Caber toss
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox sport
The caber toss (Template:Langx) is a traditional Scottish athletic event in which competitors toss a large tapered pole called a "caber" (Template:IPAc-en), normally practised at the Scottish Highland Games.
The term "caber" derives from the Gaelic word cabar, which refers to a wooden beam,<ref name=":0" /> and the person tossing the caber is called a "tosser" or a "thrower".<ref name="EB1911">Template:Cite EB1911</ref> In Scotland, the caber is usually made from a larch tree, and it can be Template:Convert tall and weigh Template:Convert.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Although the sport is primarily associated with Scotland, a similar exercise, "casting the bar", was popular in England in the 16th century,<ref name="EB1911"/> and similar sports exist around the world, such as stångstörtning in Sweden.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Objective and technique
The primary objective is to toss the caber so that it turns end over end, falling away from the tosser. Ideally it should fall directly away from the tosser in the "12 o'clock" position.
The tosser balances the caber upright, tapered end downwards, against his or her shoulder and neck, the caber being supported by stewards or fellow-competitors while being placed into position. The tosser then crouches, sliding their interlocked hands down the caber and under the rounded base, and lifts it in their cupped hands. The tosser must balance the caber upright; this is not easy with the heavier end at the top, and less-experienced tossers may be unable to stop the caber falling to one side after lifting it. The tosser then walks or runs a few paces forward to gain momentum, and flips the tapered end upwards so that the large end hits the ground first, and, if well tossed, the caber falls directly away from the tosser.
Weight and strength are essential for success, but technique is also important for balancing the caber when lifting it, and flipping up the held (tapered) end to promote a clean toss.
Scoring
Template:EB1911 poster The straightest end-over-end toss scores highest. If the caber lands on its end but falls back towards the thrower, the score is lower than for any end-over-end throw but is based upon the maximum vertical angle that the caber achieved (side-judging may involve a second judge).
End-over-end tosses are scored according to the hours on a clock, with a 12:00 score being highest (falling directly away from the thrower), down to a 9 or 3 for cabers that reach a vertical, before falling to the side.
World records
For angle
- Template:Convert Braemar challenge caber at 12 o'clock by Douglas Edmunds Template:Flagicon (1976 World Caber Tossing Championships)<ref name="srthrowing">Template:Cite web</ref>
For distance
- Template:Convert for Template:Convert by Douglas Edmunds Template:Flagicon (1985 World Muscle Power Classic)<ref name="srthrowing"/>
- Template:Convert for Template:Convert (on ice) by Jón Páll Sigmarsson Template:Flagicon (1984 World's Strongest Man)<ref name="srthrowing"/>
For height
- Template:Convert over Template:Convert shared by Tjalling van den Bosch Template:Flagicon and Jamie Reeves Template:Flagicon (1990 World Muscle Power Classic and 2000 World Muscle Power Classic)<ref name="srthrowing"/>
- Template:Convert over Template:Convert by Phil Martin Template:Flagicon (1995 World Muscle Power Classic)<ref name="srthrowing"/>
For repetitions
- Template:Convert for 26 tosses in 3 minutes by Andrew Murphie Template:Flagicon (2024 Grantown East Highland Games)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Convert for 161 tosses in 1 hour by Jason Baines Template:Flagicon (2021 Montreal Highland Games)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Photo gallery
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A selection of cabers of various lengths and weights
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Getting ready to lift
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The run-up
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Moment of release
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The caber in mid-flight
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The caber strikes the ground
