This is Craig Sinclair, a young Scott that I have had the pleasure to meet a few times at games.  I really enjoy this young man.  He brought his mom and dad to Loon this year and it really impressed me. The guy is young and has a big up side to his game.  I expect big things from him in the future.  So enjoy Craig and let me know what you think.

How old are you?

I was 26 on the 4^th of December

 Where were you born?

Aberdeen,

 Where do you live now?

Drumoak, a small village on Deeside 10 miles west of Aberdeen

 How did you end up there?

It’s where my parents stay, and the living is easy

 What do you drive?

Ford Mondeo

 Are you a fast or slow driver? 

I can be progressive!

 What size shoe do you wear?

13

 Have you gone green? 

Not yet!!

What do you think about global warming?

We need some decent summer weather so if global warming is responsible for the poor weather we must reduce our emissions, and it’s never very warm in Aberdeenshire so this part of the globe isn’t very warm yet, I hope it’s not too late to reverse it but I some think we are farting against thunder

 Do you recycle?

Sometimes

 What do you do for a living?

Carpenter 

How did you get into that?

A local joiner was looking for an apprentice. I was leaving school and wanted a trade so I was the man.

Tell us about your education?

Not much to tell other than I left school as soon as I could, after doing my standard grades.

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?

 Driving the tractor on my grandfathers farm when I was still at school when they were lifting stones before the crop was sown, that was until I stuck the tractor in the soft ground, so I lost that job to my brother and then I had to lift stones too. Also worked in the kitchen at our local, Got paid for that.

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

 None

Did you throw in high school and if so what did you throw?

 There was no throwing at my school, competitive sports was not done at my school only on sports day and that was participation purposes only. They didn’t do competitiveness!!

Tell us about throwing in college.

 I went to a Trades College, where there was no sports activities

How do you feel about American football?

 Brock tried to explain it to me

You both are very respectful to others in the game, talk more about that respect and how you come about that?

I was brought up to be respective and it is easy to be respective towards people who are respectful of me

What does your mother and father think about you competing in the highland games?

 They are pleased that I have a worth while hobby. My dad had never been to a Highland Games until I started competing, he hardly misses a games now so that kind of lets you know what he thinks about it, he supports my brother Grant just much.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?

Braemar 1990, I was 4 years old, I was taken by my mother and her parents, who enjoyed the piping, can’t remember much other than it was a long day and didn’t want to go back

The next games I went to was Aboyne 2001, I competed in the Glenfiddich 17 – 25 y old competition, I was there a year early, only 16 but managed to place in some events.

 Who was at that game?

At Aboyne there was David Dowson, Bruce Robb, I think that was his last year in the 17 – 25s, Craig Smith, Scott Sim. The Aitkens and the Gunns were there competing in the open and Bill Anderson was one of the judges.

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?

I found a 28 at my grandfather’s farm when I was 16 that the farm workers had used to throw years ago and my grandfather explained what it was used for so I started throwing it.Then my grandfather brought out a hammer and I was having a go with it,when his old pal arrived and started watching, and said that I should go to Aboyne games. So I did and I enjoyed it, I wasn’t last and got a few quid as well and the rest is history.

What is your favorite event?

Hammers

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?

 Starting with the hammer head in front of the trig.

I saw a big improvement in your hammers this year, what did you do to make that happen?

 I started doing what my dad was telling me to do at the end of the season, parents don’t always nag sometimes they do know best!!

Talk about your game day shoes.

I wear astros most of the time but when it is wet I will use running spikes, rugby boots for the caber with long studs

Talk about using gloves.

My mum has a pair

What is your worst event and what have you done to bring it up?

The puts. I stopped practicing them and my distances went up

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?

The 1^st people to give me some proper coaching was Bruce Aitken and his father Bob. David Dowson was one of the first people that spoke to me at my first games and we have stayed friends. But when I was starting out every one had some advice for me and being on the same field as the Aitkens, the Gunns, Bruce Robb, Gregor Edmunds I was always going to learn something, good or bad!!

What were your favorite games?

 Aboyne, these are my local games. A great atmosphere for a heavy, the crowd is very supportive and they stay to the end. I also enjoy Lochearnhead, great setting, very traditional. friendly people and the after games party is great

Do you have any game or lifting rituals?

I pack my bag the night before and double check it several times. I always have my porridge before on games day morning.

Who do you enjoy competing with and why?

Bruce Robb, his moaning makes me realise that there is always somebody worse off (but it’s not as bad he would have us believe) but he is always the first to congratulate when you have done well

Stuart Anderson, he tells me when I’m moaning!

But I enjoy competing any way and if we are all having a good time that is the main thing

Let me mention some of the throwers and let you comment on them

Betz; A true gent and always very supportive and a helluva competitor who’s always there or there about at the end

Hadley: I enjoy his company a lot, but I won’t let him book flights for me again.

McKim: One of the politest people I know. Very strong and will be hard to beat

Poke; Mike has worked hard on his techniques, a family man

Brock; Missed his patter this season, one of the first to make me welcome when I was competing in America, hope to see him back

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.

 108’ heavy hammer in France with no boots as the airline lost my bag. Also pleased with all my ground records, some had stood for a number of years and had been set by some good throwers

Talk about training and your philosophy in the area of throwing?

 Weights in the winter are important for building strength and conditioning but we are throwers and I think it is far more important to practice technique. To quote 2 people that have been there and done it; Ryan Vierra “if your throwing your lifting”, Bruce Aitken     “good technique will beat strength”. So I would rather practice technique when I can, rather than get excited about massive weight numbers.

When you peak for a game, how do you structure your week prior to that game?

Peaking for a games is not easy when you compete every Saturday and Sunday and some mid week games too, if you are on you are on. This is something my brother Grant and I have spoken about so we will see

Talk about then how you structured your week in season with no game that week.

There is not a week during the season that there is not a games but I try to rest on Monday and then throw, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and rest Friday, I have a physical job so it can be quite hard to get going some nights. 

Talk about the length of your off season and what your trying to do in that, phases and goals.

The off season is almost 8 months. I split the off season into 3 phases, firstly by doing conditioning and then strength work followed with speed work.

Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.

Worst injury was pulled muscles on the right side of my rib cage throwing the hammer at the beginning of 2010, took a long time to heal and get my confidence back to throw the hammer

Who makes you laugh at games now?

 Kerry Overfelt and Mark Valenti, those two are double act. Gregor Edmunds has some wild stories, Dowson’s poetry is very funny, Alistair Gunn’s put downs and there is always some judging that will make you laugh!!

What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?

I haven’t done it long enough to have a philosophy, I am still learning.

When did you start lifting weights and what got you started?

I started lifting weights in the winter of 2009 because people were asking me what I was doing in the gym, so I thought I had better step it up.

What lift is your favourite and what is your best?

I enjoy front squats.

What do you like to do outside of the games?

I like going to the cinema.

If you did not do highland games, would you be involved in another sport?

I keep getting asked to play Rugby, so I might have tried it.

You do Loon and they have a very popular masters class, do you ever see yourself throwing at that age and with that group?

 If I get the chance and if I stay injury free

Do you like a D ring or a Circle ring on the implements?

 It really doesn’t matter to me, as I get told; it is the same for every one.

What is different about games in America compared to other places you have competed

The only athletics at games in America is the heavies where as in Scotland there are also light events such as running and jumping as well as tug of war. Some of the games on the European mainland have some strong men events. The highland dancing is as competitive in America & Canada as in Scotland. The pipe bands always seem to have a big following where ever you are at.

The rules are a bit different in America (and can vary in Scotland too). This must be the only sport that has so many variations of the rules. I would like to see the same rules all over.

The American games I’ve been to have a lot of musical acts that bring in their own crowd just to see them. This is something I think that could be done in Scotland to generate more interest and revenue in the games in Scotland.

My parents were at Loon Mountain this year and they travelled in the shuttle buses to and from the games every day and they were surprised by how many young families were going to the games, including teenagers, compared to Scotland.

Tell us something we would not expect about you, something you like to do.

I used to make model cars when I was growing up.

What other hobbies do you have?

What is your favorite food?

I like smoked haddock with poached egg and rice

What is a favorite dessert for you?

Jam sponge or rice pudding

At your house do you cook on the grille?

BBQ in Aberdeenshire?  Hardly ever.

What supplements do you take?

I take protein shakes when I remember

Talk about drugs you use, and I don’t mean steroids.  I mean anti inflames or something prior to training to get up.

I only take prescribed anti inflammatory if at all. Not worth the risk other wise 

What do you drink with a meal at home?

Orange juice

Tell us about the rest of your family.

I have 2 brothers, Grant (22) he is a student and competes in the heavy events, he won the under 25s this season, he likes his games a lot, he broke his ankle, needed screws and plates, 8 weeks later he was back competing.

My younger brother Murray (17) is showing little interest in the games at the moment but you never know.

What faith do you follow?

Do you mow the grass?

If I get moaned at enough I will go do it to keep him quite

Are you a cat or dog person?

We have a cat

Are you conservative or liberal in your politics?

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?

Are you superstitious?  Or a Stevie Wonder fan?

I have a pair of kilt hose I have had for years that I will wear when results haven’t been going my way

Talk about some of the music you listen to at different times.

When I’m going to the gym or the games I listen to Limp Bizkit, rage against the machine, Van Halen, White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Eminen, Led Zeppelin, Black Keys, Marilyn Manson, Biffy Clyro.

Where do you like to go out to eat?

Garlogie Inn, this is a small Country Inn where we have been going to for years

Tell me about the following foods and if you eat a lot of them;

Beef; Nothing like Scotch Beef

Pork; I will eat it if it is put in front of me

Chicken; I eat a lot of chicken, cold, Roast, it doesn’t matter

Tofu; never tried it.

Sushi; not for me

BBQ; Hardly ever !!

Do you have a favorite dessert?

 I still like Jam Sponge and Rice Pudding

What do you like to watch on TV?

 Top Gear (our version), American Chopper, and Any motor sport

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite. 

I like both; Predator and John Wayne’s True Grit, but there are some good one liners in the Jeff Bridges one.

What are the goals for this year?

 To get better at every thing

Thank you brother.