Strictly come camanachd - Macaulay draw made

Thank God there's light at the end of the tunnel at last - with the first reminder of the new season coming just around the corner. 

Saturdays will soon no longer be about X-bleedin'-factor, Strictly Come Prancing or strange pastimes like DIY.

Life showed signs of returning to normal for shintyfans as the draw for the 2013 MacAulay Cup was made earlier today, live on Oban FM (103.3 or www.obanfm.net).

The draw is as follows:

Forget Strictly Come Dancing (above) 

SOUTH

Oban Celtic v Taynuilt

Inveraray v Glasgow Mid Argyll

Glen Orchy v Oban Camanachd

Bute v Kyles Athletic

Second round: 

Oban Celtic/Taynuilt v Inveraray/Glasgow Mid Argyll 

Glen Orchy/Oban Camanachd v Bute/Kyles Athletic

NORTH

Newtonmore v Lochaber

Fort William v Kilmallie

Kingussie v Kinlochshiel

Lovat v Glenurquhart

Second round:

Newtonmore/Lochaber v Fort William/Kilmallie

Kingussie/Kinlochshiel v Lovat/Glenurquhart

The final will be played at Mossfield Park, Oban on August 17 2013.

JOIN SHINTY'S SUCCESS STORY - Support Scotland

Pic courtesy of Sportsfile, Dublin

As you can read elsewhere on this site, shinty is riding the crest of a wave right now.

Never has there been such a buzz right across the country around both the traditional men's game and the up-and-coming women's shinty phenomenon.

And if you would like to be involved in sponsoring the Scotland sides, now's your chance. But you'd better move fast before someone else takes your place...
 
As the dust settled this week on a hugely successful Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final and yet another dramatic premier league climax, the Scotland men's senior and under-21 squads have been announced - along with the women's selection - for next month's clash with Ireland.


The squads are listed below, and Shintyfan would welcome any thoughts on selections, match prospects, venues or any other aspect of the international shinty/hurling series.

Newtonmore - three years the best

Action from - arguably - the decisive league match in July

Congratulations to Newtonmore, who yesterday clinched the inaugural Orion Group Premiership title in their final league tie away to Glenurquhart.

After weeks of teetering on the edge of winning the league, the Badenoch side wasted no time in wrapping things up, with two goals in the first 20 minutes from Danny Macrae and Chris Sellar.

The 2-0 final score meant left Kyles Athletic unable to catch Newtonmore, regardless of what happens in Kyles' own last game of the season - a Camanachd Cup Final re-match versus Inveraray.

Newtonmore close in on title, remember...

Still chasing, but Kyles hopes are fading

In the wake of last weekend's huge Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup final in Oban, Newtonmore's success in the Orion Premiership seems almost to have been eclipsed.

But today - or maybe next week - the Badenoch side will claim the inaugural Orion Group-sponsored version of shinty's top league, and the third premier league crown on the trot.

Again this season Kyles pushed them hardest, and the Camanachd Cup champions might still nick the league from Newtonmore - but it's unlikely.

Drumnadrochit should witness the crowning of the new league winners as Newtonmore face Glenurquhart, but the home side, won't be in any mood to lie down while they are fighting to secure fourth spot in the league table - the best in the club's history and a nice achievement alongside the MacAulay Cup.

Time for shinty to build on success

This has been a fantastic few months for UK sport. And after recent successes in our own game, shinty must cash in while the time is right.

NEWTONMORE WILL WIN LEAGUE...PROBABLY

With rampaging Roddy in the side, Kyles won't be giving up

So, after last weekend's epic tussle with Inveraray, Kyles have the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup for the 21st time in the club's history - after a gap of 18 years since their last cup triumph.

ELEVEN GOAL THRILLER - WHAT A FINAL

The rampaging Roddy MacDonald breaks through to level at 1-1

What can you say about a game and occasion like today's Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final?

It's a kind of magic

The BBC has released a short, light-hearted wee video ahead of tomorrow's Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final.

Laced with clips of such well-known shinty names as Hugh Dan MacLennan, Inveraray captain Scott Robertson and....erm...Billy Connolly, and fronted by BBC sports presenter David Currie, it gives a two-minute introduction to the game and a wee taster with the final just around the corner.

View it by clicking here

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GREATS

Captains for the 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final, Scott Robertson (Inveraray) and Andrew King (Kyles)

Most shinty clubs have got tales and legends of battles with neighbouring clubs going back over generations.
Think Newtonmore v Kingussie. Oban Celtic v Oban Camanachd.

This week, memories are revived of battles of old between Inveraray and Kyles Athletic.

Younger fans will remember - with either pleasure or pain - the 2011 Camanachd Cup quarter-final at the Winterton, when a previously-flying Kyles came crashing to earth at the hands of Inveraray, who to that point had shown not a lot of league form.

Others, of a more mature vintage, might remember a Celtic Cup Final in 1974. Played at Strachur as opposed to the normal Glasgow venue, Kyles were winning 3-0 at half-time and looking comfortable. Inveraray ended up winning 4-3.

These two matches happened to end in Inveraray wins, but many times Kyles overcame their rivals - and never was there an easy match.

And nobody can recall these great encounters without remembering the players involved. What great players there were around in days gone by.

Who do you remember as being the greats? In Inveraray, you may remember Alex Blyth, or even Toad MacPherson's memorable performances? For Kyles, what about Tom Nicolson? Or arguably the most important current player in Kenny MacDonald?

What are your memories of Kyles versus Inveraray?

EPIC CAMANACHD CUP FINAL AHEAD

Kyles Athletic and Inveraray are two shinty clubs with names that echo down the years in Camanachd Cup history.
As these two Argyll shinty clubs - near neighbours and rivals - square up at an Argyll venue this weekend, history is created.

SHINTYFAN'S CONVERTED

Refreshed and invigorated after watching a really great day of shinty at the women's finals this afternoon, Shintyfan is back.

OUR SHINTY

If you have an idea for a shinty-related article on Shintyfan, whether it relates to the present, past or future of the game, let me know by clicking here.

Leave contact details and the background to your story, and we'll get back to you.

For example - we all have our shinty heroes from bygone eras. Who is yours and what's the story?

I am also very interested in the shinty-playing communities.

• What does shinty mean to your village, town or district? 
• How do locals feel about their local shinty club(s)? 
• In what ways do people support clubs' activities up and down the country, and wherever shinty is played in the world?

TAYNUILT OVERWHELMED BY ARAY

This was always going to be a tough assignment for Taynuilt against Inveraray, and so it proved at a packed AJG Parcels Celtic Society Cup Final, hosted at Strachur's new playing field.

An enthusiastic crowd of around 500 - remarkable considering the match had been postponed the previous Saturday -  gathered among the Cowal hills to watch Taynuilt's first venture into a senior final against a premiership side that has come to think of the Celtic Cup as its own over the past decade.

A good early first half showing from Taynuilt was undone by some slackness in defence six minutes into the final, as Russell MacKinlay fired home from an angle. Slick forward play by Inveraray produced another three before the half-time whistle, from Garry MacPherson after 20 minutes, Christopher Crawford a couple of minutes later and MacKinlay again on the stroke of half-time.

The second half might have offered the hope of a Taynuilt fightback, as they had not been that far off the pace to that point.

A flurry of early second half goals from Inveraray sealed a comprehensive win as the Taynuilt heads started to drop.  Within 20 minutes it was 11-0, and by the end it stood at 14-0. Taynuilt, though, put up a brave fight towards the end of the second half, bringing out a number of saves from Aray keeper, Graham MacPherson, but were ultimately overwhelmed by more mobile players in the Inveraray forward line - though the centre and half-back players for Inveraray also coped well with the Taynuilt threat.

Aside from the Inveraray victory, mention must go to the MacPherson brothers, Gary and Graham, who each secured a thirteenth medal apiece -  a record medal haul for the competition. Just a word for the hosts as well. This was the first major event, never mind the first major shinty final for the Strachur venue. The Glasgow Celtic Society, sponsors and local organisers deserve huge praise for a great event.

As for Taynuilt - they should take heart from much of their performance and a great deal of pride in reaching the final.

Inveraray?

We shall see. They look good just now, so a Camanachd Cup or another adventure is far from impossible.

DRY FOR CELTIC FINAL...SO FAR, SO GOOD

Plenty of shinty action this weekend to enjoy - provided the thundery showers don't put paid to the prospect of them being played.




The big cup game this weekend is the AJG Parcels Celtic Society Cup Final, but more of that later...

WILL TAYNUILT RIP UP FORM BOOK?

Captains Stuart Scott, Taynuilt and Inveraray's Scott Robertson would love to get their hands on the old trophy

It's an all-Argyll affair in the AJG Parcels Celtic Society Cup final this Saturday, as it was last year at Inveraray when Kyles took on Oban Camanachd - both (then) premiership sides.

This year's 108 Celtic Cup Final, at Strachur's new community playing field, will be contested between south division one club, Taynuilt and premiership outfit, Inveraray - and refereed by Argyll man, Robert Baxter.

The north equivalent, the MacTavish, followed a similar pattern this year when premiership Newtonmore faced north first division Lochaber last weekend. Despite some determined play, with no little skill, Lochaber ended up the wrong side of a 5-1 thumping.

TENNIS RULES FOR SHINTY?

Tennis star David Nalbandian hit the headlines for the wrong reasons at the weekend after a line judge was injured at Aegon Championships final at Queen's club.
The Argentinian player, performing well and a set up at the time, all of a sudden found himself facing a break point in the second set - when he inexplicably kicked a panel in front of line judge Andrew McDougall's seat, injuring him in the process.

This show of temper got him disqualified. It cost him the the chance to close out the match, win the title and become (I understand) the first South American to win a major grass court title.

What the dickens (or words to that effect) I hear you say, has this got to do with shinty? This website is called Shintyfan, after all.

Well, it got me thinking. Never a good thing...

LOCHABER SO SORE - AND KYLES GO TOP

There was to be no fairytale MacTavish Cup Final win for Lochaber as they were defeated 5-1 by reigning premier league and Camanachd Cup champions, Newtonmore.

SHINTYFAN POLL - WHO WILL WIN THE MACTAVISH?

From left - Lochaber's Hugh Innes and John MacKenzie of Newtonmore discuss the Shintyfan poll

Have your say in another of our popular polls on Shintyfan.

This time the question is simple: Who do you think will win this Saturday's Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final?

Vote for your favourite - and tell your mates to make their vote count.

You'll find the poll on the left hand side of this page.

DOUBLE DEFEAT FOR SHINTY'S OLD FIRM

What a weekend of sport.

Never mind your overpaid tennis stars, puffed-up-with-their-own-importance Euro Championship footballers or freakishly muscular rugger internationalists battering each other into brain damage.

Photo by John MacTavish

I'm talking about real sport - shinty.

If it's the real thing you're looking for and if sporting upsets are what you're after, look no further.

This is a season that looks as open as any in recent years, with any half-decent side - on their day -  capable of beating any other team.

And for the fans, it's turning into a pretty exciting one to watch.

THE ONE THAT YOU WANT

The premier league , or nowadays the Orion Premiership, title is the ultimate sign of season's best or most consistent team. It is a huge honour.

Ask most shinty players, though, whether they would rather a have a league title or a Camanachd Cup winners' medal - and I am willing to bet that most would go for the romance of shinty's most prized silverware...the cup.

DERBY DAY IN THE SUN

Seeing double - McMurdo x 2 in Inveraray's big derby win over Kinlochshiel - Photo: John MacTavish

The first official Orion Premiership Derby Day was blessed with fantastic sunny weather as dusty old rivalries were polished up for the new occasion.

HOT, HOT, HOT

Summer shinty?

Sunny weather on Bute last weekend - but it's only got hotter this week

It's been a long time coming, but it's here at last.

Anyone who has been a follower of my shinty-based mumblings since Shintyfan was started a couple of months back will know that I am obsessed by weather - bad, very bad, in-betweeny and (that rarest of occurences) dry, sunny weather.

CELTIC SET FOR ALL-ARGYLL FINAL

AJG Parcels Celtic Society Cup semi-finals 

Bute 3 - Inveraray 6
Aberdour 1 - Taynuilt 4

Bute's Brian Liddell clears under pressure from Chris Crawford

Next month’s AJG Parcels Celtic Cup final at Strachur will be contested by two Argyll teams after decisive victories in Saturday’s semi-finals.

You can see the key moments at Shintyfan's You Tube channel

Recent form suggested that Inveraray’s tussle with Bute would be a tight affair.


The two premier league sides had cancelled each other  out at the Winterton in a league match some weeks earlier, with a late Inveraray penalty only just splitting the teams in the end.

DERBY DAY...FOR SOME

Newtonmore Captain John MacKenzie (left) with Kingussie skipper Craig Dawson

This Saturday (May 26) sees the introduction of a new concept in shinty - Derby Day in the Orion Premiership.
The full list of fixtures is below:

KINGUSSIE V NEWTONMORE
BUTE V KYLES
KILMALLIE V FORT WILLIAM
LOVAT V GLENURQUHART
INVERARAY V KINLOCHSHIEL

Designed as an opportunity to promote the top tier of sport of shinty and the Orion Group, the May weekend of local ties will be followed by a second Derby Day in August, as the season moves into its final stages.

For further information on the Orion Group Premiership Derby Days, visit www.shinty.com or call the Camanachd Association direct on 01463 715931.

....Wait a minute.

Inveraray versus Kinlochshiel?

I've seen some pretty contrived local derbies arranged in the professional football leagues - but this is a pretty loose definition of a derby, by any measure. 

Trusty Google tells me that there are 140 road miles between these fierce local rivals.

Long-distance relationships rarely work, and I predict that this rivalry might not last beyond next weekend.

WILL CUP SEMIS DELIVER DRAMA?

Captains Robert Walker (Bute) and Scott Robertson of Inveraray have one hand on the Celtic Cup

After the shocks, thrills and spills of last weekend's MacAulay Cup ties, in which both of last year's finalists tumbled from the competition, what does this Saturday have in store?

Well, it's semi-final Saturday in shinty's oldest competition for a start - the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup, this year known as the AJG Parcels Celtic Cup.

And in the north, we should know who will contest the Co-operative MacTavish Cup final by 4.30pm the same day.

KYLES GO BACK HOME

Work under way in late March...

After months of work on their home pitch at Kames playing field, during which they have been forced to use alternative pitches for home ties, Kyles Athletic are coming home this weekend.

The famous shinty arena - used by famous Kyles teams for more than half a century - has been suffering in recent years with drainage problems as rainfall in Argyll has seemed to exceed all historic levels.

POSITIVE CHAT WITH OFFICIALS INVITED

The Camanachd Association, in partnership with the Camanachd Referees Association, would like to invite coaches, managers and match officials to attend one of the following:

Development Forums
1. Monday May 28 at Dalmally Community Hall, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
2. Monday June 11 at Craigmonie Centre, Drumnadrochit, 7.30pm – 9.30pm

The association would like to develop a clearer understanding, through positive discussions, of the following:

OLD SHINTY PHOTOS - CAN YOU HELP?

Bute Shinty Club would be very interested in hearing from anyone who can shed any light on the old shinty photos below.

If you can help identify the teams, years, players or trophies pictured - or anything else to do with the photographs - let us know.

There is a bit of a clue as to the date of photo 3. See if you can spot it.

...and is that not a hardy-looking bunch of lads in photo 4?

If you have any old shinty photos you think would be of interest, with or without accompanying tales, please contact Shintyfan by clicking here, and we'll see what we can do to help.

Photo 1

LOCHABER DERBY AS SCOTTISH CUP DRAW MADE

Michael Russell MSP with pupils from Rockfield and St
Columba's Primary School at today's cup draw

The draw for the second round of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup was made on Monday May 14 by Argyll and Bute Council leader-elect, Roddy McCuish assisted by Argyll and Bute MSP Michael Russell.

The second round brings in the ten Orion Premiership sides along with the six teams who won through in the first round.

TOP TEAMS DUMPED FROM MACAULAY

There will be less silverware to polish in the Tighnabruaich trophy cabinet over the next year, and any talk of a grand slam around Newtonmore can be forgotten.

Last season's top two teams in shinty, and also the 2011 finalists in the Artemis MacAulay Cup, were unceremoniously ousted from this year's competition at the weekend.

RECIPE FOR A GOOD SHINTY PLAYER

You might have read my post on the reasons why I think Newtonmore will be tough to beat this season, and why their players are so effective.

But what makes a good shinty player - or a good sports player in general?

Start 'em young - is that the answer?

MACAULAY STILL STIRS THE BLOOD

The fantastic MacAulay Cup moves centre stage this weekend, and the draw has thrown up some interesting ties, a wee bit of potential for shocks and a break from league duty for some.

The MacAulay, or nowadays the Artemis MacAulay Cup is a good old-fashioned cup competition. South and north teams are kept apart until the final, and this is a throwback to the old-style Camanachd Cup before it was opened up in 1983.

STICK ONE ON YOUR OPPONENT - DON'T GET SENT OFF

Don't be naughty boys and girls.

An easy ready reckoner to keep in your pocket during a game.

Better still, stick it on your opponent's shinty helmet, or alternatively their forehead, if naked in the headwear department.

That way it will be easier to refer to if you need to pause, reflect and carefully consider the consequences of any action you might have been contemplating on the field of play.

Either that or just play shinty...

Any bad boys and girls out there might want to cut out and keep - just in case.

CUP ROMANCE, NO WELLIES...AND SNOW

I asked the question in an earlier post, and I'll ask it again.

Can anyone stop Newtonmore this season?

Saturday was a good day for Norman MacArthur's men, as they consolidated their position at the top of shinty.

Inveraray's McMurdo goes down under Bute pressure - Photo by John MacTavish

It might be May, but snowflakes were spotted in some parts of Scotland, encouraged by an icy north-easterly breeze, but last Saturday was a great day for shinty in most parts.

BORN IN THE USA. SHINTY TO THE CORE

Sun disrupts play in Northern California

A fascinating and wide-ranging interview with Michael Bentley, one of the founding fathers of shinty in the United States. 
In the article, Michael outlines the challenges involved in developing shinty in a huge country with no shinty tradition; the couthy beginnings to his shinty odyssey and the strong bonds of friendship forged over the years with many shinty people in Scotland.
And how he would love to take the USA to a shinty world cup...

'POSITIVE THINGS' AT SHINTY'S AGM

Last week's Camanachd Association AGM was all about accentuating the positive in a challenging financial climate.
The Ben Nevis Hotel in Fort William was the venue for the 2012 Annual General Meeting, held on Friday April 27.

MACTAVISH AND CELTIC CUP SEMI VENUES DECIDED

The toss of a coin has decided the venues for the semi-final ties in shinty's major regional cup competitions.
The Camanachd Association Annual General Meeting in Fort William on Friday evening saw club representatives claim heads or tails to decide the penultimate ties in this season's AJG Celtic Society Cup and Co-operative MacTavish Cup.

CUP QUARTERS AND A PREMIER CRACKER

Pic courtesy of DJ MacDonald

Some great games are in prospect today, with cup quarter-finals in the south and north.
The stand-out tie in this year's AJG Parcels Celtic Cup features Inveraray and Kyles Athletic at the home of the famous yellow and black.

DUNCAN MACKAY - AN APPRECIATION

We were sorry to hear of the passing of Duncan MacKay, Inveraray.
Duncan passed away after a long illness last Friday.

Duncan was a former player and committee member of Inveraray Shinty Club and will be remembered for helping to re-form the club in the early 80’s after a number of years when it was not in existence.

Personally, I remember Duncan MacKay as a veteran player (looking back, he was probably younger than I am now) in the very early 1980s, as Inveraray

WORST SHINTY VENUE?

Following on from Shintyfan's post earlier this month on the best shinty venue - let's turn the question on its head and ask:

WHERE IS THE WORST PLACE TO PLAY SHINTY?

Your suggestions don't need to be entirely serious, but give reasons for your selections please.

PREDICT THE SHINTY SCORES - APRIL 21

April 21 matches

Predict the scores- just a bit of fun...

Copy the fixtures and paste in the comments section below - then enter your scores in the brackets  - Shintyfan's predictions are in red 

Test your shinty knowledge.

CAMANACHD CUP - GLENORCHY v OBAN CAMANACHD

Click on the link below or go to Shintyfan's You Tube channel (known as shintytv)  to get a five-minute glimpse of the Camanachd Cup replay between Glenorchy and Oban Camanachd at Mart Park, Dalmally on Saturday April 14.

You will see Glenorchy's moment of hope as the home side equalises.

Go to this You Tube video link to see the Glenorchy equaliser.

Oban Camanachd went on to win the match 2-1 in extra time.

STOP *"!%~* SWEARING

I was at a shinty match recently with my young child.
As we left the game, an eight-year-old voice piped up from the back of the car: "They were saying a lot of swears today, dad, weren't they?".

PREDICT THE SHINTY RESULTS - APRIL 14

April 14 matches

Predict the scores- just a bit of fun...

Copy the fixtures and paste in the comments section below - then enter your scores in the brackets  - Shintyfan's predictions are in red 

Test your shinty knowledge.

NEWTONMORE - WHO CAN CHALLENGE?

Photo - John MacTavish

I'm just sitting here looking at the Orion Premiership fixtures for this weekend, and one thought keeps coming back...

- who can stop Newtonmore?

They are the most impressive team I have seen this season by a distance.

SHINTY CORRESPONDENTS WANTED

We are looking for correspondents to cover shinty news across Scotland, the rest of the UK and other parts of the world including the USA.

CAMANACHD FINAL BACK IN OBAN

The final was last at Mossfield in 2009

The Camanachd Association has announced that the 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final, which takes place on Saturday September 15, will be held at Mossfield Stadium, Oban.


Mossfield last hosted shinty’s premier event in 2009 where Fort William defeated Kyles Athletic with a dramatic last minute winner from Fort William’s James Clark.

AJG PARCELS CELTIC FINAL FOR STRACHUR

Celtic Society president Duncan Cameron with Douglas Currie and Willie Montgomery of Strachur Development Company beside Fraser MacLean from sponsor AJG Parcels

For the second successive year, the final of shinty’s oldest competition – and still one of the most prestigious prizes in the sport – is to be played in Argyll.
Following last year’s successful final held in Inveraray, the occasion is set to stay on the shores of Loch Fyne as  the Cowal village of Strachur hosts this year’s final tie, on Saturday June 23.

WHERE'S THE BEST SHINTY VENUE?

There is no doubt about it, gone are the days when the sheep and cattle were driven out of the shinty field as the pitch was lined with sawdust.

In those days of winter shinty, it was very difficult to keep pitches in good nick, and muddy battles between battle-hardened shinty warriors was the norm.

Nowadays, and with the advent of summer shinty, (slightly) better weather has made for players that are fleeter of foot, and playing surfaces have undoubtedly improved in tandem.

THE BEST SHINTY VENUE IN SCOTLAND?

With the new sports pitch at Strachur set to host the AJG Parcels Celtic Society Cup Final this weekend, why not come along and see the new facilities?

The day's events start on Saturday June 23 with the under-17 McQuiston Cup Final at 1pm, followed by the big final starting at 4.05pm between Inveraray and Taynuilt.

If you can't get there, have a wee look on BBC Alba during live coverage of the final.

CRACKING EASTER ACTION AS FORT MAKE PROGRESS

League positions rarely lie, so it should be no surprise that Kinlochshiel would beat the teams around them.

EASTER PARADE OF FANTASTIC SHINTY

Shinty fans are hopping with joy as they look forward to a egg-citing day of Easter weekend shinty.

The new pavilion at Strachur

Will premiership table-toppers Newtonmore have an easy afternoon as they take on bottom club Kilmallie at the Eilan?

Can Kinlochshiel crush Kyles?

...and it's Gaelic all the way on Skye, while one of the best new playing fields in Scotland is unveiled later today.

TOP WOMEN SHINTY PLAYERS ANNOUNCED

The Women’s Camanachd Association has announced the 2011 players of the year as voted by their fellow players in the women’s game. 

The winners from each division of women’s shinty - along with a few words from the respective clubs - are as follows:

EASTER GAMES AND RONALDO'S RETURN

Oban Celtic v Strachur - pic by John MacTavish

Last week was some week of shinty. 

Cup upsets, cracking games and the return of shinty's answer to Lionel Messi (alright, alright - perhaps more like Gary Lineker).

And there's more to look forward to this weekend.

Where do I start?

NEWTONMORE V KINGUSSIE - 1934 CAMANACHD CUP FILM

If you are in any way a fan of shinty, never mind the great Badenoch rivals of Newtonmore and Kingussie, you have to see this clip of a film shot, apparently, in 1934.

BRITISH AND IRISH JOIN FORCES IN COMBAT

The British army's very own shinty team is to take on the cream of the Irish Defence Force's hurlers in a special charity match later this month - in the first ever international of its kind between the two countries.

JOHN STICKS IT TO RIVALS

Check out the results of our who-should-get-a-statue poll to the left side of this page.

In a shocking development...

IS SHINTY GETTING SOFT?

HOW seriously do you take the risk of injury in shinty?

SHINTY RETURNS TO CORNWALL

The Falmouth Packet newspaper in Cornwall has a report on the return of shinty to Cornwall for the first time since the sport died out in the 1920s.

Who knows - we might one day see a Scotland-England international, or even a World Cup of shinty?? You never know.

The report can be found by clicking here

NEW PITCH FOR KYLES?

Never mind your manicured, drained and level pitches. ​This is the way shinty should be played.

DRAW MADE FOR CAMANACHD CUP

The draw for the preliminary and first rounds of the 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup took place this morning at Scottish Hydro’s headquarters in Perth.

HYDRO POWER FOR CAMANACHD CUP

Jonny Petrie, Ronald Ross and Donald Stewart

The Camanachd Association has announced that Scottish Hydro has signed a three year extension to its sponsorship of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup along with various youth activities.
 
The renewal represents an investment of more than £150,000 over the next three years.

FANCY DANS AND FAIRYTALES - post script

This was just about my first posting on this site, around three weeks ago. It seems longer, for some reason, and this is not because I ain't enjoying it - because it is tremendous crack.
At the time I wrote "I'm new to this blogging lark" - and I'm still learning a great deal every day. One of the things I am picking up is to use the old journalists' trick and revisit stories covered some time before.

With this in mind, I am aware that I didn't follow up my posting on Frank Bruno's comments on Scottish boxer Ricky Burns, to whom I referred in early March.

SPICY LEAGUE AND CUP ACTION AHEAD

Photo by John MacTavish

We are in for another feast of shinty on Saturday - this time with league and cup action mixed together for added spice.
Amazingly, the weather forecasters are predicting that it's going to stay dry through Saturday. That's two good weeks on the trot, and when was the last time people in many parts of Scotland could say that?
Northern California Camanachd Club eat your heart out.

Well, maybe not.

SPECIAL DELIVERY FOR CELTIC CUP

(l-r) Society secretary Iain Cameron, AJG Parcels' Argyll area manager Stephen Cameron and Duncan Cameron, society president

The Glasgow Celtic Society today announced a new sponsor for the oldest competition in shinty.

The Highlands and Islands' leading collection and delivery company AJG Parcels is to sponsor the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup - a competition that began in 1879, seventeen years before the Camanachd Cup was instituted.

The competition will be rebranded as the AJG Parcels Celtic Society Cup.

VIDEO STARS - KYLES/KINGUSSIE IN MOTION

I have uploaded a brief, and shaky, video clip from the Orion Premiership match between Kyles and Kingussie yesterday at the temporary pitch at Ormidale.

Click on the link to the right hand side of this page to view.

This is a pretty rough first attempt, but I hope to do this more regularly as time goes on. If you have shinty videos you want to share with Shintyfan, please get in touch.

There is also a link to the Camanachd Association's video channel, again to the right of this page.

WHO DESERVES A STATUE?

I was listening to John Beattie's Sport Nation on Radio Scotland yesterday, and there was a discussion on the programme about statues for sporting heroes.
The light hearted item discussed who in the sporting world should have a statue erected to them.

It got me thinking - who from the world of shinty should have a statue erected in their honour?

CHAMPS STAY TOP AS KYLES BEAT KINGS

Photo by www.john-mactavish.com

In a fantastic day of shinty in conditions the summer season was made for, Newtonmore held on to top spot in the Orion Premiership with an emphatic win over Inveraray, while Kyles battered Kingussie in a game on the sea (well, almost).

BUTTERFLIES BEFORE THE GAME

As this blog develops, I find myself going on and on about the weather.
But it plays such an important role in Scottish outdoor sport - particularly amateur sport.

It looks like a cracker of a day for today's matches.

CAMERAS GO OVER THE SEA TO SKYE

Shinty fans the world over got the chance earlier this week to vote for which game should be filmed. As the deadline passed at 9am yesterday (Thursday), the votes were counted and the winning match announced.