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The Schelde Schakels has recently included numerous stories from Damen sport teams: cycling for cancer research, relay running around Walcheren, and rowing in a Van Oord-sponsored regatta come to mind. So, it’s high time to catch up once again with the Mac Bulkheads: the Highland Games team of Damen’s Vlissingen-based companies.
What started in 2015 with just four colleagues taking part in their first competition has grown to a sizeable group. “We are now in our eighth year of competing as a Damen team and we have around 20 colleagues involved, which is actually enough to have two separate teams,” says Mark de Jonge, who works at Damen Naval.
In case you were wondering, the team’s choice of name draws upon a combination of Scotland, shipbuilding and training diet, As Mark explains: “If you train a lot and you eat a lot, then that is known as bulking. And a ‘bulkhead’ is an important part of a ship, but is also ‘schot’ in Dutch, which of course is the connection to Scotland.”
The Stone Put is similar to modern-day shot put.
Highland Games originate in Scotland. The first occurrences were thought to be at the turn of the tenth century and were held by Scottish royalty to determine the country’s strongest, fastest, and bravest soldiers. Although primarily known today as a sporting event, they are also important social gatherings featuring other cultural aspects of Scottish heritage such as dancing, piping, and drumming. The most common events within a Highland Games are the stone put (similar to modern-day shot put), the caber toss, the Scottish hammer throw, and the weight for height.
Nowadays, the sport of Highland Games has spread over the world: for our Damen colleagues there are two types of competition. The first type of Highland Games are the individual events, which are organised by the Benelux Federation of Highland Games. Noël de Clippelaar (Damen Naval) and Kornelis Smit (Damen Yachting) take part in these events. “When I started here two and a half years ago, I bumped into Mark and we got talking about the Mac Bulkheads,” says Noël. “I joined a training session and then went on my first event. That really got the ball rolling – I now compete at the Federation level which is lots of fun. I have competed in Germany and France, and next year I want to go to Scotland and maybe to America. But I will have to see if I’m good enough.”
The second type of competition are the team events that the Mac Bulkheads take part in. “These are actually a mixture of Highland Games and ‘Strongest Man’ events. For example, the ‘Hercules Grip’ and the ‘Tug of War’ that we do as teams are not traditional Highland Games events,” Noël explains.
To some people, this looks like a medieval torture device. But this is actually the ‘Hercules Grip’.
“These team events include both individual and team activities,” notes Mark. “Tyre flipping is a team event; we are particularly good at this. And something like the Tug of War is, by definition, quite fanatical. Whatever you are doing, you try to do your best – and weight, strength and technique all play a role in this. This is why people specialise in different parts of the Highland Games: everybody has their specialty. Noël, for example, is very good at throwing the ‘Weight for Height’ where you throw a 20 kilo weight as high as you can behind you. My grip is very good; that’s why I am good at the ‘Hercules Grip’.” Mark goes on to say that the Mac Bulkheads have gained some good results since starting competitions. “This includes many individual medals over the years for different team members. And we also had some wins in the team events; last year in Oud Beijerland we were the best team overall. This year in Baarland, Noël was “Highlander of the Day” – something that no Bulkhead has achieved before.”
Team members have won many individual medals over the years.
Highland Games are outdoor events that have a winter break over the colder months of the year. This means that, after their last event of the year (in Oud Beijerland on 15 October: sadly, no podium place), the Mac Bulkheads will be moving inside. “We do gym-based power and explosive strength training in the winter,” says Noël. “If people are interested in taking part that they can get in contact with one of us.” Mark repeats this message as he looks ahead to next year’s schedule of Highland Games team events. “Of course! If anyone wants to get involved, they can definitely contact us.”
Are you interested in training and/or taking part in a Highland Games event with the Mac Bulkheads? Then contact Mark (M.de.Jonge@damennaval.com) or Noël (N.de.Clippelaar@damennaval.com)