Caber Tossing

**cavscout** · 14th June 06, 11:46 AM

A good archer though could pick off this caber tosser quite easily, then with the time it takes to lift a caber and get your momentum moving in the right direction the archer picks off the next guy. Or you have a caber crew to assist the guy and now you've got the fodder that was hoped to avoid.

If there really was a military use for this, it most likely was as an earlier post stated where it was hurled into the enemy line to create a hole or gap in the line. This seems plausible but not likely.

We were trained to look for "weapons-of-opportunity" like writing pens, tent stakes...but never a 16' - 20' pole

**Planopiper** · 14th June 06, 12:04 PM

Again, I don't have any experience in this kind of situation, but I think that archers are only really effective for shooting people that are a long ways from your troops. They didn't shoot people that were right up close because either your own troops would be in the way or they'd be too far away to get a good shot. Archers shot at crowds, I think, not individuals. Just guessing here. In my mind it still beats the other ideas, but I still think there's just as good a chance that someone made it it.

**davedove** · 14th June 06, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Planopiper

Again, I don't have any experience in this kind of situation, but I think that archers are only really effective for shooting people that are a long ways from your troops. They didn't shoot people that were right up close because either your own troops would be in the way or they'd be too far away to get a good shot. Archers shot at crowds, I think, not individuals. Just guessing here. In my mind it still beats the other ideas, but I still think there's just as good a chance that someone made it it.

Well, on the field, masses of archers would fire at masses of troops. Archers behind battlements also fired in this way, but would also individually fire at targets of opportunity. This would include enemy archers, siege engine crews, and maniacs running at your battlements with a log.

**Mattg** · 14th June 06, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by davedove

...and maniacs running at your battlements with a log.

It makes me proud to think that hundreds of years ago my forefathers were a little crazy

It's funny how certain things pass down through the generations...

**Planopiper** · 14th June 06, 01:10 PM

Yeah, I thought it was a stupid explanation. It's a stupid event, too.

**Panache** · 14th June 06, 02:59 PM

To all. The origins of the the various events that comprise a Highland Games can be broken down to simple equations.

Scottish men + beer + testosterone + hammer = HAMMER THROW

Scottish men + beer + testosterone - hammer + rock = STONE PUT

Scottish men + too much testosterone + too much beer - hammer - rock + great big log = CABER TOSS

Bored Scottish men + Scotch + gopher holes + crooked walking stick + little ball = GOLF

Really really REALLY bored Scottish men + winter + ice + giant vat of alcohol + broom + large rock = CURLING

After Curling became an actual recognized sport, the newly founded United Nations voted unanimously that Scotland was no longer permitted to invent new games. Which is a blessing because you know somewhere in the highlands the equation began:

Scottish men + Scotch + Beer + Testosterone + sheep...

**switchblade5984** · 14th June 06, 03:10 PM

now thats a good one.......

**Scottish Chi** · 15th June 06, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by Panache

To all. The origins of the the various events that comprise a Highland Games can be broken down to simple equations...

After Curling became an actual recognized sport, the newly founded United Nations voted unanimously that Scotland was no longer permitted to invent new games. Which is a blessing because you know somewhere in the highlands the equation began:

Scottish men + Scotch + Beer + Testosterone + sheep...

Scottish men + Scotch + Beer + Testosterone + sheep = pitching woo.......l

**Archangel** · 14th June 06, 01:13 PM

Run through my books too, can't find anything.

Davedove's story is probably closest, the definition of sport being doing something measured and irrational. Note the unique feature of Highland Games: all the strength events require movement. What's the point of lifting barbells if you're just going to put them down again? How far can you carry them, ha?

My favourite, of course, is teaching Nessie to fetch.

**Iolaus** · 14th June 06, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by cavscout

If there really was a military use for this, it most likely was as an earlier post stated where it was hurled into the enemy line to create a hole or gap in the line. This seems plausible but not likely.

Beside, it would make more sense for two or three guys to throw it broadside, if they wanted to open a hole - a single log-width through the ranks is going to close up immediately; a log-length is harder to fill.

I think the whole I'm-stronger-than-you thing is the most plausible theory so far.