World records smashed, champions crowned at National Celtic Folk Festival

FEMALE Heavy Events pioneer Francis Fitzpatrick has broken three world records at the National Celtic Folk Festival.

Now holding 10 world records, Fitzpatrick has been competing since women’s results were first officially recorded in 2018.

Helen Oakley lifts and prepares to throw in the caber toss. Photo: Michael Chambers.

Securing personal and world bests in the Braemar, Light Hammer and Heavy Hammer events in Portarlington, Fitzpatrick said she was pleased to see the sport continue attracting new competitors.

Eight years into the official women’s division, she said interest from women of all ages had continued to grow.

Helen Oakley would go on to be crowed open women’s champion in the 2026 Australian Caber Championship. Photo: Michael Chambers.

“In 2018, Nick Weaver at Maryborough decided to create an official women’s division, whereas in the past we threw with the fellas and nothing was reported,” Fitzpatrick said.

“Thanks to him, we were able to have a women’s division and we’ve kicked on.

Geelong electrician Joey Allam competes in Portarlington in the Heavy Games. Photo: Michael Chambers.

“We’ve got enough women now that we have open and masters women’s now, and we’ve still got people coming up every game asking if they can join.”

Though Fitzpatrick makes it look easy, she said the implements athletes throw are deceptively heavy.

Showing them to curious spectators always gives the team a kick.

Kel Glaister with the stone used in the Open Stone event. She would go on to win the caber championships for open women. Photo: Michael Chambers.

“They’re quite heavy implements although they don’t look quite heavy,” Fitzpatrick said.

“When we show them through the crowd people are quite astonished at how heavy they are.

“We throw Olympic style, similar to a shotput heavy weight for distance. It’s the same rules where you have to stay within the boundary and whoever throws the furthest, wins.”

Local competitor Joey Allam began competing after seeing the Heavy Events team at festivals where he was performing as a dancer.

Just a few years later, he has become a regular on the circuit.

The electrician can often be found giving crowds a hands-on demonstration, explaining the weights and inviting people to lift – but not throw – them.

Francis Fitzpatrick broke three world records at the Heavy Games event in Portarlington. Photo: Michael Chambers.

Generating enough force behind the trig (toe board) to propel the implements forward is easier said than done, he said.

Now in his fourth year competing at the National Celtic Folk Festival, Allam said there was something special about competing on home soil.

While Fitzpatrick was collecting world records, the 2026 Australian Caber Championships were also held.

Helen Oakley, Shane Carstairs, Sean Poole and Kel Glaister earned titles in the open and master’s divisions respectively.

Caber toss has long been a crowd favourite, with competitors tasked with flipping the large tapered pole. The caber is several metres long and weighs between 40kg and 80kg.

Unlike many throwing events, the caber is not judged on distance but on the accuracy of the pole’s rotation.