History | Halkirk Highland Games, Scotland

Halkirk Highland Games, Scotland

History

The World Highland Games Heavy Events Championships were officially registered at Stationers Hall, London (Reg No: 28203) in 1973 by David Webster O.B.E. (Honorary Life President of the Commonwealth Games Council of Scotland). Webster first became involved in organising Games in 1947 and his first major international Games was in 1963 when 1,500 competitors participated in the Boys Brigade World Highland Games.

In 1964, he took some of the top Scottish “Heavies” on a tour of North America, the line up included the great Bill Anderson M.B.E., Jay Scott, Sandy Sutherland, Louis McInnes, Jock McColl and Andy Robin. They toured major venues in New York State, Baltimore, Washington, Rochester, Toronto and Montreal. This was the first of many world tours and interest was so great that the idea of a World Championship was born during a successful tour of Australia in 1972. With the Championships being officially registered in 1973, Webster consolidated the heavy events over the next few years with numerous international TV appearances to gain the profile sought by sponsors. The profile of the “Heavies” soared after they competed in the Queen’s Jubilee Highland Games at Blair House, organised by Webster.

webster cup

The World Championships first took place in 1980, in Pomona southern California, near Los Angeles and have been held ever since. It is an invitational event, to ensure that only the best compete against the best. Webster has an Advisory Council who help with organising such a prestigious event. The roll of champions engraved on the Webster Cup is;

Year Championship Location Champion Country
1980 Los Angeles, USA Grant Anderson Scotland
1981 Lagos, Nigeria Geoff capes England
1981 Melbourne, Australia Bill Anderson Scotland
1982 Prestonpans, Scotland Grant Anderson Scotland
1983 Carmunnock, Scotland Geoff Capes England
1984 Carmunnock, Scotland Geoff capes England
1985 Carmunnock, Scotland Geoff capes England
1986 Carmunnock, Scotland Geoff Capes England
1987 Clarkston, Scotland Geoff capes England
1988 Aviemore, Scotland Jim McGoldrick USA
1989 Aviemore, Scotland Jim McGoldrick USA
1990 Glasgow, Scotland Jim McGoldrick USA
1991 Callander, Scotland Jim McGoldrick USA
1992 Callander, Scotland Joe Quigley Australia
1993 Callander, Scotland Jim McGoldrick USA
1994 Callander, Scotland George Patience Scotland
1995 Kilmarnock, Scotland Alistair Gunn Scotland
1996 Waipu, New Zealand Ryan Vierra USA
1997 Fredericksberg, USA Ryan Vierra USA
1998 Oulu, Finland Ryan Vierra USA
1999 Pleasanton, USA Matt Sandford Australia
2000 Waipu, New Zealand Matt Sandford Australia
2001 Pleasanton, USA Matt Sandford Australia
2002 Pleasanton, USA Matt Sandford Australia
2003 Antigonish, Canada Matt Sandford Australia
2004 Concord, USA Bruce Aitken Scotland
2005 Fergus, Canada Ryan Vierra USA
2006 Pleasanton, USA Ryan Vierra USA
2007 Inverness, Scotland Gregor Edmunds Scotland
2008 Bridgeport, USA Sean Betz USA
2009 Edinburgh, Scotland Aaron Neighbour Australia
2010 Victoria, Canada Larry Brock USA
2011 Loon Mountain, USA Dan McKim USA
2012 Fergus, Canada Matt Vincent USA
2013 Loon Mountain, USA Dan McKim USA
2014 Dunfermline, Scotland Matt Vincent USA
2015 Pleasanton, USA Dan McKim  USA
2016 Halkirk, Scotland Scott Rider England