The Empire Throwing Club: An Interview with Mac Dillman

Great to speak with you, Mac. Please tell us more about how and why you set up The Empire Throwing Club in 2022?

I was a pretty casual competitor until the 2021 season when I realized how many highland games competitions I could drive to in the Northeastern US. That season I competed ten times, usually driving an average of three hours West toward Buffalo or East toward New England. I was a little envious of the training and competition opportunities in those areas. At the time we had only the Capital District Scottish Games near Albany and I didn’t know any other local throwers I could train with. It occurred to me that if a city like Buffalo could have enough interest in the Highland Games to support a club with many members and numerous events, then certainly Albany could too.

I knew I would have to start at the ground level since we really didn’t have a population of throwers already. That’s why our first event was “Training Day,” which was geared toward total beginners to help them learn the basics. I wanted to make sure that everyone could participate, so I made a hefty initial investment in weights and throwing equipment for all the different classes of athletes. I had some experienced friends drive in from out of town to assist as coaches, and I tried to spread the word however I could. I had social media accounts, but no followers, so I drove all over town to pass out flyers. I made over 100 stops at gyms, bars, and Celtic cultural hot spots- anywhere that I thought interested throwers might be hiding. That first year we had 12 new athletes join us and discover the Highland Games. Some of them satisfied their curiosity and haven’t come back, but some of them stayed and formed the core group of our organization.

Since then we have seen steady growth and new opportunities. In 2023 we officially formed as an LLC. We popped up at the Thistle Day celebration in the town of Argyle, NY as well as the 1^st annual Breadalbane Gathering in Broadalbin, NY for some throwing exhibitions, and both of those events have now evolved into full-fledged highland games competitions. We have provided various kinds of support to other nearby competitions including the Capital District Scottish Games, and of course continued to host our annual Training Day.

What types of throwing / strength activities do you practice for and/or compete in? What’s your favourite?

For now, the Empire Throwing Club is focused on the 6 standard heavy throwing events that define the “Scottish Games” around the country- the stone put, weight for distance, hammer toss, caber toss, sheaf toss, and weight over bar. For someone new to the games, these are the events that are typically contested at a Highland Games competition. The terminology changes from place to place. Technically “Highland Games” includes a wide variety of separate competitions like piping, dancing, etc. So you might say we specialize in “Scottish heavy athletics,” but a few hundred years ago in Scotland that would have included wrestling, rowing, running, archery, and more. Now and then we hold extra events just for fun, like keg tossing or stone lifting, but for the purposes of national rankings and championship invitations, the six events listed above are the standard Highland Games events. Usually the crowd favorite and most recognizable is the caber toss, but personally my favorite is the hammer throw.

Is there a social side to the club?

I would say so. We get together for practices as often as we can. Those are usually focused on training and improving, but sometimes they are a little more laid back and might involve food and drink. Our “Beef and Sheaf” events aren’t quite world-renowned but they should be. We swap information, tips, advice, pictures, and videos of our competitions through the club social media pages. Some competitions are followed by good food, beer, and cheer, so yes, that’s the social side of the club.

Do you find most people who join the club are already interested in their Scottish heritage and links?

It’s always interesting to see how people find out about the club. Some people find us through related strength sports. They might be a power lifter or strongman competitor looking to try something new. Sometimes people gravitate to the games because they threw track and field in high school or college and see it as an opportunity to continue throwing as an adult. Some people don’t have much of an athletic background at all and become interested due to their own Scottish heritage or maybe just by seeing what we do online or at a festival. I would say some of us are primarily interested in the sport, but I would also say that everyone appreciates and respects the tradition and the culture that comes with it.

What is your personal interest in Scottish games: do you have Scottish ancestry and if you do, please can you share a bit about your heritage?

My family told me we were of Scottish descent when I was young. I didn’t really understand what that meant, but one day when I was about 15 they brought me to the Capital District Scottish Games. I was immediately amazed at the kilts, the bagpipes, the lads and lassies throwing giant logs through the air, and I quickly learned what a special thing it was to be of Scottish descent. I bought a kilt of my own and started to learn a little more about my family history, though it was ten more years before I started to compete in the games myself.

“Dillman” is German, but my other three grandparents were named McCullough, McEachron, and McNabb. My parents didn’t want the Scottish heritage to be lost in my name, so they named me McKenzie, but everyone calls me Mac.

We must ask of course, what is your favourite tartan? And do you wear a different tartan for competitions?

I started with a tartan with no clan affiliation called “Loch Ness” which I later learned was not actually even the proper tartan of Loch Ness, but now my wife, my daughter, and I all wear the tartan to the games so I have embraced it as my own family tartan. I have to say I also like the Albany tartan very much.

Any upcoming events the club are involved in that you’d like to share?

Of course! On Saturday August 3^rd we will be holding our 3^rd annual Training Day at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, NY. Just like past years, we will have some experienced throwers coming in to coach for the day in all of the events. The event is geared toward beginners but it’s a great opportunity for seasoned throwers to improve their skills as well. This year’s training day will be a fundraiser for the Shen Track & Field booster club, and we will be raising funds with a lunch sale and 50/50 raffle. Also new this year, we will be supporting a junior class for athletes ages 14-17. We are very excited about this one, since this is a great opportunity for younger throwers to discover the games and learn about the history and heritage in the process. We hope to see lots of new faces of all ages on the field for Training Day!

We are also looking forward to our 2^nd annual Thistle Day Highland Games in Argyle, NY. Thistle Day is the town’s way of bringing the community together to celebrate their agricultural and Scottish roots. It’s an all-day event featuring live music, food and craft vendors, local breweries and distilleries, kids activities, a bonfire, fireworks, and of course, heavy athletics by the Empire Throwing Club! This competition will be open to men, women, juniors, and all masters age groups. It’s a great opportunity for experienced competitors and beginners alike. This will be our first competition to feature the junior class, and we will even be hosting some kids’ games for the little ones as well. We like to follow up the competition with some walk-on events that anyone can try right out of the crowd, like the sheaf toss. Last year’s Thistle Day was a big success, so we are anticipating record attendance this year for both athletes and spectators.

If anyone is interested in more information about joining your club, what is the best way for them to do so?

Visit us at www.EmpireThrowingClub.com. That is a great place to learn about our events, or general info about the Highland Games. I also recommend following us on Facebook and Instagram to get the most up-to-date info and find out about local open practices.

Any good stories you’d like to share we haven’t mentioned?

I would add that a lot of people assume the Highland Games are just for big, strong, young men, but there are classes for just about everyone. I have always competed in the Men’s Lightweight class for men under 200lb. An unbelievable number of athletes throw in the masters classes for people over 40, 50, or 60 years old, and for every class that exists for men, there is also one for women.

I think people are shy to give the sport a try because they are afraid of falling down in front of a crowd of people, but they should know two things. #1: We were all terrible when we started throwing. We all trip, fall, lose our balance, and wipe out in the mud every now and then, and it’s okay. #2: This has got to be the kindest and most supportive community of people you will meet. Some sports have barriers to entry and may not be inviting to newcomers. We love welcoming new throwers onto the field. Everyone readily shares tips and advice and wants to see you be successful. I have met some of my best friends through the Highland Games, and since my early days of tripping over my own feet and looking foolish, it has become a way for me to travel the country meeting new people and competing against some of the best in the world. So if you aren’t sure if this sport is for you, I say try it out and see!

Our Facebook group is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirethrowingclub/

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And our website is www.EmpireThrowingClub.com