Wales
Added by JakeE
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| Regions | Array ( [0] => Array ( [region_id] => 61 [approval_status] => approved [region_name] => Wrexham County Borough [region_slug] => wrexham-county-borough [parent_region_ids] => [60] [nested_region_ids] => [61] [latitude] => [longitude] => [created_at] => 2025-06-30 [creator] => Array ( [created_by_id] => 1 [display_name] => JakeE [profile_image] => JakeE_682e0fa94e841.jpg ) [images] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [stone_id] => 88 [stone_name] => The Stone beyond the Wall [image_id] => 87 [image_src] => TheStonebeyondtheWall_6863018d43352.jpg [created_by_id] => 1 ) ) [parent_region] => Array ( [parent_region_id] => 60 [parent_region_name] => Wales ) [region] => Array ( [region_id] => 61 [region_name] => Wrexham County Borough [region_slug] => wrexham-county-borough [description] => ) ) [1] => Array ( [region_id] => 60 [approval_status] => approved [region_name] => Wales [region_slug] => wales [parent_region_ids] => [] [nested_region_ids] => [60,61] [latitude] => [longitude] => [created_at] => 2025-06-30 [creator] => Array ( [created_by_id] => 1 [display_name] => JakeE [profile_image] => JakeE_682e0fa94e841.jpg ) [images] => Array ( ) [parent_region] => Array ( [parent_region_id] => 0 [parent_region_name] => ) [region] => Array ( [region_id] => 60 [region_name] => Wales [region_slug] => wales [description] => One of the most famous Welsh lifting stones is the <a href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/Stonelifting/comments/1jzn5pi/the_criccieth_stone_1775kg391lb_91kg/\" target=\"blank\">Criccieth Stone</a> (Y Garreg Orchest). This impressive, egg-shaped stone weighs about 177.5kg (around 391 lbs) and has even been said to have inspired former UK Prime Minister David Lloyd George! Historically, these \"feat stones\" were used as a rite of passage for young men, proving their strength by lifting the stone to their waist or shoulder-high. There\'s an annual event at <a href=\"https://www.cricciethmemorialhall.com/\" target=\"blank\">Criccieth Memorial Hall</a> where lifters can still try their hand at this challenge, and you can even arrange to attempt it with the caretaker. While many have managed to clear the ground, getting it to shoulder height is a rare feat!\r\n\r\nThere are other traditional stones scattered across Wales, though many have been lost or forgotten over time. Researchers are actively trying to uncover and revive these ancient customs, finding stones in churchyards and remote locations that were once part of local strength tests.\r\n\r\nYou\'ll find events like \"<a href=\"https://strengthregister.com/competition/wales-strongest-women-2025\" target=\"blank\">Wales\' Strongest Woman</a>\" or \"<a href=\"https://strengthregister.com/competition/caerphillys-strongest-2025\" target=\"blank\">Caerphilly\'s Strongest</a>\" that often incorporate natural stones into their challenges, like the \"<a href=\"https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dragon-stones\" target=\"blank\">Dragon Stones</a>\" or \"Husafell sandbag carries.\" Gyms like <a href=\"https://g.co/kgs/JMFvt6F\" target=\"blank\">Strength Academy Wales</a> are key hubs, not just for competitive weightlifting and powerlifting, but also fostering strength development across all ages and abilities, often including strongman elements. ) ) ) |
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| Region | Array ( [region_id] => 60 [approval_status] => approved [region_name] => Wales [region_slug] => wales [parent_region_ids] => [] [nested_region_ids] => [60,61] [latitude] => [longitude] => [created_at] => 2025-06-30 [creator] => Array ( [created_by_id] => 1 [display_name] => JakeE [profile_image] => JakeE_682e0fa94e841.jpg ) [images] => Array ( ) [parent_region] => Array ( [parent_region_id] => 0 [parent_region_name] => ) [region] => Array ( [region_id] => 60 [region_name] => Wales [region_slug] => wales [description] => One of the most famous Welsh lifting stones is the <a href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/Stonelifting/comments/1jzn5pi/the_criccieth_stone_1775kg391lb_91kg/\" target=\"blank\">Criccieth Stone</a> (Y Garreg Orchest). This impressive, egg-shaped stone weighs about 177.5kg (around 391 lbs) and has even been said to have inspired former UK Prime Minister David Lloyd George! Historically, these \"feat stones\" were used as a rite of passage for young men, proving their strength by lifting the stone to their waist or shoulder-high. There\'s an annual event at <a href=\"https://www.cricciethmemorialhall.com/\" target=\"blank\">Criccieth Memorial Hall</a> where lifters can still try their hand at this challenge, and you can even arrange to attempt it with the caretaker. While many have managed to clear the ground, getting it to shoulder height is a rare feat!\r\n\r\nThere are other traditional stones scattered across Wales, though many have been lost or forgotten over time. Researchers are actively trying to uncover and revive these ancient customs, finding stones in churchyards and remote locations that were once part of local strength tests.\r\n\r\nYou\'ll find events like \"<a href=\"https://strengthregister.com/competition/wales-strongest-women-2025\" target=\"blank\">Wales\' Strongest Woman</a>\" or \"<a href=\"https://strengthregister.com/competition/caerphillys-strongest-2025\" target=\"blank\">Caerphilly\'s Strongest</a>\" that often incorporate natural stones into their challenges, like the \"<a href=\"https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dragon-stones\" target=\"blank\">Dragon Stones</a>\" or \"Husafell sandbag carries.\" Gyms like <a href=\"https://g.co/kgs/JMFvt6F\" target=\"blank\">Strength Academy Wales</a> are key hubs, not just for competitive weightlifting and powerlifting, but also fostering strength development across all ages and abilities, often including strongman elements. ) ) |
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| Stone | Array ( [approval_status] => approved [creator] => Array ( [created_by_id] => 1 [display_name] => JakeE [profile_image] => JakeE_682e0fa94e841.jpg ) [images] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [stone_id] => 88 [stone_name] => The Stone beyond the Wall [image_id] => 87 [image_src] => TheStonebeyondtheWall_6863018d43352.jpg [created_at] => 2025-06-30 [created_by_id] => 1 [description] => [display_name] => JakeE [profile_image] => JakeE_682e0fa94e841.jpg ) ) [region] => Array ( [region_id] => 61 [region_name] => Wrexham County Borough ) [stone] => Array ( [stone_id] => 88 [stone_name] => The Stone beyond the Wall [description] => Lift and place the stone up and into the wall. This stone was originally found by Paul Thorpe and is part of his \'<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/p/Welsh-Stones-of-Strength-100069301329638/\" target=\"blank\">Welsh Stones of Strength</a>\' collection. [latitude] => 53.07441952 [longitude] => -3.03139143 [weight] => 324 [difficulty_scale] => 0 [rating] => [founder] => [created_at] => 2025-06-30 ) [user_interactions] => Array ( ) ) |
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One of the most famous Welsh lifting stones is the Criccieth Stone (Y Garreg Orchest). This impressive, egg-shaped stone weighs about 177.5kg (around 391 lbs) and has even been said to have inspired former UK Prime Minister David Lloyd George! Historically, these "feat stones" were used as a rite of passage for young men, proving their strength by lifting the stone to their waist or shoulder-high. There's an annual event at Criccieth Memorial Hall where lifters can still try their hand at this challenge, and you can even arrange to attempt it with the caretaker. While many have managed to clear the ground, getting it to shoulder height is a rare feat!
There are other traditional stones scattered across Wales, though many have been lost or forgotten over time. Researchers are actively trying to uncover and revive these ancient customs, finding stones in churchyards and remote locations that were once part of local strength tests.
You'll find events like "Wales' Strongest Woman" or "Caerphilly's Strongest" that often incorporate natural stones into their challenges, like the "Dragon Stones" or "Husafell sandbag carries." Gyms like Strength Academy Wales are key hubs, not just for competitive weightlifting and powerlifting, but also fostering strength development across all ages and abilities, often including strongman elements.
