see how we get on.
Header image: Valhall Highlanders
In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee.
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