North Highlands Summer 2023

A mere quarter of a second decided the entire podium in the 2x2x2 Cube final, delivering the most dramatic finish of the weekend in Wick. Bella Campbell took top honours with a blistering 2.70-second average, holding off Billie Hammill at 2.94 seconds and Oscar Bickmore at 2.95 seconds. Just one-hundredth of a second separated silver from bronze, proving how unforgiving high-level speedcubing can be when a single turn defines the standings. The contest set the tone for an action-packed weekend of competitive solving at Wick Youth Club.

The gathering in Wick, Highland, United Kingdom ran across July 29 to July 30, bringing together 45 competitors across 12 distinct events and 22 rounds. Organised as an official WCA competition, North Highlands Summer 2023 drew solvers from multiple nations to the north of Scotland. Across two full days, the venue hosted intense rounds of classic speed cubing alongside niche events, testing dexterity, strategy, and mental endurance on every scale from small twisty puzzles to massive multicube challenges.

Billie Hammill emerged as the most dominant competitor of the entire weekend, securing six championship titles across varied disciplines. Hammill claimed victory in the marquee 3x3x3 Cube event, posting an impressive 9.82 winning average and logging the best single solve of the competition at 8.63 seconds. In that blue-ribbon contest, Bella Campbell secured second place with a 10.30 average, while Niall Mackintosh claimed third in 10.74, wrapping up a stellar display of 3x3 results from the home field.

Hammill extended that winning form deep into the big cubes and side events. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Hammill took first place with a 36.59 average ahead of Sam Shaw at 39.74 and Bella Campbell at 43.41. The 5x5x5 Cube final saw another gold for Hammill with a 1:13.30 average, again leading Campbell on 1:18.42 and Shaw on 1:18.84. Hammill also took top spots in 3x3x3 One-Handed with 17.74, Megaminx with 1:01.85, and Square-1 with a rapid 10.74 average to cap a remarkable performance.

Away from the top steps, North Highlands Summer 2023 offered huge milestones for competitors pushing their own limits. Archie Crone delivered a monumental leap in Skewb, setting a personal best of 6.28 seconds to shave 47.8 percent off their previous mark. Kacper Borkowski chopped 42.5 percent from their 2x2x2 Cube best with a new 10.48 mark. Jamie Little found tremendous speed in Pyraminx, cutting their best to 10.71 seconds for a 39.4 percent drop, while Leopold Honig lowered their 3x3x3 One-Handed benchmark to 26.36 seconds, an improvement of 38.5 percent.

The spirit of discovery ran deep through the field as competitors expanded into unfamiliar events. Angelina Khemlani tackled 10 disciplines across the weekend, including a debut in the 6x6x6 Cube that ended with a 3:40.03 mark. Marcel Borkowski took on eight events and logged a first Megaminx attempt of 2:38.11. David Cararus registered eight events as well, logging initial competition marks in One-Handed, Clock, and 5x5x5 Cube. Meanwhile, Magnus Miłosz Birecki improved across three different puzzles, lowering their Skewb best by 39.5 percent to 5.49 seconds.

Specialist events also produced thrilling battles across both days of North Highlands Summer 2023. Sam Shaw captured the Clock title in commanding style, recording a winning average of 4.81 seconds with a best single of 4.44, clear of Jasmine Eastwood on 7.94 and Calum Caruana on 9.18. Blue James handled the Pyraminx field with a 4.11 average, while Ruben McEwan took the Skewb crown with an average of 4.46 seconds. Each event brought distinct tactical challenges to the tournament tables.

International competitors also made their presence felt in Wick. Nevins Chan Pak Hoong earned double gold, taking first place in the 6x6x6 Cube with a 2:14.29 average and securing victory in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 1:22.34 single solve. In the One-Handed event, Australia’s Hazel Hughes claimed second place on 19.87. Overall, United Kingdom competitors earned 32 podium places, with Malaysia claiming two, Australia taking one, and Germany securing one.

The 2023 edition highlighted the depth and enthusiasm of the Scottish cubing community as newcomers shared the stage with seasoned Rubik's Cube solvers. From first-time entrants completing their maiden rounds to veterans battling for podium margins decided by hundredths of a second, this cubing competition provided memorable moments across every event on the schedule. With 12 events successfully concluded, the Highland speedcubing circuit leaves Wick with raised standards and a vibrant benchmark for the seasons ahead.