The caber

(pronounced to rhyme with jabber, not sabre)

Spent a very enjoyable day at the Skye Highland Games, in Portree today. Some incredible feats of strength on show, culminating with the caber toss. The caber is almost 20' tall, (or long, if you can't get it off the ground ) and weighs about 12 1/2 stone. Two of the athletes managed a perfect end-over-end toss - quite something to witness!

The fellow waiting for his turn here is Australian, Damien Birkinhead who had finished 5th in the Shot Put final at the Commonwealth Games. He was clearly in good shape as just before this event we had seen him throw a 4 stone weight over a 15' bar ! The caber proved a little too awkward for him though, and was won by another Commonwealth Athlete, Scott Rider of England.

Does this shot remind you of a more famous image?