Meet the young shinty ambassadors 2021

Below are some profiles of the ambassadors who have already signed up for 2021. When it is safe to do so, clubs should get in contact with any local ambassador to see how they can support them in their role. Likewise, our ambassadors will be reaching out to clubs to support in any way they can.
Hamish Shaw & Ruthven Hamilton – Lochaber High School.
Why did you both want to be the Shinty Ambassadors for your school?
– “We both enjoy playing Shinty very much and feel that there are not enough chances for people to play Shinty. We would like to give people that option as we feel this will help the Shinty community grow in the future.”
What skills/experience are you both bringing to the role?
– “We have both played Shinty for years now, each for different teams and both of us making it to first team level. We feel this will benefit us as we have had different coaches that will have taught us different methods and we will be able to bring them together to find the best of both and pass that on.”
What is the best thing about Shinty in your opinions?
– “The amount of people from different areas you’re able to meet and become friends with through Shinty is amazing, also the benefits of learning to work well in a team and how to be resilient through games in which your team is losing.”
Describe yourselves each in 3 words:
– Hamish: “confident, kind and charismatic”
– Ruthven: “determined, understanding and confident”
Cameron Leiper & Somhairle Thomson – Kingussie High School
Why did you both want to be the Shinty Ambassadors for your school?
‘We wanted to improve shinty within our school and also the wider community by getting pupils involved in local initiatives related to shinty i.e Badenoch Shinty Memories’
What skills/experience are you both bringing to the role?
‘We are both captains of our respective club teams, and are experienced players through all age groups and into senior shinty and therefore bring leadership skills to the role which will help us with developing and encouraging others to take part.’
What is the best thing about shinty in your opinions?
‘The craic! And spending time with your friends and forming new friendships through the sport.’
Describe yourselves in 3 words:
Motivated
Eager
Leaders
Lisa Ford & Freddie Patterson – Ardnamurchan High School.

Why did you both want to be the Shinty Ambassadors for your school?
“We both love the sport and are keen to be involved as much as possible. We want to give back to our school and community by helping to promote the sport as well as improving our own leadership skills.”
What skills/experience are you both bringing to the role?
– Lisa and Freddie have both played Shinty since Primary 1.
– Lisa has experience in a leadership role through captaining the Ardnamurchan Ladies South Division 2 team as well as captaining the South in the U14’s North vs South fixture and representing Alba at U14 level.
– Freddie has experience as leading and working as part of a team through representing Ardnamurchan at U14’s, U17’s and Senior level as well as representing the North at U14 level. Freddie has also led as house captain in school which involves a range of duties.
What is the best thing about Shinty in your opinions?
– Freddie: “My favourite part of Shinty is being part of a team. Having to do your job and rely on your teammates so that you win as a team or lose as a team and no one’s to blame. I also love the competitive aspect of Shinty.”
– Lisa: “I also love being part of a team as well as the competitive side of it. I love the opportunities that Shinty gives me to represent my team at a range of levels and play against teams from Scotland and further afield.”
Describe yourselves each in 3 words:
– Freddie: “Competitive, committed and proactive”
– Lisa: “Responsible, resourceful and resilient”
Daisy Gribbons & Claire Shanks – Uddingston Grammar

Why did you both want to be the shinty Ambassadors for your school?
“To encourage people in our school and the local community to get involved in sport and hopefully then develop a passion for shinty. We aim to organise different taster sessions and lunch time clubs to promote the sport in order to get people to come along and give shinty a go and have fun whilst doing so.”
What skills/experience are you both bringing to the role?
-Last year both Daisy and Claire completed their UKCC Level 1 Shinty Coaching and Refereeing courses!
-Daisy was one of our Shinty Ambassadors last year. “This role allowed me to develop my skills and become more confident. Within my role last year, I coached our U14 team on a weekly basis, ran our lunchtime shinty club and spoke at assemblies to promote shinty.”
-Both Daisy and Claire are also members of the South Lanarkshire Young People’s Sports Panel. Claire said, “this role allows me to voice my opinions about sport and shape sport for the best in my area.”
-Claire has also been a Young Ambassador and worked with a team to develop sport and PE within Uddingston Grammar. She has also been able to participate in the Sport Coaching Academy.
What is the best thing about shinty in your opinion?
“We believe that the best part about shinty is that it brings everyone together to train and play and it has endless positive impacts on your mental health. Not only is shinty a sport that allows you to travel around Scotland to compete, but it is also a fantastic opportunity to make new friends. Shinty has become even more important at this current time as it gives us an escape from everything that is going on and allows us to stay in a routine whilst also keeping fit.”
Describe yourselves each in 3 words:
Daisy- “Easy-going, hardworking and fun”
Claire- “Energetic, enthusiastic and cheerful”