New stone skimming champions battle strong gusts for glory

New stone skimming champions battled powerful gales and long ferry queues to take home the sport's top prize on a tiny Scottish island.

The world championship returned to the isle of Easdale, in the inner Hebrides, on Saturday with a record number of international entries.

Toss Master Kyle Mathews, co-organiser of the event, said the strong gusts shortened throwing distances which "only made it more competitive" than previous years.

He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast it was the busiest year in the contest's history, with about 2,000 spectators on the island which has a population of 60.

Mathews, a community doctor who is originally from Ireland, said: "The challenge we faced was accommodating the many people that wanted to come to the event.

"They have to get the ferry across to the island and we know that many people queued for a good length of time to get across.

"In fact the queues were so long that many people actually turned away."

The contest was first held in 1983, inspired by an alcohol-fuelled conversation in a pub.

It has been annual event since 1997, apart from an interlude during the Covid pandemic.

Traditionally a male-dominated sport, efforts have been made to make it more inclusive, with this year's event attracting a record number of women and under-16s.

North Carolina's Liam Knight was the only contestant to hit the back wall of the flooded quarry.

He took the trophy from his fellow countryman Jonny Jennings, who was the first ever US winner.

Abbey McDonald defeated six-time world champion skimmer Lucy Wood, to become the first New Zealander to earn the accolade.

More than 400 competitors tried their hand at this year's contest, with over a fifth travelling from outside of the UK.

The contest has strict rules and traditions.

Stones must come from Easdale, which is one of the four Slate Islands, and must be less than three inches (7.6cm) in diameter.

They are tested by being passed through the Ring of Truth.

Competitors get three skims, launched from a large flat rock known as the Skim of Destiny.

The stone must stay within a marked lane and hit the water at least three times.

The distances are added up, although some of the most proficient skimmers will hit the back wall of the quarry, a distance of 207ft (63m).

The highest scorers make it through to a grand final, called the Toss Off..

There were also team trophies and awards for younger contestants and over-60s, who could compete in the "Old Tossers" category.

Last year a cheating scandal clouded the competition after it was noticed that some contestants' stones were suspiciously circular.

When quizzed by the organisers, the culprits confessed that they had sanded them into a better shape.

Those responsible were duly disqualified.

This year Luisa Hendry, a former engineer turned social media geologist, was on hand to study the stones and settle any disputes.

Known as the Scottish Geologist, she has amassed thousands of followers with her short videos.

Over the weekend she offered tours explaining how the island's rock formations make it the ideal venue for the championships.

There were extra stone checks after last year's scandal, but Toss Master Mathews said: "I'm pleased to say the geologist did not need to get involved.

"They were very happy they could spend the day looking at the rocks themselves.

"All of the competitors were absolutely above board, as one would expect."

Reflecting on the event, he added: "It's nice for once that throwing stones can unite the world, rather than divide it."

At one time 500 people lived on the island that "roofed the world", with public buildings across Scotland - and as far away as Canada and Australia - made rain-tight with Easdale slate.

But while exports continued well into the 20th Century, the industry was dealt a devastating blow in 1881.

A huge wave flooded the seven quarries - including the venue for the skimming contest.

Despite the success of this year's event, there was one small let down for Mathews.

"I was a little disappointed to discover Anna Wintour was at the US Open and hadn't come to the championships here on Easdale Island.

"So I'll be getting over that for the next little while."