"Put it this way, my butcher loves me ... he'll be driving a Porsche soon."

Largs strongman Kurt Livens was speaking in the lead up to defending his Stroud brick throwing title - a title he has won three times in 2017, 2018 and 2019, with last year's event cancelled due to COVID.

"I go up there to win, but it's a great day family day," he said. "Wood chopping, tug of war, side shows, dancing . . . there's something for everyone."

In readiness, the Dungog High PE teacher is working hard in the gym - "I lift a lot of weights, and if I need more cardio work, I just lift them faster ... I'm no runner" - and will get a brick out to work on his technique a couple of weeks before the event.

As a renowned strongman, he has been competing for years although by his own admission, at the age of 40, he no longer eats six meals a day including "two chickens, a load of rice and some sweet potatoes" to keep the carbs up.

"No mate, those days are gone," he says. "Just meat and three veg these days. And I enjoy the occasional beer. You're not going to see a six-pack with me, although obviously I like to keep reasonably healthy.

"Lifting weights is cool, but throwing them is better.

"But the thing is, I have to train for my strength. There are guys out there who are stronger than me - they have what we call farm strength. They live that physical lifestyle on the land and are just naturally very strong.

"But if it doesn't translate to throwing a brick or whatever the challenge is we're doing, it doesn't count for much."

Livens' last strongman competition was pre-COVID - an event he took out at Newcastle Show.

In his time he has competed in multiple disciplines. It might be caber tossing, or running around a circuit with 100 kilo weights in each hand, or throwing a set weight over a bar that gets higher and higher - "just the usual strongman stuff".

The 60^th annual Stroud Brick and Rolling Pin Competition will be held at Stroud Showground on Saturday, July 10.

In the rolling pin competition, Stroud local Sarah Eggins will defend her title.

So, if you're up for a challenge, why not have a crack?

For the record, Kurt's 2019 record was 91' (28m) and Sarah's 103' 6" (31.5m).

Oh, and for what it's worth, the brick weighs just over 2 kilos, and the rolling pin 1.1 kilo.

Brick and pin throwing registration will be open from 11.30am on event day.

The day's entertainment will kick off at 10am with a street parade, with the official opening at 11am by Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie at 11am who will also throw the first brick and pin.

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