Canceled in 2021 due to the health crisis, the Highland Games are back at the Château de Bressuire. Atmosphere kilts, bagpipes and muscles of course! The Highlands Games, games from Scotland with showdowns : the famous tree trunk throwing, but also stone throwing in length, height, hammer… 11,000 people are expected to attend the performances of the participants with for the first time for this 2022 edition a women’s competition. And enjoy the music of pipe bands and dances.
For the first time a female competition
The women’s open brings together ten participants of different nationalities. “I’m happy that it can be seen, I met people earlier who said to me, are you throwing for real? Yes, for real!”, says Gillian Kara, 24-year-old Bressuiraise who plays, at the end of the line, at home. She, who is a carpenter by trade, learned about the Scottish games thanks to the association forum. What she appreciates “It’s the atmosphere, the camaraderie between people and this incredible spirit of sharing. It’s only in this sport that I’ve seen that”.
– Noemie Guillotin
I got addicted, I like the vibe and throw heavy things far, high
On the men’s side, Fabien Pathenay is one of the two Frenchmen in the International Open. This 30-year-old comes from the Luzarche club in the Paris region. Practicing athletics, he discovered the Highland Games by chance, through a friend. “I got addicted, I like the atmosphere, throwing heavy objects far, high”, he smiles dressed in the traditional kilt. The hardest ? “The trunk. A trunk of 6 meters, 60 kilos, trying to turn it over, it’s going to be complicated”. The event is scheduled for 5:55 p.m. this Sunday, it promises to be a spectacle.
– Noemie Guillotin
To find out more about the Highland Games in Bressuire, click here.