The Replica Dinnie stones
The Replica Dinnie Stones (sometimes referred to as the Rogue replica Dinnie Stones) were commissioned by Gordon Dinnie — a distant relative of Donald Dinnie — in 1998.
The weight of the replica stones is almost identical to the original Dinnie Stones at 333kg (734lbs), about 0.5kg (1lb) more. The large replica stone weighs about 187.3kg (413lbs) and the small replica stone weighs about 145.6kg (321lbs)1 2.
The large stone carries a plaque that reads:
Replicas of the Dinnie Stones
carried together across the width of the
bridge of Potarch, Aberdeenshire by the
great Scottish athlete Donald Dinnie
circa 1860
Commissioned by Gordon Dinnie 1998
Produced by Fyfe memorials Kemnay
The stones were acquired by the Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports after Gordon died. And they’re now used in the Rogue Record Breaker events at both the Arnold Sports Festival and at the Rogue Invitational. Their first appearance at the Arnold Sports Festival was in 2017.
They are on display in the Rogue Fitness HQ retail store in Columbus where athletes and fans are welcome to visit and attempt to lift them.
Although the stones are very similar to the original Dinnie Stones that sit in Potarch, they are not identical.
Differences from the original stones
As mentioned previously, the weights of the stones differ very slightly from the original stones. But there are a few more differences between the replica stones and the original stones that sit in Potarch.
The large stone’s ring is not fixed
The ring on the original large stone is fixed with a bolt. On the replicas the ring is free to rotate through the eyelet just like the small stone’s ring.
The large stone’s ring is thinner
The ring on the original large stone is thicker than on the replicas which can affect grip.
The replica stones aren’t as smooth
The replica stones are much less smooth than the original stones. Just from images you can see the far more sharp and jagged edges compared to the originals. The originals lend their smoothness to centuries of weathering.
The replica stones are shaped differently
Although the weights of the stones are as close as possible to the originals, the shapes are visibly different. The most noticable feature is the sloping on the large replica stone.
The height of the lift is slightly higher
The height of the lift is higher than the original stones by approximately 1 inch. Slightly changing the mechanics of the lift.
Location
The Replica Dinnie Stones are usually kept at the Rogue HQ retail store in Columbus Ohio when they’re not being used in competition. People are free to attempt to lift the stones inside the store on the platform3.
The location is on our map.
Records
The records (and lifts) for the replica stones are distinct from the original stones’ records. Each set of stones has their own records. Therefore, breaking a record on one set does not count as a record on the other.
There are numerous athletes that have lifted the replicas that have not lifted the original stones in Potarch. And it has been a point of confusion for some people.
Men’s hold for time
Mitchell Hooper holds the Men’s hold for time with 39.85 seconds achieved at the Rogue Record Breakers event at the Rogue Invitational in 2022. He beat the record that Kevin Faires set (37.58 seconds) earlier in the event on the same day.
Women’s hold for time
Gabi Dixon holds the Women’s hold for time record with 6.86 seconds, achieved during the Rogue Record Breakers event at the Arnold Sports Festival in 2023. Gabi beat Chloe Brennan’s famous 1.33 second hold from 2022.
Carry
Kevin Faires holds the record for the carry at 31 feet 7 inches (9.63m) set at the Rogue Record Breakers event at the Arnold Sports Festival in 2023. He beat his own record from 2022 by nearly 6 feet.
It’s important to note that the carry with the replica stones at the Rogue Record Breakers also uses different rules to the original stones’ carry. At RRB athletes are allowed a single 10 second drop of the stones.