HAGGIS HURLING

The Revival of a Traditional

Scottish Sport

Introduction

There is evidence that, at one time, Haggis Hurling was something of a major local sport in areas of Scotland, particularly in the North West.

The origins have been traced back to a small village call Auchnaclory, which stood near the Falls of Dromach, by the River Dromach, in Sutherland.

The men from the village used to come down from the hills to the river at lunchtime whilst their wives and sweethearts would make their way from Auchnaclory with the haggis luncheons. These they would then hurl across the river to their menfolk.

The men would often catch the haggis in their kilts, and for protection purposes would wear a pad of leather. This gave rise to the particular "Auchnaclory Sporan", which you can still find from time to time in antique shops, and which have now become something of a collector's item.

Gradually, hurling in Auchnaclory became a kind of sport when, once a year, villagers would gather for the annual hurl.

Modern Hurling

The rules of modern hurling are much the same as those that existed at the Auchnaclory games, though changes have been made to accommodate modern taste.

The Officials

The foremost official is the Hagrarian. He is in complete command of the hurling heather, making sure that the haggis are in order, that the rules are obeyed and that the proceedings are conducted with due dignity and decorum. He must also inspect the condition of the heather before and after each hurl, and report on 'going' to the hurlers. He also rules each hurl, and report on 'fair' or 'foul', and can order off hurlers for dangerous hurling when necessary.

The worlds foremost Hagrarian is given the title of Chief Hagrarian by the World Haggis Hurling Association.

The Clerk of the Heather is in charge of the hurling point, and the hurling hooter, which he blows when he is satisfied that the hurler has adopted a suitable pose and is ready to hurl. Talented Hagrarians can also undertake the Clerking of the Heather. The Stewards of the Heather are in charge of the measurement of the hurl, and for ensuring that the haggis has fallen within the hurling heather, and that it is unburst.

The Weight of Haggis

A hurling haggis must weigh at least one and a half pounds. The size of haggis is based on the fact that it takes about a pound and a half of haggis to provide a highlander with a substantial meal.

The Peating of Hands

Before hurling, the hands of the hurler must be rubbed in peat. This rule owes its origins to the unfortunate experience of a Mary McPhee. One day, she would herself up for a particularly large hurl, but as the haggis left her hand, it slipped, went off at an angle, and flew straight into the hands of a handsome young Highlander called Angus Campbell. Sadly, Mr. McPhee took this as a sign that there was some romance between the pair, and he promptly laid Campbell low with a mighty blow from his crook. Since that day, it has been the custom of the hurlers to grit their hands with peat to avoid a similar fate. Incidentally, this also explains why, in Sutherland in particular, the haggis is often seasoned with peat, rather in the fashion of sprinkling salt of food, as they have become used to the slightly peaty taste left in the haggis by the hurling.

The Hurling Barrel

The hurl must be taken from the top of a barrel and both feet must be on the barrel top at the moment of hurl.

To get maximum distance, the women of Auchnaclory used to stand on a rock and hurl their haggis. This rock has been replaced in modern hurling by a half whisky barrel.

The rule about both feet being on the top of the barrel at moment of hurl caused researchers problems, when they were trying to trace its origins. At first it was thought that it was simply because no can hurl farther with both feet on the barrel. However, Neil Scoggie, now one of the world's foremost authorities in haggis hurling, has suggested a different view. He believes that the rule can be attributed to the natural shyness of the women of Auchnaclory, who would have been most careful not to show an ankle at the moment of hurl. And would have therefore been meticulous in keeping both feet firmly on the top of the rock whilst hurling.

The Haggis Hooter

Before hurling, the hooter must sound. This rule come from the fact that to alert her man that luncheon was about to come across the river, the women of Auchnaclory used to emit a high pitched yell. Each woman would develop her own yell, so that there would be no confusion as to whose luncheon it was that was flying over the river. In today's hurling, the cry has been reflected in the tooting of the haggis hooter.

The Complete Haggis

The haggis must not burst on landing. This is quite a simple rule to trace. Remembering that the haggis is someone's luncheon, one will instantly recognize that is cannot be eaten if its is scattered all over the heather.

The World Championships

These are held in Scotland each year, in September, when the Area Champions are invited to participate. The winner gets the magnificent McEwans Larger Flying Haggis Trophy, which he retains for a period of one year. Since 1980, there has been an annual entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

Further details on haggis hurling may be obtained from:

The President

World Haggis Hurling Association

18 Walker Street

Edinburgh EH3 7LP