An army captain has successfully lifted the Dinnie Stones at Potarch this afternoon, joining a list of fewer than 200 people who have succeeded in managing the feat.
Captain Guy Holder-Williams of the Yorkshire Regiment, who joined the army in 2014 and has completed three tours, including two in Afghanistan, successfully lifted the two giant 733lbs granite boulders.
He challenged himself to this feat of strength as a fundraiser for the veterans charity, Combat Stress and to raise awareness of the unseen burden of mental health issues has on serving personnel and veterans.
Adjudicated by the keepers of the stones, Captain Holder-Williams, who weighs 180lbs lifted the stones using the iron rings affixed to them, in what was his first ever strength challenge. He only started training for weightlifting events in the summer.
World record attempt
Today’s event was part of a world record attempt for the most people to lift the stones in one attempt, with a total of six people trying, however, they did not manage to beat it.
The challenge, normally undertaken by strongman competitors, began in 1860 after legendary Scottish strongman, Donald Dinnie, carried the stones across the width of Potarch Bridge, with it taking until 1973 for someone to match the challenge.
Since then, more people have successfully summited Mount Everest without oxygen than have lifted the Dinnie Stones.
‘Supporting military personnel and veterans is really important to me’
Captain Holder-Williams, who is preparing to leave the army and return to civilian life, said: “I’ve grown up watching World’s Strongest Man and I’ve always loved the idea of taking on my own feat of strength.
“I loved the history that the Dinnie Stones and Scottish stone lifting in general is steeped in, and the idea that one day my children could perhaps try and take them on as well.
“For me, the weight of the stones is symbolic of the weight felt by people suffering with mental health issues and that’s what I wanted to support Combat Stress.
“Supporting military personnel and veterans is really important to me and I hope I can raise some awareness and funds to support them.”
Conversation