Another successful shinty season draws to a close

SKYE Camanachd Ladies were crowned Marine Harvest National Division 1 champions and the men’s fixtures for the season drew to a close following the shinty action on Saturday November 11.

Marine Harvest North Division 1 Kinlochshiel P Beauly P

The match between the Kinlochshiel second team and the Beauly second team was postponed on Saturday morning as ’Shiel’s Kirkton pitch was waterlogged.

This had been billed as potentially a final competitive match on the Kirkton pitch for Kinlochshiel, who hope to move to their new Balmacara ground for the start of next season.

In the end, the sides agreed to a share of the points.

Marine Harvest South Division 1 Kilmory P

Bute P

The game between Kilmory and Bute was postponed as MacRae Park was unplayable

The teams agreed to share the points.

With Kilmory also sharing the points from their final league matches away to the Kyles Athletic second team and at home to Lochside Rovers, they finished third in the division, a point ahead of fourth placed Bute.

Bute were deducted eight points at the start of the season following their late request to drop down from the Marine Harvest National Division. However, even with the addition of these eight points, they would still have finished behind champions Lochside Rovers.

Marine Harvest North Division 2 Kilmallie P Inverness P

The meeting between the Kilmallie colts and the Inverness colts was postponed as The Canal Parks was unplayable.

After failing to play their home and away league fixtures over the last three weekends, the clubs agreed to share the points from the two matches.

WCA Round Up

Skye Camanachd were confirmed as Marine Harvest National Division 1 winners for the second successive season.

Marine Harvest National Division 1 Skye Camanachd W/O v Lochaber

Skye Camanachd were given a walk-over when Lochaber were unable to raise a team for their title-decider at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday November 11.

The match was originally scheduled for Saturday November 4 but Lochaber requested a postponement so their squad could attend the funeral in Fort William that same day of former Lochaber U14 player Kyle Bruce.

However, the Spean Bridge side, who needed to win the match to force a title play-off, were unable to fulfil the rescheduled fixture.

Skye had won both previous meetings between the sides this season; 5-0 in the league at Spean Bridge and 6-1 in the Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Cup Final at An Aird.

Marine Harvest Business Support manager Steve Bracken travelled to Portree last weekend to present Skye captain Lorna MacRae, recently named Marine Harvest national player of the year, with the league trophy at a specially arranged event.

This was Skye’s second successive title success and Head Coach Robbie Gordon said: ‘We’re delighted to win the league again this season. The girls have worked so hard this year and they deserve the success.

‘Although we won the league in 2016, there was disappointment that we failed to lift the Valerie Fraser Cup that year but the squad used that disappointment to bounce back this year and win both the league and cup.’

Robbie, 2017 Marine Harvest manager of the year, who has been persuaded to stay in post for at least another season, agreed that there was more to come from his side.

‘We have around 30 school-age players attending shinty sessions at Portree High School each week and some of them have already gained valuable experience playing for our development side, which will continue next year.

‘We are also seriously looking into the possibility of introducing a reserve side into Marine Harvest North Division 2 next season.

‘It would be a big step for the club – both in terms of commitment and cost – but the interest is there so we’ll do all we can to let the players develop.

‘Don’t forget we also have a relatively young first team pool of 16 players so there is no reason why this can’t be the beginning of a very successful period for Skye Camanachd Ladies.’

Brian Davis, shinty referee

SHINTY lost one of its refereeing stalwarts when Brian Davies passed away on Friday November 10.

Brian Davis was a much-respected match official who took up refereeing in the 1980s. At that time, Ballachulish were playing their home games in Kinlochleven, where Brian lived, as the famous Jubilee Park was under reconstruction.

Brian – an excellent football referee – was a regular spectator at Ballachulish matches and the late Willie MacDonald, Ballachulish, a patron of the Camanachd Association, who was also a member of both the Camanachd Association’s Disciplinary Committee and the Camanachd Referees’ Association for many years, approached him to see if he would be interested in refereeing shinty matches.

Willie MacDonald’s son, Camanachd Association Director Willie MacDonald, takes up the story: ‘My father approached Brian about refereeing shinty matches at work in the BA factory as they were looking for shinty referees at the time.

‘Brian asked my dad for a rule book and accepted the challenge soon after.

‘He turned out to be a top class official for someone that never played the game.’

The highlights of Brian’s shinty refereeing career came in both 1986 and in 1993 when he was the man in the middle for two Camanachd Cup finals.

The 1986 final was between Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd in Glasgow when ’More won 5-1 and Brian returned to the big stage seven years later when Kingussie defeated Oban Camanachd 4-0 in Fort William.

After hanging up his whistle, Brian joined Willie Cameron as goal judges for Grade 1 referee Graham Cameron, accompanying him at games across the country when they were always ready for shinty chat, before, after and indeed sometimes during matches.

In a message to the Camanachd Association, Brian’s daughter Claire said: ‘It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I write this.

‘My dad Brian Davies passed

away peacefully after his long battle with cancer. Shinty has been my dad’s life for the last 35-plus years; travelling up and down the country, refereeing and enjoying many drams with the boys.

‘I remember attending the first Camanachd Cup game with him in 1986 when he was referee – what a proud moment that was for my dad and his family.

‘Latterly, when he was too ill to referee, he wouldn’t give up; he still attended every game as a goal judge until it became too much.

‘He was a fighter until the end. I would like to thank the shinty family for giving us so many happy memories - you will always be in our hearts. Thank you from all his family.’

Camanachd Association president-elect Keith Loades added his condolences: ‘I’m sad to hear this news as will Brian’s many, many friends in the shinty world.’

Lochaber begins managers search

Lochaber are on the hunt for new first and second team managers. The first team manager will take over from Ally Ferguson, who led the team to Marine Harvest Premiership safety last season. The Lochaber second team play in Marine Harvest North Division 2 and were managed by John Fraser. Any interested parties should contact Lochaber chairman Michael Oliver or club secretary Dawn Callison. Lochaber’s annual general meeting takes place at the Bridge Café, Spean Bridge on Friday December 1 with a 7.30pm start.

John Robertson honoured

Kingussie stalwart John Robertson was honoured at the Sportscotland awards evening in

Stirling on Wednesday November v 8. He was the recipient of the National Volunteer of the Year Award having recently won the Highland Volunteer of the Year accolade. He was selected for the national honour, beating competition from a host of other sports. John has been a committee member with Kingussie since he stopped playing around 20 years ago. Included in his many achievements over the years are the new developments which have taken place at The Dell; with the introduction of a café, toilet facilities, improved car parking and a stand area.

John was also the catalyst for a book of photographs, marking the history of the club.

Emma Gordon collects award

Skye Camanachd’s Emma Gordon collected the Young

Volunteer of the Year award at the High Life Highland Coaching Awards in Dingwall.

Emma Gordon, a regular in the Skye Camanachd Ladies’ side and a Scottish international, volunteers with Active Schools, running after-school girls’ shinty sessions, as well as games at primary 1-3 age level.

Lochside Rovers trophy presentation

Lochside Rovers will be presented with the Marine Harvest South Division 1 trophy immediately following Oban Camanachd’s inaugural end of season sixes which take place at Mossfield on Saturday November 18.

Lochside’s final match of the season against Kilmory had been scheduled for Saturday November 25 but, with a number of recent postponements

because of unplayable pitches, the clubs have agreed to share the points.

Lochside add the Marine Harvest South Division 1 title to the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup won earlier in the season, rounding off a terrific season for Gareth Evans’ side.

The red and blacks are running an end-of-season sixes tournament which is a fun day for all associated with the club. There are still some places available and anyone interested should contact Gareth Evans or Aidan MacIntyre.

The teams entered so far are: Islay from: Andrew MacCuish (captain), David MacCuish, Daniel MacCuish, Hannah MacDonald, Lorne Robertson, Johnny Will, Brian Logan, Brian Logan (junior), Euan Logan;

Coll from: Scott MacMillan (captain), Evan MacLellan, Gareth Evans, Jordan Kerr, Lennon Campbell, Johnny Campbell, Ross Campbell, Duncan Gibson, Josh Rippon;

Colonsay from: Gavin Stobbart (captain), Malcolm Clark, Malcolm Kerr, Callum Kirsop, Willie Neilson, David Devine, Chris Eccleston, Ruaridh Horne, Kieran Lopez;

Jura from: Lorne Dickie (captain), Steven Sloss, Daniel Sloss, Stephen Campbell, Drew Walker, Brian MacCallum, Lennon MacKechnie, Dougie MacDonald;

Mull from: Daniel Cameron (captain), Cameron Sutherland, Craig MacDougall, Alec MacVicar, Iain Hay, Craig Easton, George Easton, Murray McKay;

Tiree from: Michael MacQueen (captain), Daniel MacVicar, Alison MacVicar, David MacMillan, Innes MacMillan, Diarmid MacMillan, Andrew Pearson, Kieran Pearson;

Iona from: Gary McKerracher (captain), Iain MacMillan, Neil MacFarlane, Scott Robertson, Ian Campbell, Gregor MacDonald, Lewis Buchanan, Scott Buchanan;

Barra from: Garry Lord (captain), Keith Burnett, Fraser Inglis, Robert Alexander, Ryan Barkley, Innes Jackson, Gavin Blainey, Duncan Blainey. The action starts a 1.30pm. After the tournament, and Marine Harvest South Division 1 trophy presentation, the club’s player of the year awards will take place at an end of season buffet and dance at the Glencruitten Golf Course Clubhouse.

Tickets at £5 each are available from Gareth Evans or Aidan MacIntyre.

Oban Camanachd rename Player of the Year awards

Oban Camanachd have renamed their first team and Lochside Rovers player of the year awards.

The awards, which will be announced at an end of season buffet and dance at the Glencruitten Golf Course Clubhouse on Saturday have been renamed to remember two people special to the Oban club.

There will be new silver salvers on display as the Oban Camanachd first team player of the year award is named after Nonny MacInnes with Nonny’s wife Karen in attendance to make the presentation.

The Lochside Rovers player of the year has been named after Jamie Kerr and Jamie’s father John and his brother Jordan will make the presentation. very

Oban Camanachd Club AGM

Oban Camanachd’s annual general meeting takes place on Friday December 1.

The AGM will be in the Rockfield Centre with a 7pm start. All welcome.

Skye Camanachd 125th year celebrations

Skye Camanachd will mark their 125th season with a celebration dinner/dance at the Portree Community Centre on Saturday November 18.

Around 250 players, former players, and club supporters will attend the event where the club’s 2017 player of the year awards will be presented.

Lovat reveal cycle fund raiser total

There were celebrations at Lovat Shinty Club when it was confirmed that a 400-mile fund-raising cycle around all 10 Marine Harvest Premiership shinty clubs earlier this year raised £14,000.

The fund-raising effort smashed an original £10,000 target with two great causes due to benefit as the proceeds are split equally between the Lovat Shinty Club New Community Clubhouse Fund and Highland Hospice.

Lovat cyclists and first team players Stuart MacDonald, Drew Howie, Daniel Grieve, Callum Cruden, Greg Matheson and first team manager Fraser Gallacher began the journey, which involved a 16,000ft climb, at Glasgow Mid Argyll’s Yoker pitch at the end of July 2017. From there, the players made their way to Oban Camanachd’s Mossfield Stadium via a stop-off at Kyles Athletic’s Tighnabruaich ground.

The following day, the group headed up the A82 to visit Kilmallie at The Canal Parks before branching off to Lochaber’s Spean Bridge ground and then finishing the day at The Eilan, Newtonmore and Kingussie’s The Dell.

The team then journeyed west to Kinlochshiel’s Kirkton home before setting off the following morning to Glenurquhart’s Blairbeg pitch at Drumnadrochit.

The party were greeted at the near-by Belladrum Music Festival main stage once they completed the challenge on their home turf at Balgate.

The players held a penalty shoot-out at each pitch.

As well as providing a home for the Lovat first and second teams and the club’s ladies’ and junior sides, the Lovat Shinty Club New Community Clubhouse will also provide significant benefit to the wider community with plans including a treatment room for the use of physiotherapists (including the potential use by NHS staff for outreach clinics) and a large social area for the local school and other constituted groups which will help alleviate the high demand for an additional community facility.

Callum Cruden from Lovat Shinty Club said: ‘The cycle was harder than any of us anticipated and the horrendous weather didn’t help matters, however, it was an amazing experience and we were truly humbled by the response from everyone especially the shinty community and the clubs we visited.

‘We had secretly hoped to raise £10,000 in total and we have exceeded expectations with an amazing total of £14,000.

‘Thank you to everyone who donated and with the exciting news that the rest of the funding has been secured we can really look forward to our new community pavilion becoming a reality.’

Highland Hospice Fundraiser Katie Gibb added: ‘We are really grateful to Lovat Shinty Club for their continued support and for choosing to split their fundraising with Highland Hospice.

‘Seven thousand pounds is such a boost to the hospice and we can’t thank the team enough for everything they have done.’

Youth Shinty

A number of the youth leagues have been decided.

Kingussie U14 added the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title to the MacMaster Cup won earlier in the season.

The Kings were confirmed champions following their 4-0 victory over Fort William U14.

Lochaber U14 became Marine Harvest North Division 2 champions where nearest challengers Skye Camanachd U14 drew their final match 3-3 against Beauly U14.

Dunoon U14 secured the South of Scotland League Champions following their 5-1 win over Bute.