Ardfern for Argyll

Sunday 28th. September 08. Easdale Island, West Scotland. The World Stone Skimming Championships. 1st. equal, ‘Old Tosser’, Tony Gill, Ardfern.

‘I’d never have thought it’, said Tony later. ‘I never thought I’d be a world champion anything. I’m quite chuffed’, he said, adjusting the sling supporting his throwing arm, ‘Looking forward to defending my title next year’. Here’s his story in his own words.

The event started in 1983, and re-started in 1997. I’ve remembered it every year, usually when reading about it in the Oban Times four days afterwards. I’ve always meant to enter, but I was always too late – even by Ardfern standards. This year I didn’t have to rely on the OT, for I was reminded on the internet.

I spend a fair bit of time floating around among the islands of Nether Lorne in my RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) and share my tall tales with others on an internet web forum. Tony Hill, who runs passenger trips from Easdale Island on bigger RIB’s than mine, told us all about the Skimming and offered berthing in the tiny harbour on the island. So that was it. No hob nobbing with the hoi polloi for me. I’d arrive in style and enter the competition. And I did.

Arriving early on the day while there was still enough water to get into the harbour and helped by Tony to moor, I landed on Easdale for the first time ever. It was quiet on the island. The hordes weren’t due for an hour and everyone was speaking in whispers on account of the party the previous night. Even so, there was an expectant buzz in the air as local craft stalls and barbecues were being prepared. I joined in and helped carry stones to weigh down the kitchen tables and bits and pieces against the forecast strong winds.

Stones are skimmed across the 65m wide flooded quarry, in a lane between two rows of marker buoys. At noon, or thereabouts, we were under way, with the children going first There are lots of categories – age groups, boys, girls, then ladies, and a new one for this year, ‘Old Tosser’ for those who have ‘gone beyond their fifties’ (what a nice way of saying ‘old’) . It took quite a while to get to my turn to skim. All the time the wind was increasing and so were the waves, white horses rolling between the island and Cuan Sound. I began to wonder a bit about my voyage home, out towards Pladda and down the Sound of Luing. Maybe travelling in style hadn’t been such a good idea? This same wind was gusting down the skimming lane too – which is my excuse for only one of my three allowed stones bouncing enough times to be a legal throw, and of course, the shorter distance than I would have expected. ‘Just a bit of fun,’ I said to myself – but I didn’t really believe that.

To find I was first equal was a real surprise. A medal, a tee shirt and a case of rather nice wine. Super. I see from the website ( www.stoneskimming.com ) that a local, Adrian Laycock, was the other winner. He must have had lots of practice, so I think I did ok. There was no third place. That’s sad. It would seem just the two of us entered our category. There were lots and lots of ‘Old’ people there. You’d have thought plenty of them would’ve been ‘Tossers’ too.

The ferries took the hordes away, the island was quiet again and all too soon I had to leave myself. Buoyed up by pride at my success and by the super people of Easdale Island, and ballasted by my unexpected swag, we (Moon Raker and I) crashed through the waves between Easdale and Pladda, flew down the Sound of Luing, took some dollops and a dusting in the Dorus Mor, and got home in time for tea.

I’m out of traction now and the sling is easing the throwing arm so I can thank all the people of Easdale Island for their hospitality and for organising such a super event. All being well, I’ll be back next year to defend my title – hopefully against a larger entry.

Tony Gill. (joint) World ‘Old Tosser’ Stone Skimming Champion 2008

PS. I got some video and I’ll post it as soon as I can get it edited.