Schelde Schakels has covered the subject of Highland Games before, but this has always focused on the team-based events. Or, to be more precise, the Damen Vlissingen-based Highland Games team: the Mac Bulkheads. Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on the individual accomplishments of Noël de Clippelaar. The reason for this? Noël is 2024 Dutch Highland Games champion.

Dutch Champion Noël de Clippelaar. Dutch Champion Noël de Clippelaar.

Last year Noël took part in a series of eight competitions organised by the Dutch and Belgian Highland Games Federation. He competed in five different events per competition: the stone throw, weight for distance, hammer throw, weight for height, and caber toss. And based on the number of points gained throughout the year, he was the highest scoring Dutch participant in the highest ranking A-Class category. Of those five events, Noël list his favourites as “the stone put, which is about eight kilos, the weight over bar, which is 25 kilos, and the caber toss, which can be as heavy as 70 kilos”. To reach that level of strength and fitness, Noël trains an average of three or four times per week, varying between strength training and technique.

With the Dutch Championship under his belt, Noël hopes to be invited to the 2025 World Championships taking place in Norway. This will not be his first time competing abroad; he has visited France and Germany for Highland Games events. One destination remains on his bucket list, however. “I would love to compete in Scotland – the Holy Grail of the Highland Games,” Noël says.

Similar to the shot put in athletics, Noël throws the Braemar stone which is 10kg. Similar to the shot put in athletics, Noël throws the Braemar stone which is 10kg.

Turning his attention back to the Mac Bulkheads Damen team, Noël says that the team will be taking part in several competitions in the year ahead. “It’s so nice to see how much talent there is at Damen. We have Jarno Rottier who is in the B-Class, but it won’t be long before he goes up to the A-Class. Then there is Kornelis Smit from Damen Yachting who is a very strong competitor. And we have Mark de Jonge and Stephan Veldhuizen who do a lot for organising the team.” If any new people are interested in getting involved, they would be very welcome, says Noël. “Doing Highland Games in a team is a great way to get acquainted with the sport.”

Official Events of the Highland Games

  • Open stone: around 7 – 8 kg
  • Braemar stone: around 10kg, same as open stone, but with different weights.
  • Light weight for distance: 12.5kg
  • Heavy weight for distance: 25kg, same as light weight for distance, but with different weights.
  • Light hammer throw: 7.5kg
  • Heavy Hammer throw: 10kg, same as light hammer throw, but with different weights.
  • Caber Toss: varies from 4 – 7 metres long and up to 70kg.
  • Weight over bar: 25kg
The main aim of the caber toss is to toss the caber so that it turns end over end, landing as directly away from the tosser as possible. The distance thrown is not important. The main aim of the caber toss is to toss the caber so that it turns end over end, landing as directly away from the tosser as possible. The distance thrown is not important.
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