Oskars Brugemanis takes top honours at the Highland Games in Salacgrīva

Former strongman Oskars Brugemanis of Valmiera took top honours at the annual Highland Games, held in Salacgrīva on 8 August over the past weekend. He set two new Latvian records and triumphed in nearly all of the traditional events involving throwing or putting various objects.

Photographs can be downloaded here: http://failiem.lv/u/dwoqdjl

A total of eight athletes took part in the competition, including three former strongmen—Andris Leišavnieks, Mareks Leitis and Oskars Brugemanis. The amateur strongman group was represented by Raivis Mundiciems, while shot-putter Mārtiņš Broks, firefighter Mārtiņš Orskis, rugby player Mikus Ozols and hammer thrower Edgars Gailis also competed.

Mārtiņš Broks won the first event, the stone put for distance, with a throw of 14.40 m, but Brugemanis lived up to his title as Highland Games champion in the second and third disciplines. He took first place in the 12.6 kg weight throw for distance, recording a result almost 4 metres better than Broks. He also won the caber toss, setting a new Latvian record by throwing the caber 13.36 metres. This was followed by the 25 kg weight throw for height, in which Raivis Mundiciems achieved an excellent result of 4.8 metres, also setting a new Latvian record. A little later, Mareks Leitis matched the same result. In the gladiator contests (caber pushing), Brugemanis took first place with eight victories, and he also defeated his competitors in the final event—the 10 kg weight throw for height.

A multiple-time champion of this competition and participant in international events, Oskars Brugemanis once again stood on the top step of the podium. Mārtiņš Broks finished second with 35 points, while Andris Leišavnieks came third in the tournament, just one point behind Broks.

The Highland Games have been organised annually in Latvia since 2007, with participation not only from strongmen but also representatives of various other sports. This is not merely an entertainment event featuring bagpipe music and dancing; it is a genuine competition in which strong men fight for victory wearing Scottish kilts.

The official general sponsor of the 2015 strongman season is “Autotehnica”—  repair of lorries and their trailers, forestry machinery, tractor machinery, construction machinery, agricultural machinery and buses. Supported by “Melna Coffee”, “Officeday”, “Keraterm”, “Smiltenes piens”, “Bosch”, “Buderus” and the meat-processing company “Nākotne”.

Information prepared by:                      

Elīna Gārbena

Public Relations and Marketing Project Manager at SIA “Stipriem Events & Media”

E-mail: elina@stipriem.lv

Mobile phone +371 26135134