Question-caber attempts to count as a legit comp?

Does an athlete have to attempt the caber to make it a "legit" competition? Was always under the impression that a legitimate competition was a minimum of 5 events one of which is the caber...just wondering?( yes saw it in the database..in the notes it states the athlete took no caber attempts..in my books that would be a athlete doing a demo..no?)

10.In order for a competitor to win or place in an overall competition, they must attempt to compete in all of the events. At the discretion of the judge, if the competitor does not attempt to compete in all the events then they will not receive points or awards for the individual events or the overall competition.

^^^copied from the rules tab of this site.

Sticky wicket is that line "At the judges discretion" 

I see nothing that indicates that the caber must be included. 

"A Scottish Heavy Events competition is defined by at least five of the events listed above. If only five events are used, then no two events will be similar (such as two stones, two weight throws for distance, or two hammers)."

So, to answer your question of:  “Does an athlete have to attempt the caber to make it a "legit" competition?” 

I would say, no.  If an athlete is injured, or there is the potential of injury (eg: a big stick and newer thrower), as an AD I would have no problem with them skipping that event, and would probably even encourage it. 

If someone were unable to to do the caber and the judges were unsure of the rules, the caber could be stood up for the thrower and he could basically touch it and call that his attempt.

I think folks are conflating two SEPARATE issues - scoring in the aggregate for a games vs. having your throws in a games count for the database.

C. Smith wrote: I can assure you that your "Scoring in the aggregate for a games" rule is not widely practiced.

One question comes to mind for aggregate scoring: how to place a person who passes on caber (injury or safety) vs a person who makes a bona-fide attempt (or 3), but ends up dropping it on all attempts.

I would imagine that the person who made the bona-fide attempts would (should) place higher than the person who passed completely.

Is that how it is done or should be?

MASA will always rescore if someone drops out for whatever reason during the day.  If you do not compete in all events, you do not place in any event or in the overall.  I highly recommend athletes at least have a caber set in front of them to at least make an effort.  you do not have to make three attempts.

Borges wrote: Teresa,   The general notion is that 'passes don't count against you.'

Hi Carlos,

In WOB/Sheaf, I know that's true; that's because the thrower decides at what height to enter the event. Caber is certainly a different story because the throwers don't enter the event in the same way.

A person who tries and drops a caber on a first attempt, then passes on the subsequent attempts vs a person who passes on all three attempts due to an injury that would preclude even trying to pick it (e.g. arm in sling)? A very unusual situation, but I've seen pictures of people competing at HG with their arms in slings before.

Steve is entirely correct. Three passes vs. three no-tosses is a tie. A one degree beats both of them.