‘I want to inspire young women’: Emmie aiming to make her mark in Highland Games
Emmie Barter knows what it’s like to experience success in rugby – and now she is determined to make her mark as a heavy events athlete on the Highland Games circuit.
The 24-year-old from Thurso is keen to show that females can be at the forefront of what have traditionally been considered as male sports.
Emmie entered Highland Games events for the first time last year and will compete again in 2025. She is aiming to qualify for the amateur world championships within two years.
“This sport is deeply rooted in Scottish history and I want to show that women belong in it just as much as men,” she said.
In order to pursue her ambitions, she needs sponsorship and she is keen to hear from any local businesses that would be willing to support her.
Emmie works as a rugby development officer and is part of the successful Caithness Krakens women’s rugby team. They won the National Plate at Murrayfield last season and secured the Caledonia North Region League 2 title last month.
She is a retained firefighter and is also qualified as a personal trainer.
Emmie’s involvement in heavy events started as “a fun challenge” at the Mey Highland Games but quickly developed into a serious pursuit.
“I’ve always been in the gym, I’m a personal trainer, I’m qualified in weightlifting, but that was the first time [in a Highland Games],” Emmie explained.
“The first event I did was the heavy shot put and I won it by about two metres. Then I got into something a bit more technical, weight for distance, and I got third in that.
“Then I got first in literally everything else. That was my first-ever games and I just thought I must be good at it in some way!
“So I gave it another shot at Bridge of Allan. There were 10 ladies and I came second out of all of them, and they’d been in the games for years.
“Then I went straight to the Tain Highland Gathering and I won that one.”
She ended up competing at nine Highland Games. “For two months I did them every single weekend, and I just kept going until I got better and better and better,” Emmie said.
She plans to grab every opportunity she can to compete on the 2025 games circuit.
“I’m going to try and try and try to go to as many games as I can and get my name out there with the Highland Games and then try to get to the amateur world championships,” she said.
By setting her sights at such a high level, Emmie says she will be representing not just herself “but also Thurso, and the growing presence of women in strength sports”.
With events the length and breadth of Scotland, from May through to September, she has to cover significant costs for travel, accommodation and equipment.
Emmie has a two-year-old daughter, Lily.
“As a young mum, a firefighter and a rugby player, I know what it means to push past expectations,” Emmie said. “But without financial support, continuing to compete at this level will be a real challenge.”
Emmie has calculated that fully committing to the 2025 season will involve an outlay of about £1745 on travel and £800 on accommodation – a total of around £2545.
To help make this possible, she is seeking sponsorship from local businesses. She says sponsors will receive logo placement on competition gear and social media exposure as well as recognition at events on the Highland Games circuit.
Emmie can be contacted by email at emmerleighsmith@gmail.com or by phone on 07376 473401.
“It’s about more than just competing,” she explained. “I want to inspire young women and show them that strength comes in many forms.
“Women can lift, throw, run and succeed just as much as men, and I hope my journey can encourage others to push their own limits.”
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