CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Erin Quinn is looking to showcase a sport she quickly fell in love with.
The Stratford native has recruited about 20 professionals from across the Maritimes to compete in the P.E.I. Scottish Highland Games Heavy Events Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Charlottetown Events Ground.
They will be doing five events, including the braemar stone, weight for distance, weight for height, hammer toss and the famous caber toss.
Quinn went to Fredericton, N.B., to study sciences at UNB in 2014. It was there where she was introduced to the sport at a local gym that hosted a demonstration night.
“I loved it so much I competed that weekend,” Quinn said, noting she is now in her sixth season of competing.
She moved back to P.E.I. in 2016 and took the two-year practical nursing program at Holland College.
She continued competing, driving upwards of seven hours across the Maritimes. She came up with the idea of hosting an event locally as a fundraiser for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation.
She sent a message pitching the idea to friends almost a year ago. She wanted to see who might be interested in coming to Prince Edward Island for an event with no money involved.
“It was just an immediate influx,” she said of the response that brought tears to her eyes. “People wanted to come.”
Quinn said it is an open and inviting community with lots of camaraderie where athletes cheer each other on during the competition.
“It’s an amazing group of people,” she said. “These are some of the best friends I’ve ever had.”
Admission is by donation with a minimum of $5 and children under 10 years old admitted free. Quinn said sponsors have come on board to help offset the costs for things like renting the facility and insurance.
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