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Scottish history made: Caber tossing world record set in Inverness

By Kevin Lynch
Published

With the country preparing to make a big decision about its future today, one significant piece of Scottish history has already been made this week.

On Sunday, over 160 throwers from 14 countries took part in a successful attempt at Bught Park, Inverness for the most people tossing cabers simultaneously world record.

A total of 66 cabers were successfully thrown during the attempt which was organised by the Highland Council during the Masters World Championships.

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The championships are one of a number of Highland Games events held throughout the year in Scotland as a way of celebrating the nation’s Celtic culture and heritage.

Staged as part of the Homecoming Scotland 2014 celebrations, MWC2014 was one of the major highlights of a 2 Month Highland Homecoming Festival.

The caber toss is a traditional feature of the events, which sees competitors toss a large tapered pole called a "caber".

The caber is usually made from a Larch tree and is typically 19 feet 6 inches (5.94 m) tall and weighs 175 pounds (79 kg). The term 'caber' derives from the Gaelic word "cabar" or "kaber" which refers to a wooden beam.

The primary objective is to toss the caber so that it turns end over end, falling directly away from the thrower in the "12 o'clock" position.

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The cabers for the attempt were prepared by hand by David Garman at the Revack Estate in the Scottish Highland over a six-month periodwith the muscle power needed to drag the cabers through the forest provide by 3-year-old Clydesdale Horse Danny.

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Speaking after the successful attempt, Provost of Inverness, Alex Graham said: "It was a great spectacle of heavy event competitors from all over the world competing in glorious sunshine.

"Bught Park has been the scene of many sporting achievements over the years, but nothing like this before, it was a unique spectacle”.