Peak District Highland Games Report and Results– Matlock 29th August 2021

 

Paraded into Matlock Farm park by Manchester Phoenix bagpipe band, this year’s Peak District Highland Games, in its 5^th edition of the show saw the addition of some new athletes alongside established athletes as well as a new strongwoman category to mark the occasion. And boy did this show deliver! Report followed by all results of each event and final standing at the bottom.

The women were Nicky Walters (Guinness world record holder), Chloe Brennan under 63kg bodyweight 2019 England’s strongest woman and teenage sensation 15 year old Millie Thornton in her first competition, aka Millie Con Carne. See separate report.

In the men’s competition the opening event saw two times former Peak District Highland Games champion Scott Mark Litchfield storm to the lead with 14 reps on the 120kg log press, chased by Jake Rideout on 13 reps and Jimmy Sharp from Hull with 12 reps. Notable mention to Scott Maw with 11 reps in fourth just missing out on the top 3!

                                         Self proclaimed log press king Scott Mark Litchfield

The stone throw saw Scott Mark Litchfield take the win followed by Dave Thornton and then Ashton the Bear Reid taking 3^rd in the stone throw - a regular at our shows. Matt Jackson surely winning the prize for the best dressed athlete; face paint, kilt and celtic hat.

                                               Mark Thomson stone throw

Ryan Martin coming into the competition late had a great event win in the 8 tonne tractor pull and placing 2^nd with the longest distance thrown in the caber toss – over 9 metres. 2^nd was Dave Thornton and Jake Rideout climbing up the rankings at this stage with 3^rd place. Dave Johnson given a second attempt due to the tractor brakes been on which really got the crowd behind him placing 10^th overall.

With Scott looking as strong as ever it looked like a foregone conclusion with his best events to come, but some of the new entrees and a more competitive field rewrote the script in a nail biting finale ending with the Honorary Dinnie Stones in an epic battle for first place.

But before that there were a few more events. Dave Thornton ‘tossing’ the caber the furthest and at the same time breaking the 4 year record with a 9 metre 70 throw, Ryan Martin with an ultra - impressive 2^nd place and Matt Cole in 3^rd again proving lighter strongmen can compete with the bigger men. Jake Rideout maybe a tad disappointed having dominated this event in previous years.

                                                        Jimmy Sharp caber

The stone of destiny was Matt Coles calling. Fast, agile and extremely strong he  blitzed the field carrying the 170kg stone of destiny across 20 metres in a winning time of 9.29 seconds earning him a podium spot in 3^rd place overall. Ryan Martin in 2^nd and Scott Mark Litchfield piling the pressure on in 3^rd racking up the points. This was always going to be down to the wire.

Joe Bromiley, 3 times Liverpool’s strongest man, in his first ever appearance at the games, grappled with the events  placing 9^th overall from 14 competitors – a respectable finish in a new competition placing his highest palce in 5^th on the log press behind Scott Maw.

                                                                     Dave Johnson

Another noticeable athlete was Mariusz Dacz in his first ever competition on recommendation from Wales strongest man who came in 4^th place overall with some outstanding performances cheered on by his 2 year old son and family. He consistently placed 4^th or 5^th throughout most events accumulating points and chasing the podium pack!

 

 

The final event saw the brutal Honorary Dinnie stones 2 stones weighing 350kg in total – 20kg heavier than the original famous Dinnie Stones in Scotland. These have to be lifted clear off the ground arms stretched and back upright for as long as possible. Scott Mark Litchfield holding a 2 year record of 1 minute 8 seconds – a time we couldn’t see been beaten. But we were wrong. Very wrong.

                                           Matt Cole incredible effort with Dinnie Stones

Matt Cole, Under 105kg bodyweight UK’s strongest man had a solid performance throughout the competition in his first appearance at the Peak District Highland Games being the first athlete to smash the old record on the Dinnie stone hold by nearly 3 seconds in an amazing display of strength and determination. Matt hit 2^nd place in this event (1min 11 secs.56) and the ever impressive Mariusz with a third place finish (1 minute 3 secs.99).

                                                   Stone of Destiny Dave Thornton

Honours go to Big Dave Thornton, from West Yorkshire, who had a fantastic showing in the throwing events clearing the largest distance with the caber at 9 metres 70 and 2^nd place in the stone throw earning himself important points going into the final event.

This earned Dave and Scott a joint first position after the finale event the Dinnie stones, an event Scott has excelled at previously. Dave up first.

Dave blanked out the pain and recorded a new record time of 1 minute 13 seconds, going beyond Matt Coles time which most of thought was unbeatable! It was a fantastic display of grit and determination from the word go, Dave piling the pressure onto Scott.

It wasn’t going to be Scott’s day on this event though,  the two time Peak District Highland Games champ recording a time of 31.22 secs a time well short of what he potentially was capable of. However Dave’s new record will take some beating it was an outstanding performance that earned Dave Thornton the win and ‘ the NEW’ Peak District Highland Games 2021 champion’.

 

                                       Winner Dave Thornton (LEFT) with Ashton Reid (RIGHT)

Andrew Picken and Mark Anglesea, co - founders of Man Beast strongman events who run the competition, commented ' this competition grows year on year and with new competitors stepping up to the mark we have had a great battle witnessed by thousands of fans. Dave Thornton deserves all the credit he gets in a strong field of regional and National level competitors across 6 brutal tests of strength.

 

 

 

MENS COMPETITION

 

Log Press for Reps 120kg

1st position – Scott Mark Litchfield 14 reps

2^nd position Jake Rideout 13 reps

3^rd position Jimmy Sharp 12 reps

4  Scott Maw 11 reps

5  Joe Bromiley 10 reps

6  Shaun Blairs 8 reps

7  Matt Cole 7 reps

8  Mariusz Dacz 6 reps

9  Dave Thornton 5 reps (joint 9^th)

9  Ryan Martin 5 reps (joint 9^th)

9 Ashton the Bear Reid 5 reps (joint 9^th)

10 Matt Jackson 3 reps

11 Dave Johnson 2 reps

12 Mark Thomson 1 rep

 

Stone Throw (furthest distance from 2 attempts)

 

1^st position Scott Mark Litchfield 9 meters 50

2^nd position Dave Thornton  8 meters 40

3^rd position Ashton the Bear Reid 8 meters 30

4^th Marius Dacs (joint) 8 meters 20

4^th Jake Rideout (joint) 8 meters 20

5   Shaun Blairs 8 meters 10

6   Matt Cole 7 meters 60

7   Joe Bromiley 7 meters 10 (joint)

7   Ryan Martin 7meters  10(joint)

8   Jimmy Sharp 7 meters (joint)

8   Mark Thomson 7 meters (joint)

9   Scott Maw 6 meters 90

10 Matt Jackson 6 meters 80

11 Dave Johnson 5 meter 70

 

Tractor Pull fastest time across 20 metres (8 tonne)

 

1st position Ryan Martin 25.37 seconds

2^nd position Dave Thornton 25.69 seconds

3^rd position Jake Rideout 28.30 seconds

4   Ashton the Bear Reid 28.64 secs

5   Mariusz Dacz 29.88 secs

6   Scott Mark Litchfield 30.59 secs

7   Joe Bromiley 32.18 secs

8   Matt Cole 32.81 secs

9   Scott Maw 32.87 secs

10 Dave Johnson 33.06 secs

11 Shaun Blairs 35.89 secs

12 Mark Thomson 38.52 secs

13 Jimmy Sharp 39.40 secs

14 Matt Jackson 53.93 secs

 

Caber toss for distance ( best of 2 attempts)

 

1^st place Dave Thornton 9 metres 70

2^nd place Ryan  Martin 9 metres 10

3^rd place Matt Cole 9 metres

4   Mariiusz Dacz 8m 70

5   Jake Rideout 8m 60 (joint)

5   Scott Mark Litchfield 8 m 60 (joint)

6   Ashton the Bear Reid 8 m 10

7   Mark Thomson 7m 70

8   Joe Bromiley 7m 60

8   Scott Maw 7m 60

9   Jimmy Sharp 7m 50

10  Shaun Blairs 7m 20

11  Dave Johnson 6m 60

12c Matt Jackson 3 m

 

STONE OF DESTINY (Time over 20 metres 170kg stone)

 

1^st place Matt  Cole 9.29 secs

2^nd place Ryan Martin 10.35 secs

3^rd place Scott Mark  Litchfield 10.53 secs

4   Marius Dacz 10.63 secs

5   Jake Rideout 10.99 secs

6   Mark Thomson 11.81 secs

7   Dave Thornton 12.09 secs

8   Scott Maw 12.24 secs

9 Joe Bromiley 12.75 secs

10 Shaun Blairs 13.92 secs

11 Ashton the bear Reid 14.01 secs

12 Jimmy Sharp 11 meters 50

13 Matt Jackson 10 metres (joint)

13 Dave Johnson 10 metres (joint)

 

Dinnie stones 190 kg & 160 kg longest time held clear from ground

 

1^st place Dave Thornton 73.67 secs

2^nd place Matt Cole 71.56 secs

3^rd place Mariusz Dacz 63.99 ecs

4   Mark Thomson 46.53 secs

5   Shaun Blairs 43.02 secs

6   Jimmy Sharp 38.69 secs

7   Ryan Martin 34.10 secs

8   Scott Mark Litchfield 31.22 secs

9   Scott Maw 28.52 secs

10  Joe Bromiley 25.73 secs

11  Jake Rideout 18.83 secs

12 Dave Johnson 14.65 secs

13 Ashton the Bear Reid 8.52 secs

14 Matt Jackson 5 secs

 

PODIUM FINISHERS AND FINAL STANDINGS

 

1^st position – 65 points -Dave Thornton – New Peak District Highland Games Champion 2021 decided on countback after joint points finish

2^nd position – 65 points  -  Scott Mark Litchfield

3^rd position – 62 points -  Matt Cole

4   61 points – Mariusz Dacz

5   59 points – Jake Rideout

6   58 points – Ryan Martin

7   40 points - Ashton the Bear Reid (joint)

7   40 points Jimmy Sharp (joint)

9   39 points Jpe Bromiley (joint)

9   39 points Shaun Blairs (joint)

10 37 points Scott Maw

11 35 points Mark Thomson

12 14 points Dave Johnson

13 9 points Matt Jackson