Highland Games Highlights 2013: Highland Games Highlights 2013 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781499119725)

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; the McLeman's can be traced back for centuries. Francis's lineage 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 after being introduced to his wife Kelly at the Arnold Classic by former three times World Strongest Man and Strength Legend Bill Kazmier. Francis, later that same year, married and has two children Kamen and Blaise. From 2003 onward s for Francis, Highland Games in America continue to be a big part of his life between judging and being asked to commentate at Highland Games throughout America and the many coaching clinics.