PUGWASH – By day, two are nurses and one is a bus driver.
On weekends, they toss cabers and hurl heavy weights great distances at highland games competitions throughout the Maritimes.
“People don’t mess with us in our towns, even though we’re not fighters,” said Adena Robinson with a laugh.
Robinson is from Perth-Andover, N.B. She’s the bus driver.
“She just glares at the kids if they’re acting up,” said Erinn Quinn, a nurse from PEI.
Robinson and Quinn were joined by Wendy McCrea, a nurse who is also from Perth-Andover, N.B.
Robinson, McCrea, and Quinn were competing at the Gathering of the Clans in Pugwash on Monday.
Quinn has been competing for five years and Robinson and McCrea for 11 years.
“It’s a fun sport and we love the people and the atmosphere,” said Quinn. “This is our highland family.”
The men always make them feel welcome in the male-dominated sport.
“They never make us feel that it’s just a man’s sport,” said Quinn.
Throwing heavy weights can be tough on the body, taking a toll on knees, hips, shoulders, back and more.
“My bodies not holding up so well,” said McCrea, while Quinn says her shoulder blades were hurting her.
Good training and diet helps prolong their competitive longevity.
“You really should train all year, but I didn’t train this winter because I had surgery,” said McCrea.
With that, McCrea, along with Quinn and Robinson, were called up to throw some more heavy weights, and punish their bodies even more.
