Shintyfan

Not a bad team...

2015-05-21T11:01:00.001+01:00

A GEM of a photograph from more than half a century ago.

Pictured below at Tighnabruaich is what appears to be a south or Argyll select side.

Shintyfan is looking for information on the photo, so if you can name the occasion, the team members or the date the picture was taken - or have any other wee snippets of information surrounding it - let us know at shintyfan@btconnect.com or comment below.

Over to all you shinty fans out there.

And if you would like to send us your own shinty pictures, e-mail them as jpg attachments, with as much information as you have, to shintyfan@btconnect.com

Cup semi-final venues announced

2015-04-27T12:45:00.003+01:00

The Glasgow Celtic Society Cup - the oldest senior trophy in the sport

THE venues for the semi-finals of the RBS MacTavish Cup and Gregor Cameron Consultancy Celtic Society Cup were decided by the toss of a coin in the Camanachd Association office today (April 27).

The outcome is as follows:

RBS MacTavish Cup semi-finals
KINLOCHSHIEL or KILKMALLIE at home against NEWTONMORE on Saturday May 16.
SKYE at home against GLENURQUHART Saturday May 23.

The RBS MacTavish Cup Final will take place on Saturday June 13 at Bught Park, Inverness

Gregor Cameron Consultancy Celtic Society Cup semi-finals
OBAN CELTIC at home against OBAN CAMANACHD on Saturday May 16.
INVERARAY at home against KYLES ATHLETIC on Saturday May 16.

The Gregor Cameron Consultancy Celtic Society Cup Final will take place on Saturday June 27 at the Sports Field, Taynuilt.

Spring back to winter for packed shinty weekend

2015-04-09T13:31:00.003+01:00

Kyles' Thomas Whyte under close supervision during his side's defeat of Glenurquhart in last week's round of premiership ties. Photo by Donald Cameron

AS forecasters predict a return to cold, wet weather for Saturday, Kyles will be looking to strengthen their position at the summit of shinty's top league, taking on a Fort William side that has yet to find its feet in the Marine Harvest Premiership in 2015.

Champions Newtonmore face a potentially tricky tie as they host Glenurquhart at the Eilan, while current second-placed side Lovat make the journey to the shores of Loch Fyne to play Inveraray.

The premiership aside, it's the romance of two of shinty's cup competitions that has the mouth watering in anticipation. Catching the eye in the Balliemore Cup is an inter-island clash on the Isle of Bute, where Skye Camanachd are the visitors. A tasty tie will be there to savour at Strathglass, as city slickers Glasgow Mid Argyll come calling. Also in the Balliemore, the match between Aberdour and Inverness should be interesting, and the National Division side from the capital of the Highlands will find their trip to Fife no picnic.

The sport's national junior cup competition, the Sir William Sutherland Cup, also gets going this weekend. The tie of the round is arguably in Drumnadrochit, by Loch Ness, as holders Kyles Athletic travel from Cowal to play Glenurquhart.

Everything, as always, depends on the fickle Scottish weather, and though the nation's shinty pitches are basking in welcome warm, drying sun - the forecast isn't too hot for the weekend. The Met Office tells us that there is a big change coming from warm and dry to cold wet and windy weather on Saturday. Details below:

Friday:

Another rather warm day with long sunny spells, especially in the morning with highest temperatures towards central Scotland. Turning cloudier and breezy through the afternoon. Maximum Temperature 18C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

An abrupt change to markedly colder and windier weather on Saturday and Sunday with showers and snow on hills. Drier and brighter on Monday, but wind and rain returning later.

'GET HIT AND IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT'

2015-03-12T20:04:00.000+00:00

When I was growing up, the mantra was 'if you get hit, it's your own fault'.

Go in hard, go in close and let your man know you're there. Hang back and you will get clobbered.

The art of blocking - and by that I mean good, effective blocking, is a dying one.

Even at premier level, players are jumping into the air in front of opponents striking the ball - in the hope the ball might deflect off them - rather than going in and blocking the swing.

I often think that the team that learns to block properly in the premiership will steal a march on the opposition.

There is a school of thought that shinty has changed since the summer season was initiated; that the faster nature of the game means that the tackle is no longer so necessary as close-quarter combat becomes less common.

But there will be occasions when a challenge needs to be won.

Going back to blocking - it was a good means of avoiding injury; to eyes, knuckles and faces.

And does the old-fashioned attitude of shrugging off any injury still prevail?

Spectators note an unpleasant tendency among a few a few premier players to (in football parlance) 'go down easily' when there doesn't seem a need to. In the past, play would have carried on around them until they decided to get up and carry on.

Injuries are part and parcel of any contact sport, but there is, quite rightly, a growing awareness of the dangers of head injuries in sport - as witnessed in rugby union's six nations championship.

But in the end, is shinty a 'softer' sport than it used to be, and is this simply a reflection of society?

Note: This is an updated version of an article first published on Shintyfan in March 2012.

WINTER SHINTY WOULD NOW BE IMPOSSIBLE - DISCUSS

2015-03-11T23:21:00.000+00:00

ANY shinty player over the age of 30 can remember these matches.

Numb hands, legs, faces and other extremities as sleet and snow are driven on freezing gale force winds across sheep paddocks in God-forsaken glens and straths.

The joys of the winter shinty season.

The domain of the boorach. The muddy graveyard of fast shinty.

But there were plenty of Saturdays between October and May when pitches were hard, the air was clear and play raged with skill and dexterity that would put many a modern encounter to shame. These days were a genuine joy in which to play shinty. The pitches were, of course, more agricultural than most these days, but this was no impediment to men of strength and true skill with the caman.

But here is a question. Could we have played winter shinty in the kind of weather conditions experienced in Scotland over the past decade?

Rainfall seems to be heavier, more prolonged and - when it does stop - there seem to be fewer dry, cold days of the kind we (perhaps) used to get more of. The climate seems to be stormier and milder in general, particularly closer to the west coast.

It's hard enough to get matches played in our modern-day summer season, but it seems improbable that - despite better pitches with more efficient drainage - any winter fixtures programme could be completed in the 21st century.

What do you think?

ROMANCE OF CUP LIFTS OPENING DAY CLOUDS

2015-03-10T18:33:00.004+00:00

THE opening day of shinty's 2015 season may have been a wash-out, but at least we had the Camanachd Cup draw to cheer us up.

A paltry five of 26 scheduled matches survived torrential rainfall overnight on Friday into Saturday March 7 - and predictably the survivors were located towards Scotland's east coast and north east corner.

After the first round of matches, John Gillies of Skye Camanachd and Aberdeen University's Kenny Cushnie are the joint top scorers in shinty following their hat-tricks versus Boleskine and Strathspey respectively in Marine Harvest North Division 2.

In the only Marine Harvest Premiership match played, Lovat and Lochaber fought out a 3-3 draw in a game reversed from Spean Bridge. The score was tied at a goal apiece when ref Innes Wood blew for half-time, but the fireworks didn't really begin until 20 minutes into the second period, when Jamie Matheson scored his second goal of the game to give Lovat the lead.

But the home side's joy turned to despair ten minutes later when quickfire Shaun Nicolson and Sandy Corrigan strikes took Lochaber to a 3-2 lead. Then, eight minutes from time, the ever-reliable Kevin Bartlett soothed Lovat nerves as he levelled matters.

Kiltarlity drama aside - after something of a false start fingers, toes and camans are definitely crossed for week two of the summer season on March 14.

Monday March 9 saw the draw made for the 2015 SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup - the one every shinty player wants to win - by Camanachd Association president, Jim Barr, and acting SSE operations manager, Iain Morrison.

Vying to host the final are two towns in Argyll - Dunoon and Oban. Oban is a veteran of many Camanachd finals past, while Dunoon has just the one - in 2006 when Kingussie were victorious - yet lies in Cowal, a famous hotbed of shinty.

Each is a worthy venue and will attract a large support no matter who takes the field in the biggest day in shinty on September 19.

The draw is as follows:

Preliminary round, Saturday April 18:
Caberfeidh v Glenorchy
Taynuilt v Skye
Beauly v Kilmallie

First round, Saturday May 9:
Oban Celtic v Taynuilt / Skye
Aberdour v Caberfeidh / Glenorchy
Ballachulish v Glasgow Mid Argyll
Inverness v Kilmory
Strachur v Bute
Beauly / Kilmallie v Strathglass

The draw for the second round includes the teams from the Marine Harvest Premiership and will be made following the completion of the first round.

Not long now - but will Judith let us play?

2015-03-06T10:38:00.003+00:00

FANS, followers and players of the great sport of shinty are experiencing that familiar fluttering of butterflies as the Big Kick-off (or should that be Big Throw-up..?) to the 2015 season approaches.

There are some tasty ties lined up for the opening Saturday, March 7, with the juiciest prospect arguably being at the Eilan, where multiple premiership winners and current holders Newtonmore begin their title defence against the redoubtable team from Cowal, Kyles Athletic, fifth place finishers last time around.

And there are many more matches that will be fascinating to watch, as players knock off the winter rust - and snow - for shinty's summer season.

Talking of snow - the weather might just play a part in how the opening day shapes up. Heavy rain is forecast for the north-west of Scotland - and showers are possible anywhere.

As ever, we are at the mercy of the weather gods, and of BBC weather presenter Judith Ralston (pictured), of course.

Go with the flow chart for pitch perfection

2015-02-26T11:33:00.001+00:00

WITH the new shinty season due to start next week (March 7) and the weather still showing distinct wintery tendencies, pitches will be under real scrutiny early season to make sure they are fit to play on.

So pay attention, and sit up at the back of the class - particularly you boys and girls from the wild, wet west coast.

In order to come to a decision on whether or not a pitch is playable - and to help in finding an alternative venue where appropriate - the Camanachd Association has come up with a handy chart (pictured above) for shinty clubs to follow.

The chart (perhaps) looks worse than it is, but could spark nightmares in anyone with memories of flow charts from school. And talking about school, it would be advisable to have someone under the age of 18 on hand to interpret the chart - and for health reasons do not try this with a hangover on a Saturday morning.

Go with the flow chart and, hangover or not, at least the fixtures backlog headache should be eased.

And if you can't find the answer, phone a friend at the Camanachd Association and they will be delighted to help.

TANERA'S CAMAN HOME

2015-02-17T00:13:00.001+00:00

The entrepreneurial Alan MacPherson (right) in action for Lovat Photo: Neil Paterson

A HIGHLAND shinty player is bringing a well known shinty brand back to Scotland.

Enterprising joiner Alan MacPherson has purchased Tanera Camans from TS Hattersley and Son in Manchester and will begin making shinty sticks near Inverness in the early spring.

Tanera Camans was started by Billy MacLean in Fort William in the 1980s, with Phillip Nolan and his son Colin taking over in the mid 90s.

Tanera Camans was sold to Eccles-based TS Hattersley and Son, a business manufacturing lacrosse sticks in 2005. At peak production, Hattersley is believed to have been responsible around two-thirds of all the shinty sticks manufactured in the UK.

The shinty stick side of the operation was put up for sale in October last year on the retirement of master craftsman Thomas Beckett after 50 years of service. Caman production stopped at the Lancashire business in December.

As Tanera Camans was offered for sale, Hattersley's company director Matthew Rigby said: "The shinty business is a small but profitable business and we are making around 1,000 sticks per annum. But I believe the market opportunity is bigger than this."

Alan MacPherson spotted just such an opportunity - and plans to build on his work developing modern one-piece ash camans. His sticks are currently being used by a number of players in shinty's top tier - the Marine Harvest Premiership.

Alan said: "I am grateful for the privilege of continuing the Tanera story and feel that this is the next step for me and it will complement my joinery business.

"I will make the existing design of Tanera sticks as well as further developing my own for players who are looking for a lighter, bespoke caman."

Torquil MacLeod, CEO of the Camanachd Association, said "I am very pleased that Alan has taken the initiative to help to secure the supply of sticks for our great game of shinty."

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEASON...

2015-02-14T09:52:00.003+00:00

THIS weekend's pre-season friendly matches are given a little added spice now that shinty clubs know their early season schedules.

Issued by the Camanachd Association on February 12, the 2015 draft fixtures list has thrown up some intriguing opening day encounters on March 7.

The standout for any neutral is Newtonmore against Kyles Athletic in the Marine Harvest Premiership.

The Badenoch side, premiership champions for the past four seasons, will offer a stiff test for Kyles. The men from Cowal will be working hard to be ready for the Eilan challenge, and notwithstanding a few personnel changes they still have the venerable Kenny MacDonald between the sticks to offer security to his defence.

Also in the top tier, there's an eye-catching all-Argyll clash between Oban Camanachd and Inveraray in Oban and an improving Kingussie travel to Drumnadrochit to face Glenquhart.

In the Marine Harvest National Division there is a clash or the newbies, with newly-promoted Ballachulish playing host to Inverness, a club that volunteered to take the place of Bute in the second tier of shinty after the island club decided to take a step back to the regional leagues in a bid to consolidate.

Looking at the line-up of teams, the Marine Harvest National Division looks like it will be tight, and very competitive despite just eight teams being involved.

Across all the leages some exciting matches are in prospect, and Shintyfan cannot wait.

It's getting close now...

The full fixture list is here.

FINALS COUNTDOWN AS SHINTY DRAW POISED

2015-02-06T12:04:00.002+00:00

An action-packed 2014 Bullough Cup Final

THE DRAW for some of shinty's most prestigious cup competitions will be made this coming Monday (February 9), the sport's ruling body has announced.

The Camanachd Association headquarters in Inverness will be the venue as the draw is made for the north senior shinty competition, the RBS MacTavish Cup, and national intermediate trophy, the Balliemore Cup.

Also to be drawn are the ties for the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup - national junior championship of Scotland; and regional junior competitions the Strathdearn (north) and Bullough (south) cups.

Making the draws will be Camanachd Association president Jim Barr and Alan Clark of sportscotland.

Missing from the event are two historic blue riband cups from the world of shinty.

The first round draw of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup - shinty's most coveted prize - will be announced shortly by the Camanachd Association.

The oldest competition in the sport, the AJG Parcels Celtic Cup - the senior championship for south teams - is governed by the Glasgow Celtic Society. The society will make a separate draw announcement in due course.

The MacAulay Association runs the MacAulay Cup, a national competition arguably second only to the Camanachd in shinty players dreams as far as cup silverware is concerned. The draw for the 2015 competition was made in December, and can be found here.

WINTER WARM-UPS FOR SUMMER SHINTY

2015-02-05T18:06:00.004+00:00

Time to dust off those winter cobwebs...

Saturday's (Feb 7) friendly matches, as per CA website and elsewhere:

The Bear Tankard - Ballachulish v Newtonmore – at the Jubilee, Ballachulish – throw up tbc
Fort William 2nd team v Boleskine - venue tbc
GMA v Kinlochshiel - Peterson Park, Yoker
Kilmallie v Lochaber (BSW Cup) - Canal Park
Oban Lorn v Ballachulish - 3G pitch Oban High School, 12 noon throw up
Strachur v Bute - Strachurmore, 1pm throw up
Inveraray v Oban Camanachd - Mossfield,1.30pm throw up

But what sort of condition are pitches in?

MARINE HARVEST STEPS UP A LEAGUE

2015-02-03T19:19:00.000+00:00

(l-r) Russell Jones, Kingussie coach and Marine Harvest managing director Alan Sutherland enjoy a giggle with Lochaber coach Ally Ferguson

MARINE Harvest (Scotland) Ltd and the Camanachd Association have sealed a six figure sponsorship deal - the largest single sponsorship investment in the sport to date.

Marine Harvest will become title sponsor of the premier league of shinty. The top division will be known as the Marine Harvest Premiership, as the firm continues its support of national league and north/south area leagues.

The three-year agreement also includes support for women’s and youth shinty, the Scotland senior national team, the annual shinty/hurling international and the sport’s annual awards night.

The company has now been supporting shinty for 30 years, representing one of Scotland’s longest running sport sponsorships.

Jim Barr, President of the Camanachd Association, said: “The support shown by Marine Harvest over many years, and today extended for a further three, adds tremendous value to the continued promotion and development of our sport.

“The whole shinty community will be delighted that such a successful company continues to show such faith in our great game.”

Alan Sutherland, managing director of Marine Harvest (Scotland) Ltd, said: “We are delighted to continue our support for shinty, having seen it thrive and develop at all levels. We are very pleased to sponsor the Premier League and to continue our commitment to the area and national leagues, as well as women’s and youth shinty.

“Marine Harvest is 50 years old and is the largest salmon farming company in Scotland. Shinty is a great fit with the areas where we farm and process our fish and we are proud to be able to play our part in supporting the game.”

Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, said; “We are delighted to see the partnership between the Camanachd Association and Marine Harvest continue.

“The relationship is remarkable in the length of the association and level of commitment shown by Marine Harvest, something that is clearly delivering significant benefit to the continued development of one of Scotland’s most iconic sports. We look forward to working with the association and its partners in the years ahead.”

SHINTY’S UPS AND DOWNS APPROVED

2015-01-30T15:28:00.000+00:00

INVERNESS Shinty Club will take the place of Bute in this season’s Marine Harvest national division, maintaining the eight-team league agreed at last year’s Camanachd Association AGM.

The move was rubber-stamped at a board meeting of the association held on January 28, ahead of the new season which is due to begin in March.

Along with the city club’s step up from north division one, directors also agreed to a request by Bute Shinty Club to revert to south division one for the 2015 season.

Also requesting voluntary demotion was Glengarry Shinty Club, and it was agreed that the club will compete in north division two rather than north division one during 2015.

Taking the place of Glengarry in north division one will be Kinlochshiel’s second team.

A newly-formed shinty club with a famous name, Oban Lorn, will make its bow in south division two for the 2015 season.

Taking into account Oban Camanachd’s first and second teams, this means that the Argyll town will field four league teams each week during the season to come.

SHINTYFAN IS BACK

2015-01-25T17:31:00.000+00:00

YOUR independent shinty magazine is back - refreshed and ready to offer knowledgeable, unbiased news and views - and the best coverage of Scotland's real national sport.

Our growing network of correspondents will cover matches from many parts of Scotland and beyond.

Don't miss the only publication devoted to shinty - Shintyfan.

We still have some vacancies for voluntary correspondents, including photographers. To find out more, go to the Shintyfan Facebook page and post a personal message.

AND WE'RE OFF...

2013-03-02T23:51:00.000+00:00

Shinty's 2013 league season go underway today (March 2) - with not too many shocks on the opening round of matches up and down the country.

Neil Robertson (l) of Fort William under pressure from Inveraray's Lewis MacNicol

Fort William travelled to Argyll to face 2012 Camanachd Cup finalists Inveraray, and it was one of those opening day matches where the players looked rusty. No matter how many pre-season friendlies you play, or the number of training sessions players endure - nothing matches real combat.

A young Fort William squad lined up against vastly experienced Inveraray counterparts. And experience told in the end.

The home side dominated for large chunks of the game, with Aray keeper Graham MacPherson largely untested in a goalless first half. But Inveraray could and should have been a couple of goals to the good by the time Billy Wotherspoon blew his whistle for the break. With Fort struggling to clear their defensive lines and 'Bingo' Robertson playing well in the centre, only some profligate finishing prevented Inveraray from scoring.

The second half continued in much the same vein, but with (thankfully) less of a running commentary from the players on every refereeing decision.
Inveraray were on top, and eventually the pressure from the Loch Fyne-side men told as veteran Garry MacPherson, 30 yards from goal, gleefully rattled home the only goal of the game, around ten minutes into the second half.

This seemed to spur on Fort William, and the home defence had to look sharp as Fort began to assert some pressure of their own.

As play swung from end to end, MacPherson was called into action in the Aray goal while his Fort counterpart, Paul MacKay, pulled off a number of alert saves.

It looked all over when rangy young Inveraray forward, Lewis MacNicol sent a screamer goalward - only to see it rattle off MacKay's crossbar.

In the end, Inveraray held out reasonably comfortably in a game which had all the hallmarks of a season opener.

Inveraray did enough to win, but will need to make pressure count if they are to make a dent on this year's silverware.

Fort William seemed short of experienced players and were lacking sharpness - but that will come with games and they can only improve as important players return to the squad.

SHINTY FIXTURES PUBLISHED

2013-02-07T20:11:00.000+00:00

The Camanachd Association today (February 7) released the initial league fixture list for the 2013 season.

The opening fixtures will take place on Saturday March 2.

In the Orion Premiership, Lochaber open their promotion season at home to Lovat, while there is an eye-catching Argyll derby as Oban Camanachd return to the top tier away to Camanachd Cup holders, Kyles Athletic.

League champions Newtonmore open at home to Glenurquhart.

The full fixture list, which the association points out is subject to change, can be seen by clicking here.

Future of shinty unveiled

2013-02-04T22:39:00.000+00:00

-->

The Camanachd Association has announced the result of its competitions review, along with some other interesting plans for future seasons.

National Division One is to make a comeback, and the following statement by the Camanachd Association is published in full and without amendment...but what do you think?

The outcome of the Camanachd Association’s Competitions Structure Review, which will take effect from the 2014 season, was announced at last week’s General Meeting.

The decision was to reduce the number of teams in the Orion Group Premiership from ten to eight and to introduce an eight team Marine Harvest National Division One which will comprise the bottom two teams in the Orion Group Premiership and the top three from North Division One and South Division One at the end of season 2013.

The principal reasons for the changes were to shorten the season for the Orion Group Premiership which has often not finished until late November and to introduce a stronger competition in the new Marine Harvest National Division One.

Marine Harvest National Division One will comprise the teams which finished 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd in Marine Harvest North and South Division One along with the two teams relegated from the Orion Group Premiership. There will be no promotion into the Orion Group Premiership in 2014. From the end of the 2014 season onwards, there will be one team relegated from the Orion Group Premiership, one team promoted from the new Marine Harvest National Division One and a playoff between the winners of Marine Harvest North and South Divisions One for a place in the Marine Harvest National Division One. The existing regional leagues (Marine Harvest North One, Two, Three and South One and Two) will remain as they are.

Speaking on the outcome of the review, Camanachd Association Competitions Director, Richard Gall, “I am confident that this is the way forward for the Camanachd Association league structure. I would like to thank the Competitions Review Committee and all those who participated in the public consultation.”

-->And there's more...

(and this is the Camanachd Association speaking):

The Competitions Working Group, after consultation with the clubs in Marine Harvest North Division One, proposed that a third round of fixtures be played again this season, with these being a reverse of the third round of fixtures which were scheduled last season. The sanction for non fulfilment of a third round match will be the same as for the first two rounds of fixtures and this was agreed by the Board.

Beauly Shinty Club proposed that “Any four of the ten players named in the Player Pool can feature in a reserve league fixture. There is no restriction on how many times a ‘named player’ can feature in league fixture for the reserve team over the course of the season.” The Board agreed an amendment to the proposal of reducing the four to two and that it would be reviewed at the end of the 2013 Season.

Aberdour Shinty Club proposed that in addition to the existing sanctions for non fulfilment of fixtures in Marine Harvest North Division Three and Marine Harvest South Division Two, the team which is responsible for causing the fixture to be cancelled will also be deducted one point as a penalty for not completing the fixture. This was agreed by the Board and will be implemented for the 2013 Season.

CELTIC CUP FINAL GOES BACK TO STRACHUR

2013-02-01T10:52:00.000+00:00

For the second successive year, one of shinty’s biggest occasions is coming to Cowal.
Following last year’s successful final at Strachur, the directors of the Glasgow Celtic Society have decided to take their showpiece cup final once again to the Cowal village.
The final of the AJG Parcels Celtic Cup - the oldest competition in the sport - is set to be played at Strachurmore Sports Centre on June 29.

The tournament was introduced in 1879, and pre-dates the Camanachd Cup by 17 years. It is contested annually between south clubs and has been won a record 29 times by Kyles and 21 by cup holders, Inveraray.
It has been played outwith the city of Glasgow on just four previous occasions, including last year’s clash between Inveraray and Taynuilt at Strachur. Inveraray hosted the final in 2011.
The decision to come to Strachurmore Sports Centre once again was influenced by the standard of facilities at the centre, comprising a newly-constructed community pitch and modern pavilion, along with good car parking availability.
Glasgow Celtic Society president, Duncan Cameron, said: “We were most impressed with the efforts made by local people to stage last year’s final, having had to overcome the disappointment of the late postponement on the original date, then to do it all again successfully one week later.
“This year’s draw has thrown up the prospect of a number of close ties in all rounds of the competition. We hope these ties will be well supported and, given favourable weather, we look forward to a cup final that will attract shinty followers from all over Argyll and far beyond to Strachur at the end of June.”
For the second year in succession, this season’s tournament is sponsored by Inverness-based delivery company, AJG Parcels, and operations director Fraser MacLean said: “AJG Parcels is delighted to continue its sponsorship of the prestigious Glasgow Celtic Society Cup.
“The company is proud to provide our services across the shinty playing regions of the south and north of Scotland.
“I look forward to an exciting competition and a fantastic final at Strachur in June.”
The chairman of the management committee that runs the Strachurmore Sports Centre, Willie Montgomery, said: “I speak for the whole committee when I say that we welcome the return of one of the most prestigious finals in shinty to Strachurmore Sports Centre.
“The village has a long association with the Celtic Cup, and we look forward to staging another successful final.”

2013 AJG Parcels Celtic Cup draw:
1^st round byes; Inveraray, Kyles Athletic, Bute, Oban Camanachd, Taynuilt
1^st round ties: Aberdour vs Strachur
Glenorchy vs Oban Celtic
Glasgow Mid Argyll vs Kilmory
2nd round ties: Inveraray vs Aberdour / Strachur
Glenorchy / Oban Celtic vs Oban Camanachd
Bute vs Glasgow Mid Argyll / Kilmory
Taynuilt vs Kyles Athletic
Semi-finals:
Inveraray / Aberdour / Strachur vs Glenorchy / Oban Celtic / Oban Camanachd
Bute / Glasgow Mid Argyll / Kilmory vs Taynuilt / Kyles Athletic
Cup Final: Saturday, June 29 at Strachur
-->

OBAN CELTIC v NEWTONMORE - bunnets and all

2013-01-28T00:45:00.001+00:00

Footage from the 1937 Camanachd Cup Final between Oban Celtic, in their first final, and Newtonmore, appearing in their 18th Camanachd final.

The film is supplied courtesy of the National Library of Scotland's Scottish Screen Archive.

The game featured, held at the Bught, Inverness, ended 2-2 with Celtic going on to win 2-1 in the replay at Keppoch.

Incredible footage, and can you name any of the players or spectators? Who is the dandy with the hat and brolly who can't keep out of the camera shot, and even staged a one-man pitch invasion to get his fizzog on the cinema screens of Scotland?

What a crowd there was at the Bught that day - when men were men - and even wore bunnets while playing in the Camanachd Cup Final.

See it here:

1937 Camanachd Cup Final

Fancy being a shinty correspondent?

2013-01-27T23:18:00.001+00:00

Would you like to report on shinty?

Shintyfan is always looking for news and opinion from the shinty world.

If you want to send match reports, e-mail colin@positiveland.co.uk or phone 07866 368842.

Give us a shout.

A gem of shinty history...

2013-01-23T23:30:00.001+00:00

Have a look at this gem of shinty history.

It comes from the the Calum Maclean Project, based at the department of Celtic and Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh. The project centres upon the collected materials of Calum I. Maclean (1915-1960).

On July 27, 1952, Maclean recorded a short anecdote in English from Donald MacDonald, then aged 75, who stayed in Laggan, Badenoch about New Year shinty in the district.

Click here to see it.

GET YOUR YOUTH FUND BID SUBMITTED

2013-01-22T23:13:00.001+00:00

The Scottish Hydro Youth Development Fund closes for applications on Friday February 1.

The Youth Development Fund, which was established in 2010 by the Camanachd Association in partnership with Scottish Hydro, offers a share of £5,000 to member clubs who wish to increase youth participation by providing a maximum grant award of £500 to each club.

Applications will be considered by the association's review group and funding awards will be prioritised in support of those proposals which best meet the stated aims and criteria of the scheme.

The application form can be downloaded from here.

The scheme guidelines can be found by clicking here.

COULD SHINTY SHINE AT COWAL GAMES?

2013-01-22T18:15:00.002+00:00

Cowal Highland Gathering is, we hear, about to lose its status as one of the major pipe band championships after this August's event.
But there is no room for tears, and the organisers will even now be looking for a replacement with the punch and vitality such that the major championships are hardly missed.

How about shinty?

The loss of major status is widely seen as a potential catastrophe for this proud and historic Highland Games, which is held in the last weekend in August.

The prestige attached to the Cowal Pipe Band Championships was at one time - in the last few decades - greater than the (then nomadic) World Pipe Band Championships. Bands were more eager to come to the Dunoon-based Cowal competitions, and more made the journey to the Cowal peninsula than followed the worlds around the British Isles.
How quickly this has been lost and forgotten.

But why doesn't the sport of shinty put together a business-like proposal to plug the undoubted gap this will leave?

Cowal Games could offer a high profile platform for the sport, and there is no more exciting sport than shinty - or one more indigenous to Cowal, for that matter.

Ironically the sport, in six-a-side format, was removed from the Cowal Games a few years back - to make more room for pipe bands and spectators. It is unlikely that the main arena would be available, but there is a top field with plenty going on around it. Erect a temporary stand, make it into an arena and offer spectators something that's exciting to watch.

What do readers of Shintyfan think? You can have your say via the Comments section below or comment on Facebook.

Valerie Fraser Cup Final - photos

2013-01-20T22:36:00.001+00:00

Just to keep us going through the pre-season cold, here are a few photos from the women's finals day back in September. Photos from the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup Final have been published earlier on Shintyfan - but these photos are from the Big One. The Valerie Fraser is the female equivalent of the Camanachd Cup, and what a contest this was in the hills of Cowal.
All photos are copyright.

Valerie Fraser Cup Final - Aberdour v Glengarry