Donald Dinnie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scottish Strongman Donald Dinnie (1837–1916) born in Balnacraig, Birse, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, was a strongman widely recognized as the "The Nineteenth Century's Greatest Athlete" [1]Spanning over 50 years and over 11,000 successful competitions Dinnie's athletic career would bring him fame and fortune.
Contents |
[edit] History
The age of 16 Donald Dinnie, born to a stone mason won his very first sporting event in the nearby city of Kincardine O'Neil by defeating the local wrestling strongman David Forbes and taking first place which included £1 prize money.In the year 1860 a young Donald Dinnie created a feat of strength that was to give birth to a long lasting legacy. Supposedly he carried two enormous boulders across the entire width of the Potarch Bridge near Kincardine O'Neil, in Aberdeenshire. Each massive stone combined weighed 775-lbs and had huge iron rings were fixed to them so that scaffolds could be attached from which workmen could repair the bridge. Young Donald carried both stones together across the width of the Bridge and back, "a distance of about five yards".(www.bbc.co.uk)Matter of fact on the south bank of the River Dee by the Potarch Bridge is the 18th century Potarch Hotel. A special feature stands by the entrance, the original stones. Also within the same area is a 23" carved statuette of Donald engraved with the words "Presented to Donald Dinnie, Champion Athlete In Appreciation of his Athletic Prowess, by his Scotch Friends, In Newcastle 1870". Even a distant cousin, Gordon Dinnie, still today owns an original astrakhan breastplate that carries 19 medals won by Dinnie from 1860 – 1896.Because of these adorned features the tourist instantly gain interest of the strongman who now is forgotten, but at one time was known throughout the world.
As time passed Donald became an all-round athlete growing and building his skills spanning a 20-year reign as Scottish champion (1856-1876). He excelled in sprint, hurdles, long and high jump, pole vault, putting the stone, hammer, tossing the caber and wrestling. Comparing his best performances long before the Athens Olympics of 1896 leads one to imagine him capable of winning seven gold, a silver, and a bronze medal. Eventually the 1st modern Olympic Games of 1896 were fittingly staged in Athens where 200 athletes represented 14 countries. Scotland's Launceston Elliot won Scotland's first Olympic medal. During that period Donald Dinnie often described as "Scotland's Greatest Athlete" was fast approaching the twilight of his amazing sporting career.
Dinnie would have been considered the Jack Lalane of a twentieth century superstar: widespread fame, success, and riches. Dinnie held the title “World Champion Wrestler,” and obtained the unofficial titles of “Greatest Athlete in the World,” and “Strongest Man in the World”3 Most of his career as a boxer brought to the heights of John L. Sullivan and baseball star Mike “King” Kelley. His reputation was nothing less their equal."He was so well-known that heavy artillery shells in the first world war were nicknamed 'Donald Dinnies.'"(www.bbc.co.uk) This man brought fear into the United States. Not only did he intimidate the American strongmen, but in addition he also captured most of the world attention as well. His documented achievements in and outside the United States consisted "2,000 hammer throwing contests, over 2,000 wrestling matches, 200 weightlifting contests, and about 500 running and hurdle events. He also made a good living at all this, earning at least £25,000 in his career, a sum that would be worth about US $2.5 million today. And to this day his image continues to endorse commercial products in Scotland."(www.bbc.co.uk)
As Scotland's greatest athlete, which competed in sixteen Highland Games seasons in his native land Dinnie first toured the U.S. [[Caledonian circuit [1]]] In the year of 1870 he earned a fortune. Dinnie who was thirty-three, already Scotland's greatest athlete was adorned and worshipped in Scotland, Dinnie was titled as "The Nineteenth Century's Greatest Athlete" [2]As far as the rest of the world's opinion Dinnie was despised and criticized for his incredible strength. However, at that time Donald was in his 60th year and touring New Zealand and Australia as a successful professional athlete.
Donald continued to be involved in theatres and at Highland games as a judge or in veteran events until 1912. Earlier in 1903 "Robert Barr invited him to endorse his soft drink 'Iron Brew' using Donald's image on the label with Donald proclaiming 'I can recommend BARR's IRON BREW to all who wish to aspire to athletic fame' signed Donald Dinnie, All-round Champion Athlete of the World."(www.bbc.co.uk)later in Donald's life he struggled financially and in his 70s was still performing as a strongman in the London. His act was to support a platform made from a large table while two Highlanders danced a "fling" on it. Eventually London authorities terminated his performing licence because of his elderly age. To help with his situation a benefit concert was organised to help Dinnie. The celebrities of the day gave of to the great strongman and provide him with a small annuity. Donald and his family lived in Glasgow and self owned a fish and chip place/tea-room in the Govan area, then live for a 2-3 years in Newcastle before finally settling in London where he died in 1916 aged 78 years. In the United States The New York Times paid special tribute in the paper's obituary column. Recently an award was given on St. Andrew's Day 2000 noted Donald's induction into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in Edinburgh. Gordon Dinnie accepted a a cut glass trophy on Donald's behalf.
