| 143rd Scottish Highland Gathering & Games * Presented by* The Caledonian Club of San Francisco Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, CA.
MARINES RETURN FOR 143RD SCOTTISH FESTIVAL
The U.S. Marine Band, San Diego returns this Labor Day weekend for the
143rd Scottish Highland Gathering & Games in Pleasanton.
Always popular with the Scottish-Americans and the diversified audience, the 32-member Marine Band has performed at many of the Caledonian Club of San Francisco organized events over the years. The band performs a wide variety of music, from the stirring Souza marches to Broadway and movie hits during the daily Opening and Closing Ceremonies show.
Each member of the Marine Band San Diego is a professional U.S. Marine, who has completed the rigorous recruit training and Marine Combat Training, and physical fitness according to Officer-in-Charge Warrant Officer Jack Davis. The band's home base is the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. |
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BROCK LOOKS TO PLEASANTON ON TRAIL OF WORLD HEAVY EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Larry Brock wants to the World Champion. The Charlotte, North Carolina athlete will be competing in this weekend's 33rd U.S. Invitational Heavy Events Championship in Pleasanton during the 142nd Scottish Highland Gathering & Games at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.
Brock has come a long way in his short career following success in college football and track and field, by winning two Scottish Junior Championships before moving up the top echelon Professional division. In the recent World Championship held in Inverness, Scotland, he placed third overall.He won the individual World Hammer Championship at Pomona, CA in May. The 28-year-old, who stands 6'3" tall and weighs 285 lbs., has already won ten competitions in the U.S. and Scotland this year.
With a future World Championship in mind, Brock looks to the prestigious Pleasanton games as an important step in the right direction.
He will need to surpass seven-time World Champion Ryan Vierra of Stevenson, CA who has captured the last three Invitationals at Pleasanton with a total of seven wins at the facility. Vierra placed second at Inverness where he lost his reign as champion while experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Among the prime athletes competing is crowd-pleasing Harrison Bailey III. The high school principle hails from Bethlehem, PA and is widely known for perfecting and popularizing the spin technique in the Weight Over the Bar competition. Bailey won the Weight for Height at Pleasanton last year, launching the 56 lb. weight over the 18-foot bar.
Current Women's World Champion Summer Pierson of Phoenix, AZ leads the women's contingent. She still holds the women's discus record at Stanford University.
All professional, amateur and women's division athletes are required to compete in all eight heavy events with the aggregate score determining the overall winner. The events include the popular ancient task of tossing the Caber; 56 lb. Weight for Height, standing or pinning; 17.6 lb. Regular Stone Putt; 26.6 lb. Braemar Stone Putt; 28 lb. Weight for Distance; 56 lb. Weight for Distance; and the 16 and 22 lb. Hammer.
All but the Caber and Weight for Height are held on the soccer field from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. both days. The popular Caber and Weight for Heights event are held in front of the main grandstands beginning at 1 p.m. proceeding the 4 p.m. Massed Bands Closing Ceremonies each day. The classes include Professional Men's Open, Women's Open, Men's 40-49 Masters and Men's 50-Plus Masters. |
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| March Under The Arch |
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