‘Nostie’ Macleod Memorial Trophy

THIS Saturday the shinty teams from Caithness and Sutherland will meet for the fourth consecutive year to contest The Kenny ‘Nostie’ Macleod Memorial Trophy.

The popular event was inaugurated in 2012 in memory of the Reverend Kenny Macleod who had introduced the sport to young people in the Thurso area.

Sadly Kenny passed away in the spring of 2012 but his work was key in sowing a seed which has grown to an exciting fruition. Over the past three years a senior Caithness shinty team has taken shape.

The players meet to train each week at their adopted home of Viewfirth Park in Thurso and compete in matches and tournaments around Scotland.

The next step will be the club’s most ambitious to date - to join the North Division 3 shinty league for the 2016 season.

Shinty has continued to grow apace in West Sutherland where Duncan and Paula Clark and Heather Macneil have worked tirelessly over the last eight years to develop the game.

The Sutherland team will mainly comprise of players from Kinlochbervie Camanachd but will also include former players from Farr high school shinty team. The memorial match has gone from strength to strength since its inception three years ago. This Saturday’s occasion promises to be the biggest yet with a new cultural input being included in the build up to the match.

Entertainment Musicians from Feis Ghallaibh, members of the town’s pipe band and other local performers will provide entertainment from 11.30am onwards. It is also hoped that Runrig’s Calum Macdonald will be in attendance as special guest and patron of the day.

Pre-match entertainment will also be provided on the pitch with a six-a-side tournament involving Caithness, Kinlochbervie, Inverness and Kenny’s former club, Kinlochshiel. The event will take place at Viewfirth and the match itself will commence at 1.30pm.

Refreshments will be provided by members of the local scout group. Entrance is free but donations will be gratefully received for the Beatson charity. Boleskine 9 - 0 Strathspey Kilmallie P - P Inverness Unplayable field Lewis P - P Lochaber Lochaber unable to field a team, points to Lewis

Marine Harvest South Division 2 Bute P - P Col Glen Unplayable field Glenorchy P - P Aberdour Unplayable field Oban Lorn P - P Ballachulish Unplayable field