Two chieftains for the IHGF Shield in Bressuire

Jean-Louis COPPET, the man in charge of the World Championships in Bressuire has just given the names of the chieftains for the Bressuire Worlds on June 13 and 14

• Francis BREBNER, the president of the IHGF
• Franck FERRAND, a radio and TV host in France.

With them, the Highland Games will celebrate sport and history.

From caber-tosser to chieftain

Francis BREBNER, as everybody knows, is a seven-times caber-tossing world champion and he has always been involved in Highland Games.

He knows Bressuire, its church tower, Jean-Louis COPPET and the mayor quite well

And he is pleased to come back every time there is a competition

From TV host to chieftain

Franck FERRAND is a specialist of history and his programmes on the radio and on TV are quite popular.

He has also written a book about Scotland.

He discovered the Games last year during a competition in Thiron-Gardais where the blogger had the priviledge to meet him

They will both have the priviledge to declare the Games open and to strike the shield, according to the old Scottish tradition

The legend of the shield

 When you witness the opening of the Highland Games, you may be intrigued by the ceremony of the shield (photo with Francis BREBNER doing the job in 2009)

So, ready for a history lesson?

Thanks to David WEBSTER, we are able to supply the following explanation.

Around 1050 Malcolm III, King of Scotland, launched the very first Highland Games.

A new messenger

Malcolm needed a new messenger and, like any self-respecting king, he wanted to recruit the fastest man in the country.

To do so, he organised a race to the top of Craig Choinnich, a nearby mountain.

Not yet having acquired a starter pistol, he had to improvise and use what was at hand: in this case his shield and his sword.

Thus he inaugurated both the race and a tradition that has continued over nearly a thousand years to this day. 

100.000 welcomes

To open the Games, the shield is struck 4 times facing north, south, east and west and the Gaelic words for 100 000 welcomes, "ceud mille failte", are pronounced to welcome all those  - competitors and spectators alike - who have arrived from all corners of the country.

It could be said that the striking of the shield is also a way of summoning everyone to the games.

Thanks to Mary PINET for her adaptation.

Have more with a 2013 post with a video The striking of the shield

The French version is also up for grabs: la légende du bouclier

Last minute: Ryan Vierra's post on his Facebook page

Ryan Vierra

6 h · Turlock ·

Proud to announce that my IHGF partner Francis Brebner has been honored to represent this years World Highland Games Championships in Bressuier, France as Chieftain of the games.

Francis has been a major influence in our sport for several decades now and has taken the sport all over the world with his love and passion.

I know Francis has worked tirelessly to see this day happen and to witness the World Championships being held in one of the worlds finest venues.

Come and see the best line up of athletes in the World on June 13th and 14th