With such a Polish surname, it may seem that Victoria’s Ray Siochowicz has few obvious connections to Scotland. But Siochowicz, who was born in Scotland and moved with his family to Canada when he was one year old, has found his own inner Scotland in the culture, competition and camaraderie to be found at Highland games, wherever in the world they are staged.
The 39-year-old carpenter competes at Highland games in the heavy events, such as tossing the caber, that iconic log thrown end over its tapered end. Siochowicz also makes it a point to compete in the various Highland festivals throughout B.C. and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Highland games are staged all over the world, including Tokyo, Hong Kong and Hawaii. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Topaz Park, the 152nd annual Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival goes ahead. It’s considered one of the premier Highland events in North America.
“Highland games are the most recognizable cultural event in the world,” Siochowicz said.
“Scottish people moved out and around so much, and wherever they settled in the world they wanted to bring a little part of themselves. So, whenever I travel to other events, like down in Washington, it’s almost like going to a family reunion.”
Siochowicz’s connection with the Scottish side of his ancestry began with his Polish grandfather, who fought in his country’s army against the Nazis.
After Poland was overrun in 1939, Siochowicz’s grandfather moved and ended up attached to the British army in the U.K., where he met and married a Scottish woman.
Siochowicz’s mother and father were from Glasgow. But even after emigrating and settling in Guelph, Ont., they never abandoned the part of them that was Scottish.
The family travelled to various Highland games in southern Ontario, including Fergus, one of the biggest in North America.
But even so, Siochowicz said, as a teenager the sports and activities that attracted him were the “alternative” ones, such as skateboarding and snowboarding.
Even after high school it was martial arts, Temple kung fu and Japanese Yoshukikai karate that attracted Siochowicz, perhaps born of a long love of kung-fu movies and TV.
In 2004, after stints in Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver (for the snowboarding), Siochowicz found himself in Victoria where his sister lived.
But it wasn’t until 2008 that he spotted an advertised clinic for people interested in learning to toss the caber.
He tried it and was hooked.
Specialization is not permitted in Highland games heavy events. A competitor cannot just toss the caber but must enter all featured events, for example, stone throwing, hammer throwing and caber tossing. Scores are then tallied to determine the winner.
What has kept Siochowicz interested in all the Highland events is they involved the same blend of strength and technique he found in martial arts.
“It’s very much 50/50 [strength and technique],” Siochowicz said. “You can be strong as an ox, but without good technique you are not going to throw very far.”
Martial arts, with their intense focus on muscular and kinetic body movement, allowed Siochowicz to quickly pick up the quirky techniques involved in the games, such as tossing the caber.
“In martial arts when you are punching, you don’t want to just use your arm,” Siochowicz said. “You want to draw full power up from your whole body.
“In the same way when I’m throwing [a stone or caber] I don’t want to just use my arms,” he said.
“I want to be able to bring the power right up from the ground, through my legs and into my back and make a full body throw.”
Siochowicz works out in a gym and at home and practises his technique about three times a week.
He and about 20 other men and women (Highland heavy events regularly include female competitors) have formed a small Victoria cohort, VISTA, Vancouver Island Scottish Throwing Association.
Most Highland athletes are amateurs, holding down regular jobs. They might compete for prizes, but there is little big money.
Even the professionals usually hold down regular jobs, since it’s been estimated that few earn much more than $15,000 to $20,000.
At every event, Siochowicz tries to better his previous score. And every games for him brings back the connection to Scotland he learned from his parents.
His dream is to travel to Scotland and compete there.
“Over there they do Highland games in just about every little town or village,” Siochowicz said. “You could probably go to 18 or 20 games in one month.”
“But for me personally, it doesn’t matter where. I would just love to get to Scotland and be able to throw,” he said.
“The goal is to just go and throw on Scottish soil.”
