Fifty-nine Camanachd Cup finals in a row for Duncan
Duncan remembers Camanachd Cup finals in the early 1960s when an outstanding Oban Celtic featured prominently
DUNCAN Henderson was 17 years old and fresh out of Dunoon Grammar School when he attended his first Camanachd Cup Final.
That was back in 1959, and he hasn’t missed a single final tie in shinty’s blue riband cup competition since that time. That’s 59 finals in a row.
Duncan, now living at Inverawe, Taynuilt, with wife, Cathie, recalled his first trip to the big match: ‘ We were living in Lochgoilhead, and I remember walking to the top of the Rest to catch the bus for Glasgow, where the game was being played.’
That first final saw Newtonmore trounce Kyles Athletic 7-3, with Kyles legend, Celly Paterson, in goal that day.
Duncan clearly remembers Camanachd finals in the early 1960s, when an outstanding Oban Celtic featured prominently. ‘That team could match any of them,’ said Duncan. ‘I remember the 1960 game, when Oban Celtic played Newtonmore, who were the holders. Celtic rose to the occasion that day and won the cup.’
No mean shinty player himself, Duncan was a strong defender who played with Strachur, Inveraray, and was a founder member of Taynuilt Shinty Club.
His spectating record includes not just finals, but replays too, and Duncan recalls two finals that ended 3-3 and went to a replay - as the rules dictated at the time.
Kyles won in Oban after a replay in 1968 versus Kingussie, but the Kyles men ended on the losing side seven years later, beaten in a replay by Newtonmore at the Dell, Kingussie.
A career of 33 years’ service with the Forestry Commission helped with his remarkable attendance record, as Duncan said: ‘I was very fortunate that I was in the kind of job that allowed me to go to finals.
‘Not everyone could get time off to travel away to places like Inverness and Kingussie.’
As for the best game he’s witnessed?
‘People speak fondly about the old teams, but I honestly think that the final in 2012 between Kyles and Inveraray in Oban would take a bit of beating,’ he said.
‘The match ended 6-5 to Kyles, but it could have gone either way and it was a really good game.’
The September 19 victory by Lovat over Kyles was Duncan’s 59th final since 1959 (including replays) - a record all the more remarkable when you consider that he has seen the majority of the Camanachd Cup Finals ever played. In fact, he’s only missed 53 since the competition began back in 1896.
But you can bet your shinty boots that if Duncan Henderson was around back in the early years, he would have been there.
Here’s to final 60 next year.