I didn’t include this in my earlier post on George, but as an example of George’s abilities and reputation and how he was revered back in the day, I thought it was a nice wrap up.
Note : Four firsts and four second place.
The massive Braemar caber, 19ft 3in in length and weighing 120lb, has just been tossed by a 44-year-old games veteran. They ought not to have been too goggle eyed, however, for the athlete in question was none other than the legendary George Clark of Grange, near Keith. To prove it was no fluke, big Clark tossed it another twice.
For this prodigious demonstration of strength and skill, he received special congratulations from the King and Queen, and from the organising committee a £10 award. Years later, the feat earned the stalwart Clark a mention in the Guinness Book of Records.
To put it into perspective, at the time few could lift let alone toss this particular caber, which was kept soaking in water all the year round to retain its heft. That day, he failed twice to toss the object, and while drawing his breath for a third attempt a pressman approached and said: "What’s wrong George? Can’t you do it?" "Na, na, man" quipped Clark, "I hiv to gie them a show". And up and away went the caber.
The hero of the afternoon’s athletics was again George Clark. The Press & Journal described some of his heroics thus. “George Clark, the well-known Scottish athlete, a mighty figure of a man in the kilt, and winner of the caber tossing competition was presented to their majesties. The King observed that he had seen Clark often at Braemar and was informed by the athlete that he had been performing there for 25 years. It was announced by loudspeaker that Clark would attempt to throw the famous Braemar heavy caber which has never yet been thrown. It measures 21 feet and is of corresponding weight. With the royal party standing by, Clark had two attempts. Each time the caber almost reached the perpendicular but fell back in the wrong direction, the sympathetic groans of the crowd telling that the caber has yet to be successfully tossed.”
16lb Ball: J Hunter 41′ 3″; 2. G Clark; 3. A Stewart
28lb Weight: 1. G Clark 67′ 9″; 2. A Merchant; 3. H Fraser
56lb Weight: 1. G Clark 35′ 2″; 2. H Fraser; 3. J Hunter
Heavy Stone: 1. 1. J Hunter 30′ 7″; 2. G Clark; 3. A Stewart
16lb Hammer: 1. LK Stewart 121′ 10″; 2. G Clark; 3. J Fraser
22lb Hammer: 1. LK Stewart 2. G Clark; 3. J Fraser
Tossing the Caber: 1. G Clark; 2. J Hunter and S Anderson (equal)
Wrestling Cumberland Style: 1. G Clark; 2. J Hunter; 3. R Shaw (1950 Braemar)