John Allan MacDonald - Scottish Heavy Events
John Allan MacDonald was born December 8th, 1945. He was involved in a car accident when he was a young man and doctors inserted a plate in his leg. The plate meant he would never run without pain. He became a big man, and excelled at big men'e events in the Antigonish Highland Games. He threw the caber, competed as a shot putter, and served as a member of the tug-of-war team.
Along the way, his friends quickly picked up on his size and gave him the nickname 'Supermarket'.
John Allan grew up on Brookland Street in Antigonish, one of four boys in a family that also included two sisters. His family were 'Uisdeans' (Gaelic for 'Hugh', and many of the boys had Hugh in their name), and the Uisdeans were known for their athleticism. Gerald MacDonald, a pole vaulter in the Games, was also a Uisdean, lived a few houses away and shared his interest in the adventure of running and pole vaulting.
Like many Antigonish athletes, he absorbed what his athletic cousins, the MacDonalds, and his neighbours, the Allan D Camerons, had to share. Thereafter he fell under the influence of Coach Frank MacGibbon. He learned much from the workouts that Coach MacGibbon ran at Columbus Field in preparation for the annual Antigonish Highland Games.
John Allan was a natural for the sports that demanded size and strength. Because of the plate in his leg, he experienced pain when he ran. Under MacGibbon's coaching, he saw the athletic benefits of exercise, diet and strength training. And like other boys and girls with athletic and competitive skills, he joined the Highland Society's Track and Field team. He began his track and field career as a shot putter.
Since tug-of-war was always a big part of the athletic endeavour, John Allan was a natural candidate. Local coach Leonard MacCarron recruited him to pull for his team at the Fall Fair. The MacCarrons were all large in stature, and along with tug-of-war, they competed in the Heavy Events at the Highland Games.
As he built up more strength, his coaches encouraged him to move up to throwing the caber; a huge attraction at the Highland Games -a big man's event - a goal encouraged and cherished throughout the Antigonish County area. He became a local favourite, as Antigonishers always want to see the local boy perform well in the caber toss. He went on to compete for over twenty years in the event.
Over the years, many local boys have moved away, while John Allan remained in Antigonish, becoming a very successful lobster fisherman and accomplished wood worker and firewood businessman.
John Allan's proudest moments at the Antigonish Highland Games have been to defeat the great Hugh MacCarron, on two occasions. Hugh won the caber toss a total of 14 times between 1958 and 1979. John Allan was able to win the event from his annual Highland Games competitor and mentor in 1972, for the second time in three years.
The revival of the Heavy Events throughout the Maritimes owe a great deal to the dedication and longevity of John Allan MacDonald.
Submitted by Ron Fraser
Photo: L - R: Leo MacDonald, Brierly Brook; Angus Grant, Williams Point; John Allan MacDonald, Brookland St; Bob Davidson, Walter Weir, Ron Fraser, College St; Scottish coach. Taken in 1979 during International Gathering of the Clans.
Along the way, his friends quickly picked up on his size and gave him the nickname 'Supermarket'.
John Allan grew up on Brookland Street in Antigonish, one of four boys in a family that also included two sisters. His family were 'Uisdeans' (Gaelic for 'Hugh', and many of the boys had Hugh in their name), and the Uisdeans were known for their athleticism. Gerald MacDonald, a pole vaulter in the Games, was also a Uisdean, lived a few houses away and shared his interest in the adventure of running and pole vaulting.
Like many Antigonish athletes, he absorbed what his athletic cousins, the MacDonalds, and his neighbours, the Allan D Camerons, had to share. Thereafter he fell under the influence of Coach Frank MacGibbon. He learned much from the workouts that Coach MacGibbon ran at Columbus Field in preparation for the annual Antigonish Highland Games.
John Allan was a natural for the sports that demanded size and strength. Because of the plate in his leg, he experienced pain when he ran. Under MacGibbon's coaching, he saw the athletic benefits of exercise, diet and strength training. And like other boys and girls with athletic and competitive skills, he joined the Highland Society's Track and Field team. He began his track and field career as a shot putter.
Since tug-of-war was always a big part of the athletic endeavour, John Allan was a natural candidate. Local coach Leonard MacCarron recruited him to pull for his team at the Fall Fair. The MacCarrons were all large in stature, and along with tug-of-war, they competed in the Heavy Events at the Highland Games.
As he built up more strength, his coaches encouraged him to move up to throwing the caber; a huge attraction at the Highland Games -a big man's event - a goal encouraged and cherished throughout the Antigonish County area. He became a local favourite, as Antigonishers always want to see the local boy perform well in the caber toss. He went on to compete for over twenty years in the event.
Over the years, many local boys have moved away, while John Allan remained in Antigonish, becoming a very successful lobster fisherman and accomplished wood worker and firewood businessman.
John Allan's proudest moments at the Antigonish Highland Games have been to defeat the great Hugh MacCarron, on two occasions. Hugh won the caber toss a total of 14 times between 1958 and 1979. John Allan was able to win the event from his annual Highland Games competitor and mentor in 1972, for the second time in three years.
The revival of the Heavy Events throughout the Maritimes owe a great deal to the dedication and longevity of John Allan MacDonald.
Submitted by Ron Fraser
Photo: L - R: Leo MacDonald, Brierly Brook; Angus Grant, Williams Point; John Allan MacDonald, Brookland St; Bob Davidson, Walter Weir, Ron Fraser, College St; Scottish coach. Taken in 1979 during International Gathering of the Clans.
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