A CHEATING scandal has engulfed the World Stone Skimming Championships as several competitors were disqualified from this year’s contest.
The championships are held every year in the tiny island of Easdale in the Inner Hebrides, which has a population of just 60.
But the 2025 competition has been rocked by scandal after it emerged that several participants had used “doctored stones” to make them more efficient at skimming.
The rules stipulate that only “naturally formed” slate from the island can be used and have to be less than three inches in diameter.
But several competitors, when the event got underway on September 6, complained that several were using stones that had been altered – using machines to grind them down to have near-perfect circumferences, for example.
All of those involved admitted to breaking the rules and were then banned.
In a statement, the World Stone Skimming Championships (WSSC) said: "It is with great regret that we announce that the WSSC organisers have become aware of doctored stones being used by several competitors at this year's championships.
"Our rules clearly state 'competitors must use naturally formed Easdale slate'.
"The competitors in question have been contacted, they have admitted their transgression and have been disqualified from this year's championships.
"We would like to thank all those competitors and volunteers who brought their concerns to our attention.
"The integrity of the WSSC is of the utmost importance. We have no hesitation to act when this comes into question.
"Selecting your own skimming stones before the event is one of the highlights of the competition that many competitors enjoy.
"If we are aware of future stone doctoring we will again 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 matter is now considered closed."
The contest started on the island in 1983 and has grown into an annual event.
Professional skimmer Jonathan Jennings from Kentucky was the overall winner this year, while Lucy Wood from London took the women's title.
