Athletes
The North Lanark Highland Games welcomes champion heavyweight athletes from across Canada and abroad to compete in traditional Highland athletics. Spectators are welcomed to the grandstands to join in the excitement as athletes display their skills in traditional events such as the Hammer Throw, Weight for Distance, Weight for Height, Sheaf Toss, Stone Throw, and the infamous Caber Toss.
The NLHG has been proud to host the following athletes in past Games and we hope you’ll join us this year to see who will be fighting for the titles in Male Professional, Female Professional and Amateur competitions, while setting Personal Bests and even new World Records.
Jason Baines
Birthdate: October 7, 1978
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 245 lbs
Home Town: Greenfield Park, Quebec
Current Town: Dalkeith, Ontario
Occupation:
Tartan: Maclaughlin
Throwing Since: 2008
Open for more
Accomplishments: Married to Tiffany Dirico with 1 daughter
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 31’10.0″ 22.2lbs.
Open Stone:
Sheaf: 31’2.0″ 0.0lbs.
Caber: 12:0 22’2.0″ 93.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 79’4.0″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 40’4.0″
Light Hammer: 134’4.0″
Heavy Hammer: 115’4.0″
Weight Over Bar: 14’0.0″
Dirk Bishop
Birthdate:
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 280 lbs
Home Town: Perth-Andover, New Brunswick
Current Town:
Occupation: Customs Officer
Tartan: Ancient Cameron
Throwing Since: 2004
Open for more
Accomplishments: 4-Time Masters World Champion, 4-Time Canadian Caber Toss Champion
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 40’9.0″ 22.0lbs.
Open Stone: 49’2.0″ 16.4lbs.
Sheaf: 31’0.0″ 16.0lbs.
Caber: 11:15 19’0.0″ 146.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 76’8.5″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 53’0.0″
Light Hammer: 131’5.0″
Heavy Hammer: 106’4.0″
Weight Over Bar: 18’0.0″
Sultana Frizell
Birthdate: October 24, 1984
Height: 6’0″
Weight:
Home Town: Perth, Ontario
Current Town:
Occupation:
Tartan: Fraser
Throwing Since: 2017
Open for more
Accomplishments: Canadian Record Holder in Light Weight for Distance and Weight Over Bar (both records set in her first competition, New Brunswick Highland Games in Fredericton, NB. Track & Field Olympian (2008, 2012)
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone:
Open Stone: 46’1.0″ 8.2lbs.
Sheaf:
Caber: 12:30 16’6.0″ 48.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 78’11.5″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 37’0.5″
Light Hammer: 92’8.0″
Heavy Hammer: 74’5.0″
Weight Over Bar: 17’0.0″
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Holly Goldthorp
Birthdate:
Height: 5’9″
Weight:
Home Town:
Current Town: Bracebridge, Ontario
Occupation: Security Intelligence Officer
Tartan: Maple Leaf
Throwing Since: 2004
Open for more
Accomplishments:
- 2007 – 3rd place, World Masters Championships, McPherson Kansas
- 2012 – 2nd place, World Masters Championships, Calgary Alberta
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 23’11.5″ 13.8lbs.
Open Stone: 34’1.0″ 8.6lbs.
Sheaf: 21’0.0″ 0.0lbs.
Caber: 12:0 17’0.0″ 48.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 55’0.0″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 43’11.0″
Light Hammer: 76’10.0″
Heavy Hammer: 64’7.0″
Weight Over Bar: 13’0.0″
Heidi Lowry
Birthdate:
Height: 5’10”
Weight:
Home Town: Toronto, Ontario
Current Town: Almonte, Ontario
Occupation: Teacher
Tartan: Spirit of Scotland
Throwing Since: 2007
Open for more
Accomplishments: Heidi took up Heavy Events as a dare. A former member of Team Canada’s Beach Volleyball team, she now throws heavy things around fields in the summer instead! She met her husband, Neil Lowry, a fellow competitor, at her first heavy events competition and her life changed. This is now her ninth year competing and she continues to enjoy the camaraderie and competition. She wears the Spirit of Scotland tartan and loves it mostly because it is purple, her favourite colour. Most importantly, she is proud to continue this Scottish tradition and pass on her love of the pipes and Scottish culture to her three children, Isabel, Mason and MacPherson.
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 27’9.8″ 12.2lbs.
Open Stone: 41’7.5″ 8.0lbs.
Sheaf: 20’0.0″ 8.0lbs.
Caber: 11:0 16’0.0″ 57.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 72’10.3″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 34’9.0″
Light Hammer: 85’11.5″
Heavy Hammer: 65’9.5″
Weight Over Bar: 12’0.0″
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Neil Lowry
Birthdate: June 17, 1980
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 275 lbs
Home Town: Almonte, Ontario
Current Town: Almonte, Ontario
Occupation: Farmer, Funeral Director
Tartan: Modern Dress Gordon
Throwing Since: 2004
Open for more
Accomplishments: Born on June 17th, 1980, in Ottawa, Ontario; two days later Neil went home to his parent’s dairy farm and hasn’t stopped working since. Over his career, his top events have been the Caber, and sheaf toss. Neil is a farmer and a licensed Funeral Director in the Province of Ontario for over 14 years. He and his wife Heidi (who is a fellow Heavy Events competitor) have 3 awesome kids and reside in the town of Almonte, Ontario.
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 30’9.0″ 22.5lbs.
Open Stone:
Sheaf: 32’0.0″ 16.0lbs.
Caber: 0:15 22’10.0″ 93.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 67’8.0″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 34’6.5″
Light Hammer: 120’3.5″
Heavy Hammer: 98’0.0″
Weight Over Bar: 14’6.0″
Elizabeth MacDonald
Birthdate:
Height:
Weight:
Home Town: Fredericton, New Brunswick
Current Town:
Occupation: Dental Hygienist
Tartan:
Throwing Since: 2014
Open for more
Accomplishments: I am from Fredericton, NB. I competed in track and field for 13 years and over time competed in hammer, discus, weight throw and shot put. I currently still throw hammer and will throw the weight and shot put this winter. This is my third season competing in the heavy events. I work as registered dental hygienist in downtown Fredericton.
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 27’9.8″ 12.2lbs.
Open Stone: 41’7.5″ 8.0lbs.
Sheaf: 20’0.0″ 8.0lbs.
Caber: 11:0 16’0.0″ 57.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 72’10.3″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 34’9.0″
Light Hammer: 85’11.5″
Heavy Hammer: 65’9.5″
Weight Over Bar: 12’0.0″
Lisa MacDonald
Birthdate: October 21, 1974
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 190 lbs
Home Town: Alexandria, Ontario
Current Town: Alexandria, Ontario
Occupation:
Tartan: MacDonald Dress
Throwing Since: 2004
Open for more
Accomplishments:
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 20’11.0″ 12.0lbs.
Open Stone: 29’4.0″ 10.0lbs.
Sheaf: 23’0.0″ 8.0lbs.
Caber: 12:0 15’0.0″ 55.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 47’4.5″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 25’5.5″
Light Hammer: 66’8.0″
Heavy Hammer: 52’0.0″
Weight Over Bar: 12’0.0″
Wendy McCrea
Birthdate:
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 235 lbs
Home Town: Perth Andover, New Brunswick
Current Town:
Occupation: Northern Isolation Nurse
Tartan: McCrea
Throwing Since: 2007
Open for more
Accomplishments: 2011 – 3rd in World Masters
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 25’1.5″ 13.0lbs.
Open Stone: 31’3.5″ 8.0lbs.
Sheaf: 24’0.0″ 8.0lbs.
Caber: 12:2 17’2.0″ 52.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 59’7.0″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 32’7.0″
Light Hammer: 73’5.0″
Heavy Hammer: 60’11.0″
Weight Over Bar: 13’0.0″
Scott McHugh
Birthdate:
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 320 lbs
Home Town: Lincoln, New Brunswick
Current Town:
Occupation:
Tartan: Irish National
Throwing Since: 2014
Open for more
Accomplishments:
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 33’8.0″ 23.0lbs.
Open Stone: 45’1.5″ 16.6lbs.
Sheaf: 27’0.0″ 16.0lbs.
Caber: 12:15 20’3.0″ 104.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 64’6.5″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 33’8.0″
Light Hammer: 109’2.0″
Heavy Hammer: 91’7.0″
Weight Over Bar: 14’0.0″
Adena Robinson
Birthdate:
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 165 lbs
Home Town: Perth-Andover, New Brunswick
Current Town:
Occupation:
Tartan: MacArthur
Throwing Since: 2007
Open for more
Accomplishments:
- 2007 New Brunswick Highland Games Champion.
- 2007 Calgary Highland Games Champion
- 2012 CSAF Championship Qualified Competitor
- 2012 Perth-Andover Gathering of the Scotts Champion
- 2012 Pugwash Highland Games Champion
- 2012 New Brunswick Highland Games Champion
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 25’1.5″ 12.2lbs.
Open Stone: 35’1.0″ 8.2lbs.
Sheaf:
Caber: 11:50 16’0.0″ 57.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 62’4.0″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 34’6.0″
Light Hammer: 78’0.0″
Heavy Hammer: 63’2.0″
Weight Over Bar: 14’0.0″
Kevin Robinson
Birthdate:
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 265 lbs
Home Town: Perth-Andover, New Brunswick
Current Town:
Occupation: Electrician, Province of N.B Schools
Tartan: Weathered Gunn
Throwing Since: 2002
Open for more
Accomplishments:
- 2006 New Brunswick Highland Game Champion
- CSAF Invitational Championship Competitor 2006 2007 & 2008
- North American Championships Competitor 2006,2007
- Springfield Protectworth Highland Games “Masters Champion 2012”
- Festival Of The Tartans “Masters Champion 2012”
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 34’10.5″ 22.8lbs.
Open Stone: 44’7.5″ 16.6lbs.
Sheaf: 29’0.0″ 20.0lbs.
Caber: 0:0 20’6.0″ 110.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 73’3.0″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 50’1.0″
Light Hammer: 117’9.0″
Heavy Hammer: 100’3.0″
Weight Over Bar: 17’0.0″
Markus Wand
Birthdate: October 8, 1980
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 270 lbs
Home Town: Powassan, Ontario
Current Town: Powassan, Ontario
Occupation: Farmer
Tartan: Cavan (Irish County)
Throwing Since: 2002
Open for more
Accomplishments:
- Former Canadian Record holder in the 20 lb sheaf toss
- Farmer’s Walk: 501 feet in Fergus, 2004 (unofficial World Record)
Born on October 8, 1980 in North Bay, Ontario and was raised on a family farm in Powassan, Ontario. Currently, Markus’ top events are the sheaf toss, HWFD and caber. Graduating in 2003 from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.Sc. Agr.), Markus returned home to the family farm in Powassan where he currently runs a livestock operation of 70 beef cattle and 600 sheep in partnership with his parents.
Personal Bests:
Braemar Stone: 34’3.0″ 22.5lbs.
Open Stone:
Sheaf: 37’0.0″ 16.0lbs.
Caber: 12:10 20’0.0″ 132.0lbs.
Light Weight for Distance: 78’0.0″
Heavy Weight for Distance: 42’5.0″
Light Hammer: 118’10.0″
Heavy Hammer: 99’10.0″
Weight Over Bar: 14’0.0″