In the world of strength sports there "new" school athletes and "old" school athletes. Some compete raw and some use the latest equipment. Some compete naturally, some use supplements to get that extra edge. One thing that transcends everything is a man and his will to push his body farther than before. For centuries man has been on a quest to become bigger and stronger. Many have have become great, few have become legends. In 1860 Donald Dinnie became a legend.
In Scotland,in 1860 Donald Dinnie carried 2 unequal stones weighing 785lbs combined across an old granite bridge that spanned about 6 yards. Then he brought them back and the legend was born.
Dinnie wrote of his feat in 1912, this is a passage from his writings.
"On the granite stone bridge that crosses the River Dee at Potarch there were, and still are, two large stones weighing about 8cwt the pair, placed in a recess. In the early 1830's massive iron rings were placed in them, to which ropes were fixed so that scaffolds could be attached for pointing the bridge. Now, one of these stones was somewhat heavier than the other. Very few strong men of that day could lift the heavy one with both hands, but my father could raise one in each hand with apparent ease, and could throw the heavier stone of the two on to the top of a parapet wall of the bridge.
Those stones are still on the bridge and I myself lifted one in each hand on many occasions and one market day, I carried them across the bridge and back, some four to five yards."
For centuries strongmen from across the globe have made the pilgrimage to Scotland to attempt to match his feat. Many have attempted but few have even lifted the ackward weight. If you would like to take a crack at the stones, they are now located outside the 18th-century Potarch Hotel, on the south bank of the river by the Potarch Bridge in Scotland. Lift the stones and become a legend!
In Scotland,in 1860 Donald Dinnie carried 2 unequal stones weighing 785lbs combined across an old granite bridge that spanned about 6 yards. Then he brought them back and the legend was born.
Dinnie wrote of his feat in 1912, this is a passage from his writings.
"On the granite stone bridge that crosses the River Dee at Potarch there were, and still are, two large stones weighing about 8cwt the pair, placed in a recess. In the early 1830's massive iron rings were placed in them, to which ropes were fixed so that scaffolds could be attached for pointing the bridge. Now, one of these stones was somewhat heavier than the other. Very few strong men of that day could lift the heavy one with both hands, but my father could raise one in each hand with apparent ease, and could throw the heavier stone of the two on to the top of a parapet wall of the bridge.
Those stones are still on the bridge and I myself lifted one in each hand on many occasions and one market day, I carried them across the bridge and back, some four to five yards."
For centuries strongmen from across the globe have made the pilgrimage to Scotland to attempt to match his feat. Many have attempted but few have even lifted the ackward weight. If you would like to take a crack at the stones, they are now located outside the 18th-century Potarch Hotel, on the south bank of the river by the Potarch Bridge in Scotland. Lift the stones and become a legend!
I'm heading up there next Summer with Andrew Durniat and Terrance Mitchel to lift them.
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