Two film crews will turn their cameras on one of the north-east’s most popular Highland games this weekend to pay tribute to a legendary local strongman.
Brave competitors will battle it out in a Dinnie Stane “lift and hold” competition at the Aboyne Highland Games, marking 100 years since Donald Dinnie himself died aged 79.
Thousands of people are expected to flock to the games on Saturday, as Aboyne Green comes alive to the bagpipe’s skirl for a day of Highland dancing, music, tug o’ war and heavy competitions.
Challengers will take on the fabled “steens”, made famous by Birse strongman Mr Dinnie – who hoisted and carried the mighty 775lb boulders the width of Potarch Bridge in 1860.
Two film crews – one from France and another from the states – will film the games for two separate projects.
Jan and Terry Todd are travelling from the states to make a documentary on Scottish stone-lifting and have attracted a raft of competitors to take part in the competition at the overseas tent this weekend.
Additionally Audrey Chazal will travel with a crew of six from France to film the games for a TV show called Full of Sensation.
The games – now in its 149th year – will include the return of the Fungle hill race and a number of other athletic events.
Meanwhile the descendants of the north-east’s ancient families will converge in the clan village.
Last night chairman of the games, Ian Scott, said: “We have an American filming crew coming, they are going around Scotland looking at all the heavy stones. There is a whole community of these stone-lifters.
“Four or five strongmen are coming who will attempt to lift and hold the stones, but not carry them. We have also got a French film crew.
“For our own part it is just business as usual. We are again hoping for some records in the heavies.
“The interesting thing last year was the amount of foreign visitors we had. The clan village is full, we have 11 clans coming, and the North East Family History Group is coming again.
“We are trying to encourage people to go into the clan village and to try and trace their roots.”
