Pitlochry Highland Games organisers have replaced their caber because competitors complained it was “too easy” to toss.
Heavy events coordinator Raymond McIntosh said participants from Perthshire have improved their strength so much that every single one managed to flip the 17ft wooden pole last year.
He searched woods for a suitable replacement which he hopes will be a tougher test for throwers at this year’s event, to be held in the town on Saturday.
Mr McIntosh, 53, a PE teacher at Breadalbane Academy, said: “The local guys from Highland Perthshire found it too easy because their standard has improved dramatically in the last 10 years.
“Pretty much all of them tossed it last year and you don’t want that.
“The caber we’re currently using is 17 feet and 92lb. The new one is about a foot longer and a bit thicker, but I haven’t weighed it yet. It’s probably about 100lb.
“It’s a spruce which came from woods next to Cluny Gardens near Logierait. The land owner wanted rid of it. We didn’t actually chop this one down ourselves.”
The caber toss sees competitors attempt to flip a tapered log in the air so that it falls on the ground with its lighter end pointing directly opposite the thrower.
If they are successful, they stand to win a first prize of £70.
If a participant wins all seven heavy events, they take home an additional £125.
Prize money on offer to ‘heavies’ totals £615.
Mr McIntosh said: “People often think the caber toss is about distance but it’s nothing to do with how far you can throw it.
“It’s actually about accuracy and technique. When it lands you want the lighter end at 12 o’clock.”
The new caber is under lock and key at a secret location and will be unveiled on Saturday. The old one is expected to be used for training sessions.
It costs £40,000 to stage the games which attract around 1,500 participants and as many as 5,000 spectators to Pitlochry recreation ground.
Games secretary June Templeman, one of 20 voluntary organisers, said: “We’re expecting a busy day.”
The games begin at 10.30am with 23 pipe bands playing at 11.40am. Tickets are £7 for adults and £1 for under-16s while under-fives get in free.
The organisers have appealed for volunteers to assist and anyone interested should telephone June on 01796 473488.
For more information visit www.pitlochryhighlandgames.co.uk.The Caber v The Swindonator .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
“There’s a very real danger that you could seriously hurt yourself,” warned Raymond before I picked up a caber for the first time, writes Peter Swindon.
“It can break your collar bone if you don’t balance it properly,” he said, with a steely stare.
I fully expected to be able to throw all three wooden logs kindly supplied.
I successfully tossed the first caber and was feeling rather pleased with myself until I was told it is used to train primary school children.
The second one, aimed at under-16s, was a struggle to get off the ground but I did manage to find the purchase to flip it.
However, the 92lb caber about to be replaced because it is “too easy” to toss was almost impossible for me to lift, much less launch through the air, and I made a few aborted attempts before admitting defeat.