Bryan Hunsaker from the United States has broken the record for lifting the famous Dinnie Stones after holding the 733lbs (332kg) boulders at Potarch in Aberdeenshire for 33.9 seconds - beating the record of 31 seconds.
The lifts took place in the garden at Potarch Café and Restaurant, the home of the Dinnie Stones and where they are on display for everyone to view.
Located next to Potarch Bridge the infamous Donald Dinnie entertained market goers by carrying them across the bridge in 1860, which proved to be the start of an amazing strongman career.
Mr Malcolm Nicol, managing partner of Ballogie Estate said of the new record: “We have had interest in the Dinnie Stones from all over the world and it was a privilege to watch Bryan in front of his wife and family achieve his ambition to lift the stones.
"He travelled a long way from Salt Lake City in Utah to make the attempt and it is a fantastic achievement that not only was he successful in lifting the stones, but that he managed to hold the stones for an impressive 33.9 secs.
"We look forward to welcoming Bryan and his family back to Ballogie, he has expressed an interest in returning in August when we are planning an event at Potarch to emulate Donald Dinnie’s achievements in 1860"
Donald Dinnie was born at Balnacraig in the Parish of Aboyne in 1837. He was the son of a local stonemason and followed his father into the profession. At the age of 16 he took part in a local strongman competition in Kincardine O’Neil winning a total of £1 in prize money.
Donald Dinnie continued to work as a stonemason in the local area, however now with a passion for training and competition he continued to devote as much free time as possible to travelling and competing in Highland Games across Scotland.
In 1860 Donald cemented his place in local and international history at Potarch by carrying two stones with a combined weight of 775lbs across the width of Potarch Bridge and back again (approximately 4.6metres). The stones had been fitted with iron rings and used to support scaffolding in the 1830’s when repair work had to be carried out on the Thomas Telford designed Bridge.
In 1870 he became a full time athlete travelling to both America and Canada to compete. He travelled extensively over his lifetime and competed in New Zealand and toured Australia competing for 14 years. He left Sydney in April 1897 and finally docked in Tilbury, Essex in October 1898 having spent about a year promoting Highland Games and Concerts in South Africa. His daughter Eva and son Edwin featured in many of these presentations.
His athletic career spanned 50 years and he won 11,000 competitions during this time a simply outstanding achievement.
On his return to Scotland he performed until 1912 in local music halls and continued to take part in Highland Games either as a veteran competitor or as a judge.
Donald Dinnie died in London in 1916 at the age of 78.
In 2002 Donald Dinnie was inducted into the ‘Scottish Sports Hall of Fame’ in Edinburgh and many of his remaining medals can be seen in Aberdeen Art Gallery.
Since the Stones were rediscovered by Mr David Webster OBE in 1951, there have been many attempts to emulate Donald Dinnie’s achievement.
The first recorded unassisted lift of the stones was by Jack Shanks in 1972.
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