Celtic Classic HG & Festival 2012 Bethlehem, PA - September 28 - 30!
I'll be attending the Celtic Classic a week from this weekend. It will be my first visit for me to these games, and it's scheduled after I do some genealogical research in Bucks County. I'm planning to also visit the Braveheart Highland Pub on Saturday evening that was pre-arranged with some locals in another thread that was closed for some reason.
The Celtic Classic doesn't have many clan tents based on last year, but I'm hoping the Clan Buchanan Society, Int'l returns as I will wear my Buchanan tartan kilt and want a home base.
I've also signed up for the Whisky tasting. No one should even doubt I would miss out on such.
Anyway, here are the websites for both the Celtic Classic and the Braveheart Highland Pub:
Yep, I'll be there, Jack. Shall look for you. Not sure, though, what kilt(s) I'll be wearing. How about this: day one, Friday, I'll probably wear my USA casual in Celtic Nations; day two, my SWK Black Stewart; day three...TBD. Not that this helps, as many folks will be kilted. Anyway, I know what you look like.
That's a bad case of dandruff there, "Den". For tonight, I'm staying in Warrington and am enjoying the cooler weather! Tomorrow, I'm off to Doylestown to look up property records on ancestors. Then, over to a private cemetery near Erwinna and the Vansant Airfield.
Are you going to the Braveheart Highland Pub on Saturday evening?
Igot a lot accomplished regarding my ancestral research. I found more than I figured on, so it was a VERY productive trip to Doylestown, Tinicum Twp, and Erwinna. Today, I visit another cemetery and then I'm off to my hotel in Allentown where I can prepare for the Celtic Classic!
The Celtic Classic is THE Premiere athletic event in North America. They don't mess around with "A class" and "B class"....nope. If you want an invitation to the Celtic Classic, you have to throw at the absolute top of the heap. Twelve athletes. The Best in the World. Period. Getting an invitation to throw at the Celtic Classic is a mark that you have made it to the uppermost echelon of Scottish Heavy Athletics. The Big Three.... The World Championships at Antigonish, Pleasanton, Celtic Classic....with Loon Mountain and Enumclaw in there, as well. Those are the Big Games on this Continent. Guys plain their training for months in order to peak for these events.
I understand that you guys are probably more interested in the clans and geneological research and maybe whisky. But take an hour and go watch the athletes. More world records have been set at the Celtic Classic over the past 50 years than any other single Game. It's the Best of the Best.
Unfortunately, I'll be staying with relatives Friday and Saturday night. Guess where they live? Doylestown! We'll be at the festival most of the day and, probably, late into the evening. If plans change, we'll see you at the pub.
Also, I'll keep an eye out for you. Not sure we'll hook up, though, as there's gonna be a ton of folks there.
Alan, I knew that the heavy athletics guys were good, but I didn't realize that this was 'the best of the best.' After watching them last year, I can attest to how big and strong they are. Several of these guys were throwers on Olympic teams, so that tells ya something. I'll definitely be watching again this year.
Friday night: wearing a USA casual in Celtic Nations, black/green Guinness rugby jersey, black flat cap (sorry Jock). Saturday: wearing a New World Irish kilt, all black Irish - Live For Rugby jersey, green Ryan Ross bonnet. Sunday: SWK, wool Black Stewart, green Balmoral bonnet.
Let me give you a little rundown on the athletics...
Ryan Vierra set the North American record for light weight for distance at the Celtic Classic in 2002, I believe.
This years lineup...
Daniel Mckim... 2010, 2011 World Champion. Just 2 weeks ago set a new North American record in the heavy hammer. Dan is the dominant caber thrower of the past 5 years. Dan has also won every Game he has thrown at, except for one... in the past three years. The one he lost? The 2012 World Championship.
Matt Vincent .. 2012 World Champion. Matt would have broken the 30 year old Open Stone world record about 3 weeks ago, but the stone was an ounce too light to qualify. That hurts! Matt is also the only athlete to throw the 28 light weight over 90 feet this season, and is the only athlete to throw the open stone over 60 feet.
Mike Pockoski.. 2nd World Championships in 2010, 3rd in 2011 and 2012. 3x World Hammer champion. US Olympic trials in 2004 and 2008 in discus (2008) and hammer (2004) ...I think that's right.
Eric Frasure.. World record holder in the sheaf
Sean Betz ... 2009 World Champion.
Mike Zolkiewicz... 2010, 2011, 2012 weight over bar champion...holds the world record for the weight over bar, standing technique.
Andy Vincent ... One of the only 3 men to throw the weight over bar, standing technique over 18 feet this year. Hold field records for the Braemar stone (beat his brother, Matt) at records at Enumclaw and half a dozen other venues. Andy was also Texas's Strongest Man in 2010 (2009?? not sure) and played two seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
Rusty Price... Rusty is from California. However, he had a big season in 2011 in Scotland, winning the SHGA Caber Championships at Inverary, the SHGA overall Championship at Callender, and winning the ultimate prize in this sport...the Overall at Braemar, which includes receiving your trophy from the hand of the Queen.... and swapping wins at Games all over Scotland during July and August 2011 with Mike Pockoski.
Give me a break.... and there's nothing else going on. No old, broken down Masters to distract you, or new guys fumbling around. Getting an invitation is simple. Be the BEST. Period. Twelve guys get invitations. You want to play. Be in the best 12 in the world. Period. And they know it. Every one of those guys is bringing their A Game to Celtic.
Sure, go drink your whisky and check out the Clan tent. Compare sett sizes with other X Markers. But go watch the Athletes for a while, too.
For tonight, I'm staying in Warrington and am enjoying the cooler weather! Tomorrow, I'm off to Doylestown to look up property records on ancestors. Then, over to a private cemetery near Erwinna and the Vansant Airfield. 
Bookmarks