Q 01/05

What is the large tapered pole tossed at Highland games called?

A) A cromach

B) A sgian

C) A caber

D) A claymore

Answer · why

C) A caber

The word comes from the Gaelic 'cabar', a wooden beam; the pole is usually cut from a larch tree.

Q 02/05

What is the ideal result of the pole-tossing event?

A) The pole travels the greatest distance

B) It lands upright and stays standing

C) It turns end over end and falls straight away

D) It flips highest into the air

Answer · why

C) It turns end over end and falls straight away

Distance does not matter at all; judges score the line of the fall like the hours on a clock face.

Q 03/05

A perfect caber toss is scored as what?

A) 12 o'clock

B) A bullseye

C) A full turn

D) A hundred

Answer · why

A) 12 o'clock

A caber that reaches vertical but topples sideways scores 9 or 3; one that falls back to the thrower scores lower than any turned throw.

Q 04/05

From what tree is a Scottish caber usually made?

A) Oak

B) Larch

C) Scots pine

D) Ash

Answer · why

B) Larch

It can be 16 to 20 feet long and weigh 90 to 150 pounds.

Q 05/05

The 'Braemar' and 'Open' styles are the two versions of which heavy event, akin to the shot put?

A) Weight for distance

B) Putting the stone

C) Scottish hammer

D) Weight over bar

Answer · why

B) Putting the stone

The Braemar version is a standing put with no run-up; the Open Stone allows a glide or spin.