Huge crowds are expected to descend on a tiny Argyll island tomorrow for the World Stone Skimming Championships.
The Press and Journal has stepped in again to save the day and pay the £1,000 being levied on the charity which organises the event on Easdale.
The row first erupted last year after island owner Jonathan Feigenbaum, who lives in London, demanded the fee in the week before the competition and threatened legal action if it went ahead.
A global outcry took place and the world’s media reported the story.
Among those heading to this year’s event on Sunday include a Japanese documentary crew.
Keren Cafferty, chairwoman of Eilean Eisdale, which organises the event, said: “I’m sure we are going to get a good turnout. We are very organised this year. Registration is from 11am but the girls will start taking entries as soon as they are ready. We will be in the hall from 9.30am and the skimming starts at noon.”
The pre-skim dance takes place in Easdale hall at 7.30pm tonight with music from Kava Kava.
Easdale is the smallest permanently inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides. It was once the centre of a thriving Scottish slate mining industry, and one of the disused quarries forms a perfect arena for the World Stone Skimming Championships, which are held every year on the last Sunday in September.
Anyone of any age and any level of skill can enter. Each competitor is allowed three skims using specially selected Easdale slate skimming stones. For a skim to qualify the stone must bounce at least three times – it is then judged on the distance achieved before it sinks.