The 2023 Kachemak Bay Highland Games last Saturday held a variety of events for all to enjoy, from the traditional heavy athletic events and a Kilted 5K race to a reading of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” by Pier One Theatre combined with participation of the Barony of the IceFire Bay during the play’s battle scene, to musical performances by the Mariner Sandpiper, Nerea the Fiddler and the Harp Twins with the Volfgang Twins.
Athletes participating in the heavy events this year competed in designated classes including Men’s Juniors, Men’s Masters, Men’s Advanced Amateur, Men’s Intermediate Amateur, Women’s Open and Women’s Masters.
Titan Campbell won the Men’s Juniors category with an overall score of nine points.
Rob Moody placed first in the Men’s Masters category with 9.5 points. Danny Autrey won the Men’s Advanced Amateur category with 12.5 points. Nicholas Pyfer won the Men’s Intermediate Amateur category with 20 points.
Gabriella Rinehart placed first in the Women’s Open category with a score of nine points. Morgan Ashcraft won the Women’s Masters category, also with nine points.
In this year’s Highland Games, athletes competed in weight-for-distance events such as the Braemar stone put, the open stone put, weight throw for distance, and hammer throwing. They also competed in weight-for-height events where they threw a weight over a crossbar using only one hand, or tossed a sheaf of hay over the crossbar using a pitchfork. Also among the events is the caber toss, judged on the accuracy rather than the distance of the athlete’s throw.
This year’s event was also dedicated to the memory of Rhiannon Wistrand, daughter of Renee and Shawn Krause, who passed away in December 2022. Wistrand served as the club’s artist and graphic creator as well as the co-creator with her mother Renee, Kachemak Bay Scottish Club co-founder and director, of the club’s crest, annual shirt designs and online content, according to the club’s website.
For more information about the Kachemak Bay Scottish Club or the annual Highland Games in Homer, visit www.kachemakbayscottishclub.org/index.html.
Gabriella Rinehart prepares to toss the hammer during the Kachemak Bay Highland Games on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
A Kachemak Bay Highland Games participant prepares to throw a weight for distance on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Nick Pyfer participates in the Weight Over the Bar event during the Kachemak Bay Highland Games on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Nick Pyfer participates in the Weight Over the Bar event during the Kachemak Bay Highland Games on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
