Interwiev with Francis Brebner and Ryan Vierra
Ryan Vierra is a world champion Highland Games competitor. Ryan is a 5-time winner of the World Highland Games Championships, he is also an 11 time US National Champion. Ryan has set 346 Games records, 4 World records, 10 North American & American records and 6 World Championship records.
RYAN HIGHLAND GAMES SPORTING PROFILE
- World Highland Games champion ’96, ’97, ’98, ’06, 07′
- World Highland Games vice-champion ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’07
- USA National Champion ’01, ’04, ’05
PERSONAL BESTS
- 16 lbs Open Stone 59.5 ft (18.1 m)
- 17 lbs Open Stone 58.5 ft (17.8 m)
- 22 lbs Braemar Stone 47.0 ft (14.3 m)
- 26 lbs Braemar Stone 39.7 ft (12.1 m)
- 16 lbs Hammer Throw 156.5 ft (47.7 m)
- 22 lbs Hammer Throw 121.7 ft (37.1 m)
- 28 lbs for Distance 931⁄2 ft
- 56 lbs for Distance 49.21⁄2 ft
- 16 lbs Sheaf Toss 37.0 ft (11.3 m)
- 20 lbs Sheaf Toss 35.0 ft (10.7 m)
- 56 lbs Weight for Height 16.0 st.(18.0 1 sp)
- Caber Toss ( 23′ × l30lbs) 12:00×2
Francis Brebner was born and brought up in the fishing port of Peterhead in the far North East of Scotland. Francis comes from a very strong Scottish background, on his mother’s side of the family. Francis’s lineage (the McLemans) can be traced back to his 22nd generation great-grandfather Edward the Bruce, King of Ireland. Edward’s brother was the more well-known Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland.
At an early age his pursuit in competing in a competitive sport first began with the participation in long distance running which was then followed by bodybuilding, power lifting, arm wrestling, and strongman before finally taking up the sport of Highland Games as a full-time profession which lasted eighteen glorious years.
Within his first few years of competing in Highland Games, Francis broke his first world record by throwing the 56lb weight for distance which he later broke on several other occasions over a period of a decade. He also added an additional world record to his credits by throwing the 28lb weight for distance as well as thirty-five national titles in his athletic career.
He became one of the world’s top ranked professionals during his eighteen years of competing in Highland Games internationally with accomplishments that included winning the World Highland Games Championships and World Caber Tossing Championships an undisputed seven times.
Unfortunately, Francis was forced to retire from competitive professional sports in 2003 at the age of thirty seven due to a severe back injury, but this did not eliminate his passion for Highland Games in the slightest.
Francis relocated to Dana Point, Orange County in Southern California from Peterhead, Scotland in 2003, Highland Games in America continue to be a big part of his life between organizing, Commentating and judging at Highland Games throughout America and Internationally and the many coaching clinics.
FRANCIS HIGHLAND GAMES SPORTING PROFILE
- SGA World Highland Games Championship 1997
- IFSA World Games Champion 1996
- World Caber Championship ‘91,93,96,98,99,00,01
- World Record Holder 56lb weight for Distance 48ft 1”
- World Record Holder 28lb weight for Distance 94ft 1”
- British Caber Championship ‘92,93,95,96,97,98,99,00
- Scottish Caber Championship ‘92,93,94,95,96,97,98,00
- Scottish 28lb weight for Distance Championship 1997
- Scottish 56lb Weight for Distance Championship ‘93 94,96,97,98,99,00
- Scottish 56lb Weight over the Bar Championship ‘97,98
- British 28lb Weight for Distance Championship ‘01,02
- Scottish Highland Games Champion 1990
- European Highland Games Champion 1993
- World Team Challenge ‘91,92
- Tokyo Highland Games Championship ‘90,91
- Royal Braemar Games Champion 1998
- Braemar Caber Championship Presented by the Queen ‘98, 99
- North East of Scotland’s Strongest Man 1987
- North East of Scotland Arm Wrestling Champion 1987
PERSONAL BESTS
- 16LB Shot Put 54′,10″ Airth Scotland
- 22LB Shot Put 44′,11″ Forfar Scotland
- 28LB Weight 94.1” Anarundl USA – World Record
- 56LB Weight 48.1” Tomintoul Scotland – World Record
- 16LB Hammer 149′,10” Tokyo
- 22LB Hammer 115′,3″ Birnum Scotland
- 56LB Over Bar 15.6′ Wipu New Zealand