A Truck Driver from Dewsbury West Yorkshire Dave Thornton has scooped the prestigious title of the Peak District Highland Games Champion at Matlock Farm Park on Sunday 29th August 2021. In front of a 2000 strong crowd it was the County of Yorkshire that took the title.

Daughter Millie Thornton wowing the crowd with her first competition at only 15 years old getting guidance from experienced competitors Chloe Brennan (England title holder, and Nicky Walters 3rd Wales strongest woman).



Athletes were paraded into the arena at Matlock Farm park by Manchester Phoenix bagpipe band. This year’s Peak District Highland Games, in its 5th 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 it deliver!



In the men’s competition the opening event saw two times former Peak District Highland Games champion Scott Mark Litchfield from Sheffield 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. Dave Thornton placing lowest in the first event, completely turning the tide in the rest of the competition.

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 between Dave Thornton and Scott.

After 5 events it came down to the final. Up steps 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 2nd place in the stone throw earning himself important points going into the final event. This event would be the decider for the title.

This earned Dave and Scott a joint first position. But in a dramatic turn of events in an event Scott was expected to win and take the title, Dave Thornton recorded an incredible time of 1 minute 13.67 seconds on the brutal honorary Dinnie stones he wasn’t expected to perform that well in.

Dave blanked out the pain and not only won the event earning himself 1st place in the Honorary Dinnie stone event, but also became the winner of the Peak District Highland Games 2021 on countback and setting a new Dinnie Stone record with an unbelievable time of 1 minute 13 seconds! 3 seconds clear of the existing record.



Andrew Picken and Mark Anglesea, co founders of Man Beast strongman events based in Doncaster 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 and Yorkshire now holds the Peak District Highland Games title.

It was fantastic to see both Father and daughter competing at the show on such a big stage. Dave missing out on the podium the last few years but getting better at each show – deserves all the credit in winning the title.



Final results were;

1st place Dave Thornton

2nd place Scott Mark Litchfield

3rd place Matt Cole

4 Marius Dacz

5 Jake Rideout

6 Ryan Martin

7 Ashton the Bear Reid (joint)

7 Jimmy Sharp (joint)

9 Shaun Blairs (joint)

9 Joe Bromiley (joint)

11 Scott Maw

12 Mark Thomson

13 Dave Johnson

14 Matt Jackson



PHOTOS

Selection available on request



MAN BEAST STRONGMAN – ABOUT US

We coordinate and arrange regional, opens and National strongman competitions.

We also run a strongman demo roadshow, themed roadshows with the Country’s strongest men for business, events and entertainment for a variety of public and private sector clients.

We specialise in strongman vehicle pulls and can pull over 20 tonnes of machinery for great show spectacles.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

Main Contact: Andrew Picken

Details:

[email protected]

Tel: 07887400202

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