Is it a bird…no, is it a plane….no, is it a CABER …..YESSS!!!!

PEAK DISTRICT HIGHLAND GAMES 2019 REPORT AND RESULTS

A crowd of around 2000 fans packed out Matlock farm park to see some of the country’s leading strongmen take on 6 gruelling events based around the Highland Games and world strongman events. Athletes such as Paul Smith, a world level competitor with multiple world records and of Scott Mark Litchfield – two times Peak District Highland Games Champion here to defend his title.

A partisan crowd created an electric atmosphere and see first-hand what these strongmen can do with some incredible weights shifted about. And not padded bars or your usual gym equipment but rugged stones, rocks and cabers that require skill, grip and enormous power to move.

Strongman Dave Thornton with fan

First up was the log press 120kg (around 18 stones) picked up and pressed above the head Mark Tompson starting the event pushing 1 rep – in his first Highland Games event – super effort.  The most reps achieved by Paul Smith at an eye Watering 14 reps, Scott Mark Litchfield closely following with 12 reps, and Jake Rideout with 8 reps.

Dan McNamee stone throw

Another new entry was Shaun Blairs (one of the lighter competitors), who was a real force throughout the day impressing the Man Beast strongman crew running the day challenging the top 3 position in the next event the medley. Throw a 30kg stone, run and pick a 180kg stone (duck walk) for 20 meters, followed by an 80kg anvil carry 20 metres. Richard Hansen getting the crowd going as he jeered up fans with his war cry during the event.

left to right Jake Rideout, Michael Davis, Mark Tompson, Scott Mark Litchfield

A great showing in the Medley from Michael Davis (another lighter bodyweight competitor) making his mark with a super quick time beating the field, followed by Paul Smith and Scott Mark Litchfield. Zac Perry starting off super-fast but losing his footing on the last part of the run resulting in tripping. I dare say if this hadn’t happened it could have been a threat to Michaels time.

Tug of war

Next up was an 8-tonne tractor pull – a traditional Worlds strongest man event. The athlete uses a body harness, and rope which is attached to the tractor and pulls the 8-tonne behemoth 20 metres in the quickest time. Dave Johnson looked brilliant as he pulled the tractor sporting his Mohican and going under sub 30 secs. Dave Thornton with a blistering 23.64 secs was sure to be winner, just pipped by Simon Knowles Unbelievable 22.72 secs to take the event win.

The Caber toss is as much about technique as power, Dan McNamee offering the guys tips on how to achieve the ‘toss’ (that’s a rotation as you throw the wooden pole in the air for distance). For many of the athletes this was a first. Jake Rideout a clear winner with a massive 8.40 metre throw which no one got near to taking the event win.

zac perry - photos

The stone of destiny was another gruelling event. 180kg stone, lifted onto the chest from a plinth and the carried as fast as you can over 20 meters. Rob Marsh off to a flyer and even carrying the stone back after his run. Scott Mark Litchfield took this event with a 8.58 time sprinting down the course, followed by Paul Smith with a 10.01 time Jake Rideout with a 10.16 time.

Richard Hansen stone throw

The last event was a new addition to this show and something the crowd had waited to see - the replica Dinnie stones. The Dinnie Stones (also called Stanes or Steens) are a pair of Scottish lifting stones located in Potarch, Aberdeenshire. ... The stones were reportedly selected in the 1830s as counterweights for use in maintaining the Potarch Bridge. They were made famous by strongman Donald Dinnie, who reportedly carried the stones barehanded across the width of the Potarch Bridge, a distance of 17 ft 1.5 in (5.22 m), in 1860. They remain in use as lifting stones at 332.49kg combined weight.

Strongman Rob Marsh cooling off

Our stones are around 390 kg combined making them heavier and awkward to lift. Athletes pick up the stones (using the handles), stand upright and hold them for as long as possible a killer of an event to finish with.

New strongman fan enjoying the show

The crowd roared as Scott Mark Litchfield held on for an unbelievable time of 1 minute 8 secs.54 (breaking the current record of 1 min 4 secs set by Paul Smith in June 2019). Incredible showing by the defending champion. Credits to Shaun Blairs, Dave Johnson, Mark Tompson, Dan Mcnamee, Michael Davis and Shaun Blairs who were all new entrants. Richard Hansen also putting in a brilliant effort after initially pulling out with injury but giving them a go anyway.

Afterwards a tug of war between boys and girls, and then mixed children VS the strongmen took place across 3 rounds with photos and podium presentation took place the final results were;

The Man Beast crew - big up.

1.       Paul Smith – winner

2.       Scott Mark Litchfield

3.       Simon Knowles

4.       Shaun Blairs

5.       Jake Rideout

6.       Michael Davis

7.       Dan McNamee

8.       Dave Thornton

9.       Richard Hansen

10.   Rob Marsh

11.   Mark Tompson

12.   Zac Perry

13.   Dave Johnson

Big thanks to the loaders and crew turning around the events quickly on a hot day.


For use of report contact manbeastevents@gmail.com - permissions and source. Written by Andrew Picken.

Individual event scores are online at https://www.slideshare.net/AndyPicken/peak-district-highland-games-results-2019