Scot beats his own record to keep UK stone skimming title

A 22-YEAR-OLD Scot has won the UK stone-skimming championships .

Alex Lewis overcame an elbow injury to claim the title, his second in as many years, with a 321ft (98m) throw – dwarfing his previous 311ft (95m) best. Mr Lewis, pictured, said he was ‘delighted’ at the win but disappointed to have fallen short of the hallowed ‘Centurion’ (100m) skim.

The property developer, from Helensburgh, Argyll, said: ‘The skim was a good one, but it tailed off at the end just when I was hoping to make it a Centurion.’

He was among dozens of contestants at the All England Open Stone Skimming Championships, now in its 11th year, at Fell Foot Park on Windermere, Cumbria.

Hundreds gathered to watch Saturday’s competition, which was organised by the South Cumbria Rivers Trust.

Spokesman Julius Barratt credited the good weather with helping ‘another record skim this year’.

He said: ‘The athleticism of the top skimmers really is at another level these days. Alex retained his crown with a peerless skim.’

The 2017 winner Kevin Waltham, from Newcastle, took second place with a 242ft (74m)skim.