2009 European Highland Games Championships

[Stahmixson]

2009 Highland Games European Championships: Preview
by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind

This weekend, the International Highland Games Federation (IHGF) European Championships will be held in Bressuire, France - an uncommonly beautiful setting for a sport that is anything but a stranger to scenic settings.



In what might be a perfect setting, five-time Highland Games World Champion Ryan Vierra throws the 56-pound weight for height in Bressuire, France. Jean-Louis Coppet photo.


Francis Brebner has filed this special report with IronMind, setting the stage for this weekend’s competition.


Bressuire Highland Games

By Francis Brebner

In what can only be called one of the best locations for a Highland Games, the Bressuire Games are set in the grounds of a walled 1,000-year-old old inhabited castle that is surrounded by a moat, with the nicest of scenery and views.

The stage is set for this year’s IHGF European Championships in Bressuire, France, which will prove to have the best line-up of European athletes ever assembled for the championships. Representing countries will be Holland, Belgium, Scotland, England, Norway, Iceland, France and Switzerland.

The Bressuire Highland Games have come along way since the first Games were established in 2001 in an exhibition of the traditional heavy events to a crowd of 2,000 spectators. This initial effort then led to a full-blown Highland Games being hosting in 2003 for the IHGF European Championships, which was a smash hit.

To date, Bressuire attracts a gate of over 8,000 spectators to its Games and is still growing in size. Jean-Louis Coppet, the main organizer, is expecting as many as 10,000 spectators at this year’s event. Big name stars like Stephen King, Gregor Edmunds, Scott Rider, and Tommy DeBruijn, will be battling it out over the two-day event, which will be held 13 - 14 June 2009.

David Webster, OBE has done a great job again in securing the best athletes to compete in this year’s European Championships and shows no sign of slowing down. He is also preparing what can only be described as the biggest gathering in recent times with the 2009 Homecoming, including the IHGF World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, 25 - 26 July. This vast event will prove to be spectacular, I am sure, and it will be opened by royalty and filmed for TV.

 

[Sionnach]

ALLES GEVEN VLAAMSE REUS!!

Succes! Ik ben echt benieuwd!

 

[uncLez]

Aye, succes!1!

 

[Stahmixson]

UPDATE DAG 1

Hans Lolkema in topvorm ! Mede door de winst op de HWFD staat Hans 2e in het tussenklassement. Tommy de Bruijn staat 4e, vlak achter Graig Sinclair.
Voormalig wereldkampioen Gregor Edmunds heeft de voorlopige leiding

Morgen meer,.........

 

[Sionnach]

k*t GVDME, nog geen berichtje teruggehad van Tommy, sterk van Hans maar toch hoop ik dat Tommy hem op zijn doos geeft , zou wel leuk zijn voor een podiumplaats op het EK voor Vlaanderen en Friesland, dat zou "LEEEEEEEEEEGENDARISCH" zijn, komop jongens de beuk erin

... en waar blijven al die supporters gdverdamme, in de luie zetel naar de laatavondpornofilm staren met een zakkie chips?

 

[Stahmixson]

2e dag nog wat geschuif, maar uiteindeliijk is de tussenstand ongewijzigd.
Hele mooie prestatie van zowel Hans (2e !!!!) als Tommy (4e)
Lolkema won de zelfs de caber !
Tommy 2e op Braemar Stone

Super gedaan !

 

[Sionnach]

idd super gedaan, jammer van die 4e plek voor Tommy, net geen podium
maar toch ijzersterke prestatie, congratz aan beiden

 

[Stahmixson]

http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/op...he_European_Highland_Games_Championships.html

 

[Stahmixson]

****, wat is die Edmunds fatsig geworden....

 

[Stahmixson]

Gregor Edmunds Wins the 2009 European Highland Games Championships
by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. | ©2009 IronMind

In a storybook setting, Gregor Edmunds held off the charging field and captured the 2009 European Highland Games Championships.

[Afbeelding niet meer beschikbaar]

The podium and key officials at the 2009 European Highland Games Championships. Photo courtesy of Francis Brebner.



Francis Brebner filed this report for IronMind.

Gregor Edmunds Wins the European Highland Games Championships
by Francis Brebner

The second day of the European Championships were gifted again with perfect throwing condition with a packed crowd of more than 8,000 spectators.

Opening ceremonies were done once again by the mayor of Bressuire before our group of eager heavies got under way with the 22-lb. Braemar stone.

This was a very tight battle between the athletes right until the end of this event with Gregor Edmunds being the triumphant winner with a put of 39' 6”. In second place was Tommy De Bruyn from Belgium with 37' 11” and Hans Lolema from Holland in third with 35' 6”.

In the 16-lb. hammer this once again proved to be a real ding dong battle with Craig Sinclair sealing the win on his last throw for the victory over Edmunds with a distance of 132' 6”, which left Edmunds in second place with 128' 1” and Tommy de Bruyn in third with 122' 7”.

Going into the third event of the day, the 28-lb. weight for distance, it was Craig Sinclair who applied the pressure with a greet opening throw of 76' 10” for the win which left Hans Lolema in second place with 75' 9” and a surprising Edmunds in third place with 73' 11”.

The 56-lb. weight over the bar had a very interesting outcome with Hans Lolema dominating with a winning, height of 15' 6”. In second place was Tommy de Bruyn with a height of 15' and in shared third place were Craig Sinclair and Gregor Edmunds at 14' 6”.

At this point in the competition, with only the caber toss left, the points could not of been closer, with Edmunds in first place with 14.5 points; in second, Sinclair with 16.5; and Lolkema in third, with 17.

The final event was the Bressuire caber which had never been tossed before and at a length of 19' and 135 lb. this was to prove a very difficult stick for many.

Only two athletes were to toss this caber, Edmunds and Lolemo, with both sharing the win with each landing a 12 o'clock toss which pulled Lolemo well up in points to claim the second place over Sinclair.

The final overall point were as follows:

1. Gregor Edmunds (Scotland) 16 points
2. Hans Lolema (Holland) 18.5 points
3. Craig Sinclair (Scotland) 20.5 points
4. Tommy de Bruyn (Belgium) 28 points
5. Stephen King (Scotland, 45.5 points
6. Audunn Jonsson (Iceland) 48 points
7. Craig Smith (Scotland) 53.5 points
8. Anthony Lordi (Switzerland) 63 points
9. Geir Standal (Norway) 67 points