A 19-year-old Highland heavy proved his mettle when he took on some of the best strength athletes from around Scotland yesterday.
Scotland’s Strongest Man finalist Tom Stoltman, of Invergordon in Easter Ross, fought off fierce competition to take the title of Highland’s Strongest Man 2014 at the inaugural Highland Traditional Strength Festival.
Meanwhile Donna Moore, who is originally from Yorkshire but began her strong woman training when she moved to Inverness, claimed the title of Inverness’ Strongest Woman 2014. Ms Moore is also Britain’s Strongest Woman.
The event, held at the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness yesterday afternoon as part of the Highland Homecoming Festival, was organised by the Forge Gym and the Inverness Highland Games Committee.
Gavin Laird, who owns Forge Gym in Carsegate Road North, hailed it “a great success”.
He said: “The weather was brilliant and there was a really good atmosphere.
“The competition was excellent and we had a very high quality of competitors from all over Scotland.
“We were really pleased with the number of people and everyone had a really good time, which is what it’s all about.”
Mr Stoltman, who is 6ft9ins tall and weighs 21 stone, delighted the crowds when he was the only competitor to complete the atlas stones by lifting the heaviest stone, weighing 440lb, over a 5ft bar.
Second place in the strongest man competition went to John Hutton and third place to Ryan Campbell. Both are from Fort William.
The men’s strength events also included a single lift challenge to find Scotland’s strongest deadlifter and this title was taken by Mr Hutton, who lifted 793lb.
Ms Moore also excelled in the atlas stones category when she was the only competitor to lift the 220lb stone onto a 3ft platform. She also impressed the crowds with a frame deadlift of 551lb.
Karen Sutherland, of Inverness, was placed second in the women’s competition, with Michelle Smith, who is Highland’s strongest woman and also of Inverness, in third place.
Completing the programme was the first Highland championship in backhold wrestling, which is considered to be Scotland’s very own martial art.
The under 10st7lb title went to Ryan Ferry, of Hamilton, with Paul Craig, of Greenock, taking the prize in the under 12st7lb category. Fraser Hirsch, of Carnoustie, won the under 14st7lb title and the heavyweight category was won by Ryan Dolan, of Carnoustie.
Andrew McAdam, 11, was placed first in the junior under 5st category and Dean Whyte, 12, won the junior over 5st title, with the girls open being won by Francesca Dodd, 13, and the boys open going to Dean Whyte. All the junior winners were from Carnoustie.