Records continued to fall on the second day of the 2010 IHGF World Highland Games Super Series - Sean Betz held on to the lead he establish on the first day, winning the overall title, and Scott Rider won the 2010 IHGF Stone Putting World Championships.

Francis Brebner filed this report with IronMind®.


2010 IHGF World Highland Games Super Series at Bressuire – Day 2
Reported by Francis Brebner
 
The second day of the 2010 IHGF World Highland Games Super Series in Bressuire, France saw records fall and record crowds in attendance, with over 12,000 spectators flowing through the gates.  This number far surpassed last year’s record crowd of 10,000, and over 3,000 spectators alone passed through the special exhibition of sports artifacts on display in the main castle.
 
The final day of the contest saw a very competitive field of athletes hungry for the win.  The first event, the 16-lb. hammer, was a very hard-fought skirmish between Larry Brock, Craig Sinclair, and Sean Betz, with all three smashing the previous ground record held by Sinclair of 132’.  Brock came out on top with a throw of 138’ 6-1/2”, with Sinclair in a very close second at 137’ 10-1/4” and Betz in third at 136’ 5”.
 
The next event with the 22-lb. Braemar stone was the final leg of the IHGF World Stone Putting Championships and the second record of the morning fell when both Scott Rider and Betz obliterated the previous record held by Gregor Edmunds of 39’ 5”.  Rider put 40’ 3-1/4” for the win with Betz in second at 39’ 6-3/4” and Australia’s Aaron Neighbour in third with 37’ 10-1/2”.
 
In the 28-lb. weight-for-distance, the ground record held by Edmunds of 81’ 1” bit the dust big-time as both Brock and Betz sent the weight flying over 85’.  Brock landed a throw of 85’ 10-3/4” for the win, with Betz in second at 85’ 3-1/2” and Rider in third at 80’ 9-1/2”.
 
In the 56-lb. weight over the bar, the final record—16’ 5” held by Holland’s Wout Zjilstra—crumbled.  There was no stopping Betz this time:  he was on fire and feeding off the many spectators who were cheering for him as he established the new record height of 16’ 6”, accompanied by great applause.  In second place was a tie between Brock and Neighbour at 16’ 1”.
 
Asking Betz about his winning performance and what he thought about Bressuire Games, Betz replied, “I am very happy with my throwing.  It just all came together, and as for Bressuire, without a doubt this has been the best Games experience competing around the world as a professional.  I rank these Games as my number one best for sure.
 
“I can’t wait to have the opportunity of competing here again in the future.  It has been awesome; Jean-Louis Coppet and his amazing Bressuire Games team have done an awesome job with the Bressuire Games—it’s simply the best."

Final points: 2010 IHGF World Highland Games Super Series – Bressuire, France

 
2010 IHGF World Stone Putting Championships

1. Scott Rider (England)
2. Sean Betz (USA)
3. Aaron Neighbour (Australia)
                                                                                              
                                                                                                                  
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