Lochaber Athletics Club members celebrate a winter of content
Winter has ended for Lochaber Athletics Club (LAC) members and to celebrate they held their annual prize giving at the Ben Nevis Woollen Mill.
Starting with the Cow Hill Race at the beginning of November and ending on Sunday February 27, with the figure of eight, the LAC Winter League consists of 10 races covering a total of 4,453 miles and 726,000ft of elevation gain.
This year’s league took 638 race entries with 196 individual runners from Lochaber and beyond taking part over the four months.
At the recent celebration Ashley MacDonald (LAC) and Davie Duncan (Ochil Hill Runners) were given special mention for completing all 10 races.
Lochaber Athletic Club thanked everyone who took part and helped to shape a successful and fun winter league which always has a great atmosphere and is open to all abilities - those who enjoy some great racing in a variety of conditions.
An LAC spokesperson added: ‘In particular we have to thank the race organisers and marshals.
‘The league cannot happen without you all, and everyone appreciates what you put in to make it happen.’
LAC Winter League Results 2021/22
Male: 1 Liam Hutson (LAC); 2 Javi Cabrera (Highland Hill Runners); 3 Iain Fogo (LAC)
Female: 1 Caroline Marwick (HHR); 2 Hannah Ward Penny (HHR); 3 Georgia White (LAC)
MV40: 1 Alan Ross (LAC); 2 Stuart Pringle (Deeside Runners); Francis Williams (HHR)
FV40: 1 Lisa Blackley (unattached); 2 Lyndsay Shaw
(LAC); 3 Sara Mair Belshaw
(LAC)
MV50: 1 Stuart Wilson (HHR); 2 Niall MacBeath (LAC); 3 Andrew Craig (LAC)
FV50: 1 Amanda Blackhall (LAC); 2 Lucy Prins (LAC); 3 Alison Wilson (HHR)
MV60: 1 Don Reid (Westerlands Cross Country Club); 2 Paul Moody (HHR); 3 Davie Ducan (Ochils)
FV60: 1 Jane Oliver (Deeside Runners).
MV70: 1 Peter Berrie (LAC) LAC athletes are now set to spring into action as attention turns to road racing commencing with the Inverness half marathon and 5k races on Sunday March 13.
In April there is the hill racing championships over Two Mamores with athletics track and field returning in May.
All are welcome to senior club training from Lochaber Leisure Centre car park on Tuesday nights from 6pm, with junior training for nine to 15-year-olds from the High School games hall on Thursdays from 5.45-6.45pm.
The new shinty season got off to a stunning start with goals galore on Saturday March 5.
Mowi Premiership Fort William 2 Kyles Athletic 2
Kyles Athletic came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Fort William in their 2pm throw-up at An Aird.
Fort William co-managers Victor Smith and Adam Robertson pitched Arran MacPhee at buckshee back with Bryan Simpson at full forward. Mark Grant returned to the side, but Johnny Foster was still unavailable.
Kyles Athletic manager Robert Baxter travelled with just 13 players following Robbie Macleod’s late call-off. There was a place for former Lochcarron player Liam Arnott.
Fort William thought they had the lead when Lachie Shaw stole the ball from a Kyles defender before scoring, but referee Des McNulty, who received the Johnny ‘Ach’
MacRae 2021 referee of the year award pre-match, ruled out the effort, bringing play back and awarding the visitors a free hit.
Both keepers – Paul MacKay for Fort William and Kyles
Athletic’s John Whyte – made good saves before the hosts took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Fort William were awarded a free-hit on the edge of the ‘D’ for a kick. Bryan Simpson played the ball into the danger area and Victor Smith’s shot was heading wide but Cam Stephen stretched out his stick to divert the ball goalwards. Keeper John Whyte got a touch to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.
Victor Smith made it 2-0 a couple of minutes after the re-start. A long ball forward was taken down by a defender, but Smith reacted first as he slammed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Kyles got a goal a couple of minutes later through Liam Arnott on his competitive debut. Arnott’s bouncing shot deceived Paul MacKay, skipping over his foot and into the net.
The goal lifted Kyles and Conor Kennedy made it 2-2 with 15 minutes remaining, punishing the Fort defenders for not clearing their lines.
Kyles, including the excellent Andrew King, laid siege on the Fort goal as they went all out to get the winning goal but the home defence stayed strong.
Victor Smith, who had come off injured soon after scoring, came back on for the closing stages and his re-introduction helped settle his side down.
Fort William created a couple of late chances, with Calum Shepherd making a great run forward from midfield, but he was unable to hit the target.
The sides were also playing for the Drew Ferguson Memorial Trophy which was decided by a penalty shootout. Arran MacPhee, Victor Smith, Padraig McNeil and Jack Fraser all scored for Fort William, with the latter converting the winning spothit. Members of the Ferguson family presented the trophy to Fort William skipper Arran MacPhee and the man of the match award to Fort William’s Astie Cameron.
Calum Shepherd now takes over as team captain, with Arran MacPhee club captain.
Fort William co-manager Victor Smith said: ‘After the 6-0 defeat to Oban Camanachd in our pre-season game, we are delighted with a 2-2 draw with Kyles. You don’t learn much from a 6-0 win but you learn an awful lot from a 6-0 defeat and we put a lot of these lessons into practice today.’
Kilmallie 0 Lovat 3
Lovat ran out 3-0 winners against Kilmallie at Canal
Parks.
Suspension ruled out Innes Blackhall and Stuart Callison for the hosts and Callum Cruden for the visitors who also travelled without Danny Kelly and Martin Mainland.
Lovat opened the scoring on 40 minutes when a high ball from midfield was chested down by Fraser Heath to Greg Matheson who hit the bouncing ball first time, sending it high into the net from around 25 yards.
Lovat doubled their advantage a couple of minutes after the re-start. The ball was played into Fraser Heath’s feet and he took a touch to the side before striking a low, hard shot which sneaked passed Kevin Toye in the home goal.
Lovat put the game beyond Kilmallie on 53 minutes. A good passing move was nicely finished by Marc MacLachlan who went by a couple of defenders before rounding the keeper and rolling the ball into the empty net.
Kinlochshiel 1 Newtonmore 3
Newtonmore secured the surprise result of the day with a 3-1 victory over Kinlochshiel at Rèaraig Park.
Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill was without Paul MacRae who has retired following a knee injury. Duncan Matheson was also missing, so David Falconer started.
Newtonmore’s new management team of Norman MacArthur, Evan Cheyne and David Cheyne were missing Michael Russell and Craig Ritchie. There was a start for youngster Duncan MacPherson and Kenny Ross and Dan Craven were their only substitutes.
Iain Robinson gave a sign of what was to come when he put Newtonmore ahead on 13 minutes. Robinson sent the ball low into the net at the back post following Drew MacDonald’s corner on the left.
Jordan Fraser equalised on 22 minutes when he swept home Keith MacRae’s cross from the right.
Max Campbell put Newtonmore back in front on 32 minutes when he took the ball away from Mark MacDonald before scoring from his backhand.
Fraser MacKintosh added a third a minute before half-time.
Newtonmore have concerns over injuries to Darrin Fowler, who suffered a skull fracture after being hit on the back of the head seconds from the end of the game, whilst Iain Robinson’s dislocated shoulder was put back in place by Kinlochshiel medic John Don MacKenzie.
Kingussie 7 Caberfeidh 0
Champions Kingussie’s bid to retain their Mowi Premiership title began with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Caberfeidh at the Dell.
Alexander Michie put Kingussie ahead from the penalty spot on 11 minutes with new Kingussie captain Savio Genini adding a quick-fire brace on 33 and 35 minutes.
James Falconer made it 4-0 on 43 minutes, with Ruaridh Anderson on target on 52 minutes.
Savio Genini took his afternoon’s haul to four goals with efforts on 83 and 87 minutes.
Mowi National Division Oban Celtic 1
Skye Camanachd 2
Skye Camanachd came from behind to beat Oban Celtic 2-1 at Mossfield.
Oban Celtic manager Dougie MacIntyre was without the suspended Andy MacDonald but Jordan Kerr made his com
petitive debut. Celtic’s other new signing, Scott Dempster, was unavailable. Callum Fox was in goal and Bob MacIntyre swapped his golf clubs for his caman.
Skye boss Kenny Macleod has Will Cowie back after a knee injury suffered on the opening day of last season, but Danny Morrison was missing.
Skye’s James Pringle had the best chance of the first half but blazed his shot over the bar. Skye introduced Somhairle MacDonald on the half hour as the hosts had control of the centre line.
Ross Mackinnon moved from wing forward to wing centre and immediately forced a Callum Fox save as the half finished goal-less.
Skye looked brighter after the re-start with Will Cowie and Ross MacMillan having a great battle in the middle of the park.
There were signs of frustration from both teams, but it was Oban Celtic who broke the deadlock on 71 minutes. Skye’s William Mackinnon was caught in two minds in midfield and the ball came to Ross MacMillan who sent a looping ball over the top of the visiting defence into the path of the onrushing Daniel MacMillan who raced clear, through on goal, and slipped the ball under keeper Murphy Henderson as he came off his line.
Oban Celtic looked to be playing with an extra defender and Skye introduced young forward Taylor Matheson in an attempt to find an equaliser and they pinned Celtic back.
Jordan Murchison made it 1-1 with a low drive on 78 minutes.
The home side were reduced to 11 men soon after when referee Alex MacVicar sent Ross MacMillan off for a poor challenge on Skye’s Ross Gordon.
Skye pushed full back John Gillies up front for the closing stages and he scored the winner on 82 minutes with his shot taking two deflections on the way into the net.
Strathglass 2 Lochaber 3
Jack Dignan scored the winner 10 minutes from time as Lochaber edged out Strathglass 3-2 at Cannich.
Lochaber, without the suspended Barry MacDonald, took the lead on 35 minutes through Conor Sweeney and Findlay MacDonald made it 2-0 five minutes later.
Strathglass fought back though with goals from Michael Stokes on 60 minutes and Darren Reid on 70 minutes making it 2-2.
Jack Dignan conjured up the winner on 80 minutes to get Lochaber off to a winning start.
Inveraray 1 Glenurquhart 1
Inveraray, relegated from the Premiership at the end of the 2019 season, drew 1-1 with promotion hopefuls Glenurquhart at the Winterton.
Both goals came in the first half with Glenurquhart’s Conor Golabek netting on 19 minutes and Campbell Watt drawing Inveraray level on 32 minutes.
Aberdour 0 Beauly 9
Aberdour’s historic first match in the National Division ended in a 9-0 defeat against Beauly at Silversands.
Finlay Maclennan put Beauly two up with efforts on 14 and 33 minutes and goals late in the half from Euan MacCormack on 44 minutes and Ross Forbes on 45 minutes doubled their lead.
Euan MacCormack completed his hat-trick with strikes on 58 and 60 minutes and Sean Stewart made it 7-0 on 65 minutes.
Euan MacCormack got his fourth on 70 minutes and a second from Sean Stewart rounded off the scoring four minutes from time.
Mowi North Division 1 Skye Camanachd 1 Fort William 0
The Skye Camanachd second team beat the Fort William second team 1-0 in an entertaining match at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Skye capitalised on a defensive slip to take the lead on 13 minutes. Struan Stephen attempted to clear the ball from just outside the ‘D’ but missed his hit which left Alastair MacLeod a free path to goal.
It got worse for Fort William a few minutes later when referee Steven MacLachlan sent off Rhys Kennedy for his reaction to a challenge.
Stuart Disher saved well from Alastair MacLeod to stop Skye going further ahead but the visitors had a great chance to level when a fine run and pass from Davie Duncan found Mark Fraser in space but, with Skye keeper Calum Nicolson racing off his line, Fraser sent his shot wide.
They went close again when Mark Fraser’s cleverly scooped free-hit from the left picked out Greg Kelly at the back post. William Sutherland made a great block to prevent Kelly’s first effort. He got a shot in at the second attempt but his low shot went just by the far post.
At the other end, Stuart Disher saved with his hand from Angus Gilpin and Alastair MacLeod saw a shot blocked by the excellent Lewis Murphy.
Fort William, who didn’t look as if they were a man short, pushed hard for a leveller in the closing stages but were not able to test the Skye keeper. Man of the match was Fort
Willima’s Shaun MacLennan.
Newtonmore 2 Kinlochshiel 0
Glen MacKintosh scored on 20 and 80 minutes as the Newtonmore second team opened the defence of their Mowi North Division 1 title with a 2-0 win over their Kinlochshiel counterparts at the Eilan.
Caberfeidh 0 Kingussie 2
The Kingussie seconds beat the Caberfeidh seconds 2-0 at Castle Leod.
Scoring for Kingussie were Cameron Bremner on 53 minutes and Mike Beroski on 85 minutes.
Inverness 2 Glenurquhart 2
Two late James MacPherson goals earned the Glenurquhart second team a 2-2 draw with the Inverness first team at Blairbeg.
Inverness took the lead a minute before the interval, with Ruaraidh Hughes scoring.
Skye MacKintosh added a second on 65 minutes before James MacPherson’s late counters on 81 and 89 minutes.
Lovat 3 Lochcarron 2
Player/manager Raymond Rennie scored twice as the Lovat second team beat Lochcarron 3-2 at Balgate.
Rennie got the opener on 20 minutes but Gregor Cushnie drew Lochcarron level on 30 minutes. Jack Rennie put Lovat back in front three minutes before half-time, but the visitors drew level for a second time through Euan Cameron on 57 minutes.
Raymond Rennie got what proved to be the winner on 78 minutes.
Mowi North Division 2 Lochaber 5 Strathglass 0
The Lochaber second team were 5-0 victors over the Strathglass second team at Spean Bridge.
David Langan scored twice, with Bruno Berardelli, Martin Paterson and Ben MacDonald getting the others.
Beauly 5 Inverness 0
The Beauly colts defeated the Inverness colts 5-0 at Braeview Park.
Goals from Kyle MacDonald on 14 and 44 minutes gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break.
Lee Dunbar on the hour and Jack MacDonald on 68 minutes made it 4-0, with Kyle MacDonald completing his hat-trick a minute from time.
Strathspey Camanachd 1 Aberdeen University 3
Strathspey Camanachd took the lead through Keith Callum in the opening minute against Aberdeen University at Grantown Grammar School.
Jebby Remegio equalised on 25 minutes, with Willie Hunter putting the students in front on 34 minutes.
Jebby Remegio got his second 15 minutes from time to make the final score 3-1.