The hammer throw, the sheaf toss and the turning of the caber may not evoke familiar images to some, but for visitors to the inaugural Scotland County Highland Games in Laurinburg, the unique display of athletic competition to be seen will likely stay with them for a long time to come.

At least Scott Medlin hopes so. A native of Catawba, Medlin will be the athletic director and emcee for the sports competition aspect of the festival, scheduled to be held Oct. 3 on the grounds of the John Blue House.

"We are very excited to be a part of these inaugural games, to give the crowd an opportunity to see sports events that they may have never experienced before," Medlin said. "These athletes are not competing in cutthroat, contact sports, but have lots of camaraderie and show plenty of good sportsmanship."

The director of the Southeastern Highland Athletics Group, Medlin will bring eight to 10 athletes covering various degrees of proficiency to compete at the games.

Medlin, who won the overall athletic competition at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games at age 50 in 2007, plans to conduct seven Scottish athletic events in traditional order.

"We will begin at 9 a.m. with the stone throw, where participants toss a 17 to 22 pound rock as far as they can," Medlin said. "Next will be the heavy weight throw using a 56 pound weight, followed by the light weight throw at 28 pounds. That will be followed by the 22 pound heavy hammer toss, and the turning of the caber, more popularly called the caber toss. Many people recognize this event as the big pole, weighing about 110 pounds and about 18 feet in length, that the Highlander attempts to throw end over end in a 12 o'clock motion."

Competition continues with the sheaf toss.

"The sheaf toss involves the athlete using a two or three tined pitchfork to throw a 16 to 20 pound burlap sack containing hemp rope over a raised bar," Medlin said. "We begin at 18 feet; some athletes have been known to toss the sheaf up to 30 feet in the air."

Competition among these athletes will conclude with the 56 pound weight over bar event.

"We will also have two of the top judges in the southeast to decide the winners," Medlin said. "They are Ross Morrison from the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, and Tom Blythe, a nationally known judge who creates much of the sports equipment used in the competition."

Philip McRae of Laurinburg is the chairman of the athletic committee with assistance from Dewey Lamb.

"We will have the field laid out at 210 feet by 110 feet, leaving about 40 percent of the area free for spectators," McRae said. "Athletic events will begin at 9 a.m. and will continue until about 4 p.m., with breaks for various other events such as the sheepdog herding demonstration and others. The finale will be a four team tug-of-war between the Scotland County Sheriff's Department, the Laurinburg Police Department, a fire department team, and an all star team made up of local athletes. It will be a single elimination tournament with medals awarded to the participants."

Also scheduled are the children's games, an event organizers hope will help develop an interest in the younger generation for traditional Highland competition.

"The childrens' games will be huge," Event Chairman Bill Caudill said. "Committee member Dottie Cross made 50 kilts for the kids to wear while they compete; they will have the opportunity to take part in scaled down versions of what the adult athletes will be involved in, including the turning of the caber, the weight toss, and the tug of war, along with foot races."

Ryan McDougal of Greensboro has been competing in Highland Games festivals for the past three years. At 19, he is often the youngest competitor on the field among ex-college athletes in their 20s and 30s.

"I really enjoy participating in the Highland Games events that my family and I attend," McDougal said. "It's a great way to travel, to visit different games, and to meet new people."

Some 40 Scottish clans are expected at the Scotland County games, to be held at the historic John Blue House at 13040 Xway Road in Laurinburg. In addition to athletic competition, the festival will feature live music, Scottish dancing, border collie demonstrations, vendors selling Scottish foods and goods, reenactors representing 18th century Scotsmen, and more.

For more information about the Scotland County Highland Games contact the Scottish Heritage Center of St. Andrews College at 277-5236 or visit www.schgnc.org.