| Minnesota Ren Fest HG Report; last Games of the year for me | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 13 2006, 02:34 PM (187 Views) | |
| Caber McJock | Sep 13 2006, 02:34 PM Post #1 |
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I agree
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Last Games of the season, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, my favorite event. Longer travel time this year as I went with my family, but that was ok and probably worked out even better. The weather Saturday morning was not good- wet and cold. Took a little bit of a longer warm up than usual, and for the first time ever wore a sweatshirt to throw in. 22lb Braemar Stone: Went 35’6 on my first throw and never came close again after that, my best stone throw this year. Good enough for a close 1st place. Open Stone: This was a light stone, probably 15lbs, and beautifully shaped. I tried doing the glide for the first time (cause it’s always good to try a new technique in competition) and blew my first 2 throws so I did a standing throw for my third and cracked 39’for the win again, which is weak, I have thrown this stone 47’ in the past, and a guy like Matt D. from Alberta would probably throw it 60. Still, nobody else had a good day here either, so maybe conditions played a part. 56lb WFD: Went 28’and change, consistent for the year, 2nd. 28lb WFD: 55’and change, best LW of the year for me. I have thrown worse at a much higher BW. 2nd again. Caber: Couple of decent pulls with the qualifier 16’6 100lber (or so) but stymied by the pig comp caber, 17’6 120 and NO taper. Just a beast. McLifter was able to get a couple of nice turns with this thing. I was 4th or 5th here, maybe lower. Keg Toss: 8 gallon keg, 25’ for the win. Fun event, crowd loved it. Sheaf Toss: 20’and out. Terrible. I am not sure what happened to my sheaf mojo, but it’s gone baby. Weak tarps have a lot to do with it. 56lb WFH: This weight has always been friendly to me, so I was hoping for a good day here and I got it. Managed 13’6” for the win, and rang the weight off the bar at 14’pretty hard. VERY happy to finally have that monkey off my back, and nearly 2 years worth of not managing more than 12’. So at the end of the day, I was first overall. This is good, but I have to note that Jeff Bryan was pretty beat up with knee problems and was not playing at 100% or even close, so the results are a bit skewed. A win is a win, but I would have rather beat him when he is healthy. Not as many shenanigans as usual afterwards, it was a bit of an odd year. Day 2 Same order as day 1. Not as hung over as we normally would be, but the weather was worse and the cold and damp left me feeling really beat up. Warming up was pretty much impossible. 22lb Braemar stone: Killed myself for 31’something. 1st. Open Stone: Did the glide, bit better today but still did not crack 40, which is lame with a capital L. 1st again though. 42lb WFD: Throwing the masters heavy weight on day 2 has worked really well for us. It felt quite comfortable to throw too- I launched a 39’ to edge Jeff by about 6” for first, and a PR for me. 28lb WFD: 53’I think, for second. Keg Toss: Off from day 1, only 20’, and 4th or 5th. Caber: I took 3 throws with the qualifier and then dropped out. My hands were killing me at this point. However, nobody but Mike H managed to turn the big one on Sunday so I snuck in 2nd. Sheaf: Took a warm up throw, and my left trap and something in my neck went SNAP so I cleared the opening height of 18’and sat down. It was about 10 degrees C at this point of the day. 42lb WFH: This was fun and relatively easy. I won the event with 14’ (tied with 2 others, won on countback) and hit 15 on my fifth attempt out of the contest- one for the crowd which was pretty good for such a crappy day. Finished 1st overall again. It says a lot for how this day was that I drank more coffee than beer afterwards. |
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| MaxPower | Sep 13 2006, 02:36 PM Post #2 |
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Follower of Branigann's Law
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Nice 2 wins in 2 days. :rock |
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| GrantB | Sep 13 2006, 03:49 PM Post #3 |
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Grant is a magnificent bastard
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Great to see, Jeff! Nice result. |
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| Frozenkilt | Sep 13 2006, 03:49 PM Post #4 |
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Online douche. GOLD! I need more Gold
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Buddy, you took a year where you were a bag of smashed glass and at your lowest competitive bodyweight yet, trained around it and came out with some solid season's bests, no real injuries, about 3 more competitions than you thought you'd do and 2 wins. That, my friend, is a successful season. - Sean |
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| McLifter | Sep 13 2006, 05:28 PM Post #5 |
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Caber was "da man" this weekend. He threw well and used those long arms and his new svelte self to toss his way to the front. It was well deserved on both days. I haven't had a chance to post about this weekend but it was a BLAST! This was my only competition this year and I managed a PB in the Sheaf on the first day and a third place finish behind two of the Jeffs. However, on Sunday I sucked the big one. I was either at the bottom end of the group or solidly in the middle. I managed to POP my right hamstring twice on Sunday. Once while tossing the Caber and again on the 42 WFH. We were the walking wounded as we scurried out of the rain and looked for food and coffee after throwing. Even though this is only my second year and according to Caber and the other regulars the Ren Fest is tamer than in previous years it is still a great event and a lot of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am thankful for the opportunity to throw at this event with these tossers. I'll post some of my meager numbers later since they are at home. McLifter |
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| Llamapower | Sep 13 2006, 05:37 PM Post #6 |
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Not The Mama
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Sounds like good a fun weekend was had by all - I've got to have a go at this Highland Games stuff one day.
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| sqeezemasterflash | Sep 13 2006, 05:50 PM Post #7 |
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Now you're boring us
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It was only my second year at the Ren Fest games, but it was a great time! I helped out on Saturday and threw on Sunday. I know my Braemar was around 26 and my open stone was a little over 31. This would be a PR in the open, but it was a light stone. I got to throw the old man weight on Sunday and managed 28 something with the 42. My first two attempts were around 22, then something clicked and I learned to use my legs. With my newfound knowledge that I had legs, I managed to single spin the 28 out to 45' 4" for an 8' PR. I thought I heard the judge call out 35, then was told he said 45. I didn't break this on the next 2 throws, but my shortest throw in this event was still a 4' PR. Now to learn 2 spins. I nearly killed the crowd with the Keg toss. I got it going straight back instead of up. Missed all 3 at 18 here. By my third attempt at the caber I managed a successful pick, but lost my balance pretty quickly and didn't turn it. I need alot of work on this one. My sheaf is improving and I probably could have hit 16 or 17, but we started at 18 and I missed all 3. Threw the 42 for height, and managed to clang the bar twice at 12. Pretty happy with that, since my best with the 56 is 10. This was a great weekend, plenty of Guiness and whisky, with good Scottish weather. We even had homemade scotch eggs. What more could you want? |
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| Jamie | Sep 13 2006, 05:53 PM Post #8 |
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First Moderator on the SDF; first to have moderator title revoked.
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Congratulations, Jeff! That's awesome, buddy.
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| Jamie | Sep 13 2006, 05:55 PM Post #9 |
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First Moderator on the SDF; first to have moderator title revoked.
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... and the other Jeff
;) Good work, man! |
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| Frozenkilt | Sep 13 2006, 06:01 PM Post #10 |
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Online douche. GOLD! I need more Gold
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Nice work Brock and Other Jeff! An 8' PR is sheer badassery! - Sean |
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| Caber McJock | Sep 13 2006, 06:05 PM Post #11 |
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I agree
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Those scotch eggs were fantastic. Brock had a really solid Saturday, as he said a PR in the sheaf but he neglected to mention giving a clinic in explosive power on the caber. Me giving the caber everything I've got: ![]() Brock showing how it's done: ![]() SMF has decided to commit to throwing- it will be interesting to see how the Minnesota crew develops over the next couple of years- there are some future powerhouse throwers there. |
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| sqeezemasterflash | Sep 13 2006, 06:09 PM Post #12 |
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Now you're boring us
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Nice pics Jeff! Did Shaun take those? |
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| Caber McJock | Sep 13 2006, 06:54 PM Post #13 |
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I agree
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No, my wife did in one of the rare moments they stopped by to watch. |
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| sqeezemasterflash | Sep 13 2006, 07:23 PM Post #14 |
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Now you're boring us
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That was kind of her. Between taking the pictures and taking the kids when you went off drinking, she seems like a stand-up lady. |
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| Caber McJock | Sep 13 2006, 07:42 PM Post #15 |
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I agree
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Yeah she had the tough bit, the kids were just beat on Saturday. Unfortunately that cut into my drinking time in a big way, but it wasn't much of a party anyway. I met your wife as well- one things for sure, we married up. |
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| Frozenkilt | Sep 13 2006, 08:34 PM Post #16 |
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Online douche. GOLD! I need more Gold
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Shit boys, I'm the president of THAT club. - Sean |
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| Jamie | Sep 14 2006, 05:43 AM Post #17 |
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First Moderator on the SDF; first to have moderator title revoked.
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Awesome looking caber. I'm waiting for Brock's write-up so I can congratulate him. ;) |
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| McLifter | Sep 14 2006, 10:32 PM Post #18 |
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So here is the report for my performance this past weekend..... 22# Braemar: 27' 11" on my first throw was my best on Saturday. On Sunday I barely was able to clear 25'. Open Stone As Jeff was saying this stone was light. But it was a beautiful shape and nice to throw. I managed a best of 38' 3" on Saturday which stood until the final round and held on for a third. The best I could muster on Sunday was 34' 4". 56# WFD AKA "THE WIDOW MAKER". On the Saturday I fouled on the first throw followed by a meak 22' throw and a best of 24' 7". Which isn't far shy of my best which may be a shade over 25'. Two spins (ugly spins) were used this weekend. I managed only 26' 2" with the 42# on Sunday. As I stated before I was not having a great day. Started off hungover and queasy. That went away with a shot of Scotch and a Scotch Egg! Mmmmnnnn breakfast of never to be champions. 28# WFD Well this is not my best event. Think of a Hippo in a Tutu spinning around to Swan Lake. I did manage some decent throws for me on the day topping out with a 49' 2.5" on my third. Not bad considering I only have a couple of throws over the fifty foot mark. Practice, practice, practice... Keg Toss As Jeff said this was fun. The crowd liked it and the Canadians (myself and Mr. Ingram) had our own cheering section of 10yr old girls rooting us on. I cleared up to 23' for second behind Jeff. Missed 24'. On Sunday I missed three times at 18'(?) :unsure: Go figure. Caber This was going to be a crap shoot for me as I hadn't touched a stick for over a year. The first Caber was 17' 100# or so. I missed the first attempt! I can't remember why. Popped the second for a 12:00. Second Caber was 18' 120# with very little taper but suprisingly nice balance. I managed a 9:30 and a 2:00 with this to go onto the third caber which was called at 18' 6" and maybe 130#. It was better tapered but a heavier stick. By this time I was getting pooped but we went with three trys. Two for degrees about 75 or so and the middle toss was a no go. I had the lead until Mike's Caber Mojo took over and he beat me. Mike ruled the Cabers taking the event on Sunday too. I tell ya, three Cabers left me shaking and spent. But it was a great crowd and the fans always like the caber. Jeff made the paper for the advertisement for the Rennaisance Festival. Very nice shot from a couple of years ago. On Sunday I turned the lightest caber for 1:00, 2:30 and 11:55. When I tried the no taper caber I missed it, yelped in pain and grabbed my ass when the hamstring popped on my second and only got degrees on the third with an all arm pull. I think I was fourth because of the 12s on the lighter caber. Sheaf On Saturday I was able to set a Personal Best with three trys to make 22'! I then failed at 24. On Sunday I managed 20' and touched the bar at 22'. 56# WFH I like this event! I manged to clear 10, 11 and 12' all with one attempt. Three trys at 13 was a no go. 42# WFH After the caber my hamstring was really iffy. In fact it popped again during this event on Sunday. I cleared 12' with one try and took three to clear 14'. Then nobody cleared 15 with our three attempts. Jeff got it on his 5th attempt. I was clearing the bar but not finishing well enough to get the weight to go O V E R the bar. This was a fun weekend. The injuries are part of the bragging rights. At least three of us needed some form of medical attention afterwards. Dr Guinness was administered liberally. McLifter
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| GrantB | Sep 14 2006, 11:11 PM Post #19 |
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Grant is a magnificent bastard
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Nice work, guys. Hope the hamstring is nothing serious, Brock. |
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| Jamie | Sep 15 2006, 12:48 AM Post #20 |
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First Moderator on the SDF; first to have moderator title revoked.
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Good work, Brock! Hope the hamstring's alright.
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| Russ | Sep 17 2006, 07:36 PM Post #21 |
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Sounds great guys, I too must try this out one day. Is there much of a HG scene in England? |
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| Caber McJock | Sep 18 2006, 02:31 AM Post #22 |
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I agree
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Honestly, I'm not sure what there is in England. Might be better to take the train trip up north next summer, you could do probably 15 Games in 30 days, or more. You'd be beat up, but you'd have learned everything you need to know by that point. It's something I'd like to myself before I'm done. |
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