Started in 1975 by the patron, Gordon Benton OBE, JHG is a series of events, dedicated to the community and to charity, which together make the single largest event of the international community and reflects the spirit of a Scottish Highland Games and a country fair!
The highland games are events held throughout the year in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain aspects of the games are so well known as to have become emblematic of Scotland, such as the bagpipes, the kilt, and the heavy events, especially the caber toss. While centred on competitions in piping and drumming, dancing and Scottish heavy athletics, the games also include entertainment and exhibits related to other aspects of Scottish and Gaelic culture. The Jakarta Highland Gathering is the largest in Asia and attracts more than 2,000 competitors and up to 5,000 spectators.
Jakarta Highland Gathering is a Series of Events:
- The Highland Gathering Golf Competition: a fantastic, fun day, complete with lunch and dinner, based on four person teams. Always attracts a good crowd and raises good money for charity (150 participants).
- Scotland in Concert: An evening of great food, great wine, and unique entertainments. The 90 minute show starts and finishes with the massed pipes and drums but the other acts go from jazz and blues, to choirs, to opera. Rated by those who attend as “the best gala of the year”! (300 guests).
- The Gathering: As a country fair, the JHG has core Scottish events: the heavies, the pipers, the axemen, plus all day sport, a dedicated teen and kid’s area, all day F&B court with all day entertainment. It’s unique, its fun, it’s family, from 10am till 8pm. with Jakarta’s best fireworks at 06.30pm, then a jazz concert till 8pm (over 7,000 guests and participants).
Although quieter a range of events can be a part of the Highland athletics competition, a few have become standard of JHG’s:
- Caber toss: a long tapered pine pole or log is stood upright and hoisted by the competitor who balances it vertically holding the smaller end in his hands. Then the competitor runs forward attempting to toss it in such a way that it turns end over end with the upper end striking the ground first.
- Stone Put: this event is similar to the modern-day shot put as seen in the Olympic Games. Instead of asteel shot, a large stone of variable weight is often used. There are also some differences from the Olympic shot put in allowable techniques. Most athletes in the open stone event use either the spin or the glide techniques.
- Weight Over the Bar: also known as weight for height. The athletes attempt to toss a 56 pound (4 stone) weight withan attached handle over ahorizontal bar using one hand.
Jakarta Highland Gathering
Series of Events:
Of course the pipers and drummers who come to compete in their own competition are equally part of the brilliant pageantry that this Scottish brings to the Gathering. We are delighted to welcome outstanding heavy athletes, axemen, pipe bands to the 2020 Jakarta Highland Gathering from all over the world countries such as Scotland, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, India and Malaysia.
Kid’s Charity Day (Giving Kids a Sporting Chance):
Using the same site the next day after the gathering we invite 350 underprivileged kids to a day of sport, music and fun. They learn football, rugby and cricket, do challenges, listen and play to music and eat lots of food! Co-organised with British Chamber, British School Jakarta, Jakarta Intercultural School and the British Council, this is the core charity event.
All nett proceeds will go to nominated charities, including funds from lucky draws at JHG Golf and Scotland In Concert.
WHEN & WHERE
JHG Golf Competition Soewarna Golf Course Cengkareng
| Month: 18 June 2020 | Time: 12pm
Scotland In Concert Mandarin Oriental Jakarta
| Month: 19 June 2020 | Time: start on 06.30pm
Jakarta Highland Gathering BSJ Compound
| Month: 20 June 2020 | Time: 10am – 8pm
Kid’s Charity Day BSJ Compound
| Month: 21 June 2020 | Time: 10am – 3pm
