It may sound like the least contentious sport in which to compete.
But after a cheating scandal last year, organisers of the 2026 World Stone Skimming Championships (WSSC) have had to bring in reinforcements.
An expert geologist will be on site at this year’s event, held on the tiny Hebridean island of Easdale, to ensure no stones have been tampered with.
The rules state that only naturally formed island slate can be used.
But some players last year were said to have ground down the stones to achieve near- perfect circular circumferences, ideal sizes and smooth surfaces.
Some were alleged to have created a ‘notch’ in the stones, which is believed to aid throwing.
The unusual stones were spotted by other entrants and volunteers helping to run the event, leading to the players being quizzed by organisers.
Kyle Matthews, the official ‘Tossmaster’ in charge of the competition, has now hired a rock expert in the hope of avoiding a repeat of last year’s ‘skimgate scandal’.
A competitor launches a stone during the annual stone skimming championships on Easdale
The event attracts hundreds of competitors from across the world
Strict rules see the width of stones checked with a gauge
He told the Mail: ‘The rules of the event state that all stones used must be naturally formed Easdale slate, therefore we felt what better way to make sure this is the case than having an expert geologist on hand to verify any suspicious stones.’
Local GP Dr Matthews was forced to disqualify certain individuals last year after they admitted doctoring their stones.
But he said at the time that they ‘deeply apologised for bringing the sport into disrepute’. Jon Jennings of Kentucky was the 2025 overall winner, while Lucy Woods won the adult female category for the sixth time, with the event attracting 400 competitors and some 2,000 spectators.
But following increased publicity surrounding last year’s event, organisers are expecting up to 3,000 spectators in September, with the WSSC, which was first held in 1997, worth up to £300,000 to the local economy.
Easdale had a population of 500 at the height of its slate-mining industry. But now it is just 61.
