BUNCH OF TOSSERS
National disgrace as Scots soldiers lose Highland Games .. to English
SCOTLAND has suffered another humiliating sporting defeat – losing an Army Highland Games contest to English rivals.
The disappointed Scots troops – who were reigning champions in the event – claimed the burly Yorkshire winners’ failure to wear kilts gave them “a marked advantage”.
The brave men of 4 SCOTS, The Highlanders suffered a blow to their national pride, losing out to troopers from the Royal Dragoon Guards by just three points.
And rookie competitors served up some shocks with one Englishman taking second place in the caber tossing on his first foray into the traditional sport.
There was plenty of banter over the result after the contest at the Scottish battalion’s base in Catterick, Yorkshire.
A post on the official 4 SCOTS Facebook page, said: “The Royal Dragoon Guards may have won but the lack of kilt was seen to be a marked advantage which hopefully will be addressed next year.”
Soldiers from the Light Dragoons, 21 Engineer Regiment and the Royal Lancers also challenged 4 SCOTS, who were the defending champions.
Events included throwing the bale and the hammer, hurling the stone, tossing the caber and other strongman events
The Games concluded with a tug of war which was won by the Highlanders.
Lieutenant Colonel Neil Tomlin of 4 SCOTS, said: “This battalion has held the Highland Games every year and it continued when we moved to Catterick.
“It is important to bring our soldiers together for a light-hearted, fun day with good-natured competition. We have been delighted to open this to teams from other units to enjoy traditional Highland hospitality and compete at sports some may never have seen.”
Lieutenant Colonel James Lane of the Royal Dragoon Guards, said it was a new experience for his soldiers.
He added: “Our man came second in tossing the caber and I don’t think he had ever picked a caber up before.
“It was about physical strength for us rather than the techniques and the skills.”
Competitor Lance Corporal Richard Clark, 28, from Leeds, a soldier of the Royal Dragoon Guards, took part in the strongman competition.
He said: “I enjoyed it. I have never done anything like this before.”