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Finnish man living in New Zealand takes part in heavies at Forres Highland Games while on honeymoon in Scotland


By Jonathan Clark

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A FINNISH man who lives in New Zealand took part in Forres Highland Games while on his honeymoon.

Kalle Välimäki made his Games debut, taking part in the shot put, caber toss, weight for distance and weight for height – having never previously competed in any of the events.

Kalle Välimäki competes in the heavyweight events...Forres Highland Games 2022...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Kalle Välimäki competes in the heavyweight events...Forres Highland Games 2022...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Kalle, who has played rugby for the Finnish national team, was signed up for the Games by his wife, Emma Välimäki Petersen.

The pair, who live on Banks Peninsula, near Christchurch, married in New Zealand but had a second wedding in Finland to allow Kalle's family from the glass-making town of Iittala, 75 miles north of Helsinki, to attend.

And where better for them to head on their second honeymoon than the north of Scotland?

"We were tossing up places to go for our honeymoon and we came up with the usual, like Paris and all the romantic places," Kalle said.

"But we have travelled quite a bit, me and my wife, so we thought 'let's go somewhere different'.

"We both wanted to go to Scotland, especially as Emma is a quarter Scottish."

After two nights in Edinburgh, the pair came north – staying in Cardhu and getting a tour of Glenlivet Distillery.

Kalle Välimäki competes in the heavyweight events...Forres Highland Games 2022...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Kalle Välimäki competes in the heavyweight events...Forres Highland Games 2022...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

On how competing in the Games came about, he added: "I'm always lifting weights, doing training for rugby, where I play as a prop.

"So Emma said she was going to sign me up for the Highland Games.

"She found the one in Forres and we were going through to Inverness later that day so it was ideal.

"My dad used to be a strongman and held the Finnish dead lifting record in the 80s.

"I have been focusing on rugby but always wanted to try this and the Highland Games is a good place to start."

Kalle Välimäki competes in the 'Weight for Distance' heavyweight event...Forres Highland Games 2022...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Kalle Välimäki competes in the 'Weight for Distance' heavyweight event...Forres Highland Games 2022...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Understandably, given he was travelling on his honeymoon, Kalle didn't exactly come prepared for competition.

However, long-standing Forres Highland Games secretary Mike Scott came to the rescue.

"All the other guys had spiked shoes and I just had sneakers on," he laughed.

"So I messaged Mike Scott, who sourced me my beautiful kilt, and my socks and shoes as well."

Kalle, picked up an award on the day – the Vienenburg/Forres 30th Anniversary Trophy for Best Overseas Athlete, Piper or Heavy.

On his favourite event, he added: "I didn't come last in shot put so that was best!

"My father was a shot putter so we trained the technique at home and that went pretty well."

Kalle Välimäki competing in the shot put event at the Forres Highland Games. Picture: Beth Taylor
Kalle Välimäki competing in the shot put event at the Forres Highland Games. Picture: Beth Taylor


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