Jason Irvin will represent the United States next month at the 2026 Masters World Championships in the Highland Games, held Sept. 4 through 7 in Driewegen, Netherlands, and as of this week he has a plane ticket and a place to stay.
Irvin, who competes in the Masters lightweight division, is ranked fifth in the world among men 50 and older. The championships are invitation-only, hosted by Highland Games Driewegen and presented by Scottish Athletics International, with invitations going to top athletes in each class.
Highland Games heavy events include the caber toss, stone put, weight throw for distance and height, the hammer throw and the sheaf toss, in which a pitchfork is used to hurl a bundle of straw over a bar.
Irvin said an injury this year, along with the treatment and recovery that followed, set him back financially while he was already working to fund the trip.
He has been raising money through a GoFundMe campaign, which had brought in about $1,760 toward a $2,000 goal from 36 donors as of Tuesday.
He also performs American roots music, blues, Southern rock and country under the name HOCK.MUSIC, and plans to spend the week after the championships performing in Amsterdam and the surrounding area.
This week he announced he has his ticket to Brussels and a lodging planned in Vlissingen, near Driewegen, from Sept. 1 to 7, Amsterdam from Sept. 7 to 12 and Brussels on Sept. 13 and 14.
“So no matter what, I got a place to stay now,” he wrote. “Now to get my guitar and pitchfork over there and I’m ready to go.”
He thanked those who have contributed and said he still has some money to raise for meals and travel, but added that in the worst case, “I have my guitar. I will be able to eat.”
The campaign is at gofund.me/50e8292b0.
