New Scottish strongman record set at Fort William family event
A new Scottish record was set in the Haldenby Strongman Classic at the weekend after strongmen and women came from across Scotland to compete at Fort William’s Nevis Centre.
This is the fourth year of the event staged in honour of the late Mark Haldenby who tragically lost his battle with cancer.
The free, family-friendly event included face painting, a bouncy castle and a strong children’s event alongside the adult competition.
It featured Scotland’s Strongest Team Under 105kgs, where seven, two-man teams competed for the top spot, and a Haldenby Strongest Woman competition which had six competitors.
Winners of the men’s team event were Gavin Bruce and Sean Peatfield from Aberdeen, and the strongest woman was Pavlina Peru Thomson of Alyth, Perthshire. Events included a loglift, giant tyre flip, 320kg sandbag and loading. The day culminated in the Atlas Stones lift, where competitors had to lift progressively heavier stones onto platforms.
The team axle deadlift event came down to the wire with a new Scottish record set.
Competitor and classic organiser Stuart Whyte said: ‘For this event, teams of two are lifting the bar at the same time to hip level.
Myself and my partner, we got the Scottish record for that event with a weight of 640kgs. The team that won it, they equalled the record but none of us could lift the next weight.’
This year the event raised money for local man Jamie MacDonald and his family. Just last year, aged only 34, Jamie was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. The father of two and stepdad of two, a production operator with Liberty, has been a keen marathon runner.
Mr Whyte said: ‘We are delighted to help Jamie and his family as they face difficulties, just as we have helped others in Mark’s name over the years. We had a great turnout for the event, with a steady crowd, and while the event was free, we asked for donations to help Jamie’s family. We won’t know exactly how much has been raised for a few weeks, but all money will go to supporting them.’