The tranquil Scottish island of Easdale, usually known for its picturesque slate shores and tight-knit community, found itself at the center of a sporting controversy this past weekend. On September 6, 2025, the World Stone Skimming Championships—an event that has grown from a quirky local contest to a global spectacle—was rocked by a cheating scandal that led to the disqualification of several competitors. For an event that prides itself on tradition, camaraderie, and the pure joy of skipping stones across water, the revelations sent ripples far beyond the island’s 70-odd permanent residents.
The World Stone Skimming Championships, held annually on Easdale Island in the Inner Hebrides, attract hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators from around the world. This year’s event drew more than 2,200 attendees from 27 countries, all eager to test their skills in the flooded slate quarry that serves as the contest arena. The rules are simple but strict: competitors must select their own stones from the island’s naturally occurring slate, with each stone measuring no more than three inches in diameter. Each participant is allowed three skims, and the stone must bounce at least twice before sinking to be counted.
However, the spirit of fair play was tested when event organizers discovered that several contestants had doctored their stones, using machines to grind them into near-perfect circles with smooth surfaces—ideal for maximizing distance and accuracy. Some stones even featured small notches, presumably to aid grip and throwing control. The deception was uncovered thanks to vigilant volunteers and fellow competitors, who noticed the suspiciously uniform stones and raised concerns with the event’s lead official, Dr. Kyle Mathews, affectionately known as the “Toss Master.”
Mathews, a local general practitioner who has overseen the championships for years, recounted the moment the scandal came to light. “I got calls from concerned competitors. They were worried people might think that’s how things are done here,” he told The Scottish Mail on Sunday. “I contacted the individuals, who admitted their transgressions and I had to disqualify them.” He added, “To give them their credit, they deeply apologised for bringing the sport into disrepute and accepted disqualification and we accept that’s the end of the matter.”
The rules of the competition are explicit: “Competitors must use naturally formed Easdale slate,” as stated by the World Stone Skimming Championships (WSSC) organizers in an official statement. “The competitors in question have been contacted, they have admitted their transgression and have been disqualified from this year’s championships.” The WSSC further emphasized that if future instances of stone doctoring are detected, they will have “no hesitation in disqualifying the competitors in question, and we will be forced to insist all skimmers use stones pre-selected by the WSSC organisers.”
The disqualifications sent shockwaves through the tight community of skimmers, many of whom view the event as a celebration of both skill and the natural beauty of Easdale’s unique geology. Selecting one’s own stone from the island’s slate is considered one of the competition’s highlights, a ritual that links the modern contest to childhood memories and the island’s storied slate-mining past. Easdale, once a bustling hub of Scotland’s slate industry in the 18th and 19th centuries, now uses its abundant flat stones for sport rather than construction. The event itself is staged in a former slate quarry, flooded by a tidal wave in 1881, which has since become the perfect arena for world-class stone skimming.
The championships feature seven categories, ranging from children to the humorously named “Old Tossers” for competitors aged 60 and above. The event is run entirely by volunteers, with all proceeds supporting local community projects and charities. Last year’s contest raised £15,000, demonstrating the event’s significance not just as a sporting challenge, but as a vital fundraiser for the island’s small community.
The 2025 edition of the championships will also be remembered for a historic sporting achievement. Jonathan Jennings, hailing from Kentucky, USA, became the first American to win the overall title, skimming his stones a cumulative distance of 177 meters. His victory was celebrated by attendees and marked a new chapter in the contest’s international appeal. Lucy Woods, meanwhile, continued her dominance in the adult female category, claiming her sixth title. The championships’ inclusive spirit was further reflected in the diverse field of competitors, with participants representing nearly thirty countries and every age group.
Despite the cloud of controversy, the event’s organizers and community leaders were quick to reaffirm their commitment to fair play and transparency. Dr. Mathews, speaking to BBC News, acknowledged the lessons learned from the incident and expressed hope for a stronger, more resilient competition in the future. “There was a little bit of stone doctoring,” he admitted. “They had shaped it so that it was perfectly circular and fitted our three inch measurer. The problem was we didn’t just notice at the time that they were suspiciously circular.” He emphasized that the offenders had “held their hands up” and apologized, allowing the event to “move on to an even greater event next year.”
Organizers are now considering changes to the rules for future competitions. If cheating persists, they may require all skimmers to use pre-approved stones supplied by the WSSC, rather than allowing participants to choose their own. While this would mark a significant departure from tradition, many believe it is a necessary step to preserve the integrity of the contest. “Selecting your own skimming stones before the event is one of the highlights of the competition that many competitors enjoy,” the WSSC noted in a statement. “But if we are aware of future stone doctoring, we will again have no hesitation in disqualifying the competitors in question.”
For the islanders of Easdale and the global community of stone skimmers, this year’s scandal serves as a reminder that even the most lighthearted of competitions are not immune to the pressures of winning. Yet, the swift and decisive action taken by organizers, combined with the heartfelt apologies of those involved, suggests that the spirit of fair play remains alive and well on this tiny Scottish isle. With new champions crowned and lessons learned, all eyes now turn to next year’s event—and the hope that the only things making waves will be the stones themselves.
