An American documentary, focusing on a legendary Deeside strongman, has opened to widespread acclaim.
The film, Stoneland, was largely shot at Aboyne Highland Games and Potarch in August this year, and tells the story of the legendary “Dinnie Steens”.
Weighing just shy of 770lbs together, the rocks were made famous by Birse athlete Donald Dinnie in 1860 when he carried them the width of the Potarch Bridge.
They have become arguably the most famous of the Scottish lifting stones, with strongmen flocking from all over the world to take on the gruelling challenge.
Earlier this year, the stones were returned to their historic home outside Potarch Lodge on the Ballogie Estate.
Stoneland was the brainchild of Texan weightlifting aficionados, producers Jan and Terry Todd, and was put together by Rogue Fitness in August. It was directed by Utah man, Todd Sansom.
It features the individual who brought the Deeside rocks back into the limelight, David Webster OBE, retracing his steps as he reflects on the day he found them neglected on the banks of the River Dee after World War II.
The film also features interviews with Dinnie Stones legend, Jack Shanks, who is credited with being the first person to lift them unassisted the same distance as the Victorian strongman did in 1860.
His son, Stevie Shanks, who travelled to Deeside to lift the stones in 2015, also appears on camera, alongside Bridge of Don man, Jim Splaine, who hoisted them 65 times between 1973 and 1994.
Mr Shanks jun said: “Seeing my dad, I couldn’t watch it to start with because I had a big lump in my throat. It is just such a nice thing for him to be given this recognition, it is just lovely to see it.”
Last night, Ian Scott, chairman of the Aboyne Highland Games – which catered for the stones prior to Potarch Lodge’s redevelopment – said they were “blown away” by the quality of the documentary.
The gathering this year featured a Dinnie Stone “lift and hold” competition which was won by Englishman James Gardner, all of which is highlighted in the film.
Mr Scott added: “We were taken aback by the number of people who came along, expressed interest and wanted to try and lift them.
“It is a great piece of history, the fact that Donald Dinnie was one of our founding members back in 1857. We are really pleased with how Ballogie have picked up the cudgels on Dinnie.”
Helen Knowles, marketing co-ordinator at Ballogie Estate Enterprises, said: “I think the movie is a great way to highlight to a wider community the meaning of the stones and the whole history behind them.”
