PUGWASH – Trying to launch cabers and balls and chains through the air can be intimidating for women, but it can also be fun.
“The first time I tried it I was really nervous and I was afraid I was going to fall down,” said Wendy McCrea.
McCrea started the sport in 2007 at the urging of her friend Adena Robinson.
“When she first called me and asked me to compete I told her she was out of her mind,” said McCrea.
The women are friends from Perth-Andover, New Brunswick and were competing at the Heavyweight Highland Games Monday in Pugwash during the Gathering of the Clans.
The sport is male-dominated but McCrea said the male competitors are very supportive.
“I’ve always played competitive games like softball where your opponents don’t encourage you, but here they're really helpful,” said McCrea. “They come up to you and tell you how to improve your technique.”
The women took a road trip to Ontario last year to compete against girls from across Canada and came in fourth and fifth place.
“When we go to Ontario the girls there are really helpful and supportive,” said McCrea.
“It’s really big in Ontario because they have a big track and field program and they go from track and field into this.”
McCrea said they compete against 17-year old track stars and women who are in there 50’s.
This summer they will travel to Ontario in early August to compete in two events.
They would love to see more girls get involved in the sport.
The equipment needed to practice with is easy to come by and is easy to make said McCrea.
“And there are a lot of drills and techniques you can use without the weights, and they have a lot of videos on Youtube,” she said.
“I wish girl’s were not intimidated by it,” she added. “They play hockey and other sports so they can do this.”
More photographs of the Gathering of the Clans can be seen on the slide show at www.cumberlandnewsnow.com
dmathieson@amherstdaily.com
