Waves were made at the world stone-skimming championship yesterday as “one of the most exciting” finals was followed by a surprise marriage proposal.
Donald Melville, a long-standing organiser of the event on Easdale Island, near Oban, popped the question to his girlfriend Maggie Young at the prize-giving ceremony.
“I was sitting on it for a while,” he told the Press and Journal last night. “I asked permission from her father this morning.”
Mr Melville has been involved in the development of the competition, which endured a rocky start in 1983 prior to being put on hiatus for more than a decade, but new draws the crowds from far and wide.
He stepped down from the committee this year but still hosted the event, and is planning to continue to be involved next year.
About 700 people from around the world attended the disused, flooded quarry for yesterday’s contest, with 350 competing.
The dramatic ending of Mr Melville’s proposal followed a riveting competition in which nine skimmers made it through to the play-off.
Keisuke Hashinoto from Japan became the first Asian winner, knocking reigning world champion Dougie Isaacs, from Blairgowrie, into second place.
They both hit the back of the wall, which is 206ft to 213ft away, meaning the title was decided by the combined distances of their three skims, with Mr Hashinoto reaching 555ft to Mr Isaacs’ 518ft.
In the women’s event, reigning champion Lucy Wood, from England, was beaten by Nina Lougonboul from Switzerland, who threw 144ft.
Mr Melville said: “I think it was probably one of the most exciting finals because we had nine people in the play off.
“More and more folk are getting better. It’s either that or higher quality people are entering the competition.
“The rain was really heavy and it was damp in the morning, but it cleared up as the day went on. It didn’t dampen the spirits.
“It has gone pretty well. Everybody had a good time.”
He added: “My pals are all up from Glasgow and now we’re all planning to celebrate my engagement and the end of the World Stone Skimming Championship.”
