Perthshire’s stone skimming king has been honoured by world record adjudicators at Guinness.
Dougie Isaacs smashed his own record this summer with an “unbeatable” 400ft skim – the equivalent of six-and-a-half double-decker buses.
The 43-year-old, from Blairgowrie, achieved the amazing feat at the world skimming competition in Wales.
Two years ago, he set the record at 351 ft.
This summer’s contest at Llandwrtyd Wells, Powys, took place under strict conditions, with measurements taken by an independent surveyor using lasers. Guinness has now officially declared Mr Isaac’s skim a world beater.
He was honoured by the organisation at a ceremony in the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Isaacs was congratulated by stalwart chief judge, and organiser of the World Stone Skimming Championships (WSSC) at Easdale Island in Argyll, Donald Melville.
“I’m delighted to see this award go to someone as dedicated and skilled as Dougie,” he said.
“In the last 14 years, he has won the world event an incredible eight times, something no one else has come close to doing.
“He had a run of four years in a row when he seemed unstoppable, again an amazing feat.
“The WSSC organising committee is thrilled to hear of Dougie’s achievement.”
Event organiser Paul Crabtree, who saw the record skim, said: “It just went on and on for about nine seconds.
“Knowing most of the top names on the stone skimming circuit, I can’t see this particular record being beaten for many, many years – if ever.”
He said: “By comparison, Dougie threw some 17m longer than the pitch at Hampden Park, or three-and-a-half Boeing 737’s parked nose-to-tail. Amazing to witness.”
Mr Isaacs, who was taught the art of skimming at the age of five by his grandfather, said he was “delighted” to be recognised.
SNP MP Mike Russell congratulated Mr Isaacs, saying: “Easdale Island’s recognition as the home of the sport and their close links with this Guinness World Record is a great accolade and a boost to the whole of Argyll.”
