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Aboyne Highland Games 2014
Aboyne Highland Games 2014
Scroll down for Aboyne Highland Games 2014 photo selection.
Click here for main Aboyne Games slideshow
Click here for Mark Felix lifting Dinnie Stones at Aboyne Games 2014
Photos by Bill Bagshaw
The Marquis of Huntly opens #Aboyne Games #HighlandGames
Tossing The #Caber 
Veteran commentator Robbie Shepherd at Aboyne Highland Games 
A finishing jump to Putting The Stone #ScottishGames
Bydand. Bydand is part of the Gordon Crest. #Bydand literally means “steadfast;” or “staying here;” as in the Scottish word “bide”. Another meaning is to “stand and fight”. 
Drum Major #HighlandGamesPhotos 
Weight for distance
Drum Majors at Aboyne Scottish Games #ScottishGames
dsider.co.uk events guide to Royal Deeside & Strathdon
Mark Felix lifts Dinnie Stones at Aboyne Games
Mark Felix Lifts Dinnie Stones
Mark Felix lifts Dinnie Stones at Aboyne Highland Games.
One of the worlds strongest men took The Dinnie Stanes challenge at Aboyne Highland Games 2014.
Mark Felix; one of the worlds strongest men; lifts The Dinnie Stanes ( Dinnie Stones ) at Aboyne Highland Games on Royal Deeside.
Mark was challenged to repeat the legendary feat of Aboyne strongman Donald Dinne. Dinnie carried the stones over the width of Potarch Bridge.
A replica of Potarch Bridge was set up in the games arena. Mark successfully lifted and carried the stones; but was unable to carry them the full distance without putting them down several times.
Donald Dinnie was born in 1837, at Birse Aboyne.
Highland Games Heavy Events
Highland Games Heavy Events.
Highland Games Heavy Events are a fore runner of the modern Olympic Games.
Donald Dinnie from Birse, Aboyne was the worlds first sporting superstar due to his Highland Games exploits.
This is a collection of highland games heavy event photos from Aboyne Highland Games, Ballater Highland Games and Braemar Gathering. Photographs by Bill Bagshaw
Highland Games Heavy events include tossing the caber, weight for distance, hammer throwing, putting the stone or ball, and weight over the bar.
Click here for The Dinnie Stones
Putting the stone or ball. This is where the Olympic event of putting the shot came from.
Weight for distance. – The competitor spins around to throw a heavy weight on the end of a chain. One hand is used to throw the weight and the other arm is used for rotational balance. The competitor throws the weight as far as he can.
Throwing the hammer. The hammer is spun around the head several times using both hands and then released. The competitors have long spikes attached to the front of their boots to anchor them to the ground.
Weight over the bar (for height) A weight is thrown upwards over a bar; which is raised up, to assess the highest height achievable.
Tossing the caber. Competitors balance a long wooden pole on one end then run with it until they are going fast enough to tip it over end over end. The caber is thrown for accuracy and not for distance.
Lonach Games & March
Lonach March & Games
Lonach is by reputation Scotlands friendliest Highland Games. Lonach Gathering and March always takes place on the fourth Saturday in August at Bellabeg Park, Strathdon.
Click here to go to Lonach slideshow
Lonach banners fly on a beautiful misty Scottish morning. The Gathering comprises of Lonach March followed by Lonach Highland Games.
The fine tradition of The Gathering and March has been passed on from generation to generation. This Gathering is hard to beat for sheer spectacle and is always well attended. The Gathering patron is Sir James Forbes whose ancestors founded the Lonach Friendly Society. Sir James is shown in the slideshow donning his feathered cap to commence The March.
The March is headed by Lonach Pipe Band, followed by Clansmen who carry pikes. Everyone calls in for a dram of Scottish whisky at various patrons during the march. The marchers call in for a Scotch at the houses of several patrons.
The procession is always traditionally followed by a horse and cart ready to carry anything needed during The Lonach March. A replacement carthorse was used in 2013 as Rosa the normal horse was injured. After some initial spooking; at being part of a public event; Wull the new carthorse soon settled into his role.
The Dinnie Stones
The Dinnie Stones
The Dinnie Stones are located outside the Potarch Hotel between Aboyne & Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Together they weigh approximately 8 cwt.
Legendary, world famous Scottish strongman Donald Dinnie was born at Birse by Aboyne in 1837, the son of a stonemason. Donald Dinnie was the worlds first sporting superstar and achieved international fame from his exploits in America, Canada and Australia.
Potarch hotel is currently closed and scheduled for redevolopment. The Dinnie Stones could be stored elsewhere
The Dinnie stones are 2 giant rocks. In the 1830’s huge iron rings were attached to the stones so that they could act as counterweights; for scaffolding; during the pointing of Potarch Bridge.
Ordinary folk would struggle to lift even the smallest Dinnie Stone. Donald Dinnie carried them both across the width of Potarch Bridge, and back – a distance of 4-5 yards.
Several people have successfully lifted both Dinnie Stones, but walking with them is completely different !
The photo shows both Dinnie Stones being lifted by Aboyne strongman and Highland Games Heavies participant Tommy Fyvie.
Potarch Bridge spans the beautiful River Dee, on Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Click here for Aboyne Highland Games Mark Felix attempts to lift Dinnie Stones-click here
Tommy Fyvie takes the strain and the pain as he lifts both Dinnie Stones.
Mark Felix attempts to lift both Dinnie Stones and walk with them
