The Mowi Premiership season starts this Saturday and with a full card of mouth-watering fixtures to look ahead to, shinty is set to be back with a bang. The champions, Kingussie play host to Kinlochshiel and that is our Mowi Game of the Week. We caught up with new Kingussie Captain, Calum Grant to preview the big game. You can read an interview with Kinlochshiel’s Conor Cormack here.

Calum, the new season is now just days away, how are you and the boys feeling ahead of the 2024 campaign?

We are all excited to get the season underway. A lot of young players in both the first and second team really shone in pre-season so I am looking forward to seeing them push for starting places.

You’ve taken over the mantle as Captain for this season, how did you feel when you got told and what will it feel like to lead the team come Saturday?

I felt honoured and initially nervous when Corky asked me to be Captain this year. It is a big responsibility, but one I am looking forward to taking on. It will definitely be a proud moment on Saturday and one I wont forget.

On that, Savio got all 4, James manged 3, how many of those silver mounted sticks are you eying up?

The past few seasons have been very successful however I’m not getting ahead of myself. My main focus is starting the season strong and we will take it from there.

A home fixture to start, but a tricky one with Kinlochshiel coming to The Dell. What are you expecting from them?

I am expecting a very fast paced, physical game. Kinlochshiel have a lot of exciting young players such as Duncan Matheson and Archie Macrae so we will have to defend very well to keep them out.

4 goals in 2 pre-season games for Dylan Borthwick, what does he bring to this side?

Dylan is a clinical finisher, his return to the squad this year is a big bonus for us. He has been training really well and I expect him to be a mainstay in our forward line this year.

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8 October 2024

A spectacular Mòd Shinty Saturday in prospect

by Camanachd Association

8 October 2024

Cromag Ceann-Feadhna Camanachd a’ Mhòid ga toirt dhan “Shinty Referee” Thèid an t-urram Ceann Feadhna Camanachd a’ Mhòid a bhuileachadh air Eanruig MacAonghais, a bhuineas do Phort nan Long san Eilean Sgitheanach, ach tha an diugh a’ fuireach ann an Steòrnabhagh, aig a’ Mhòd Rìoghail Nàiseanta san Òban Disathairne seo tighinn. Thòisich Eanruig le fìdeag an reiteire nuair a bha e ag obair air tìr-mòr agus a sguir e a chluich còmhla ri balaich Inbhir Nis. Lean e air an uairsin am meadhan na pàirce na reitire aig grunn de chuairtean deireannach Chomann na Camanachd, leithid Cupa MhicTàbhais Cupa an t-Sutharlamaich agus cupa Bhanca na h-Alba air latha mor na camanachd. Bha e cuideachd na bhritheamh-tadhail aig a’ chuairt dheireannaich fhèin co-dhiù dà thuras. Tha e cuideachd air a bhith na reitire aig geamaichean camanachd a’ Mhòid ann an leithid Phortrigh, Steòrnabhagh, Mòdan Chataibh agus Gallaibh, agus ann am Peairt. Leig Eanruig dheth a dhreuchd mar reiteire tri bliadhna air ais le gèam eadar Camanachd Leòdhais agus Srathghlais, 45 bliadhna an deidh a’ chiad ghèam a rinn e eadar Lochcaran agus Srathghlais. Ged a tha Eanruig ainmeil na reiteire agus aininichte air feadh choimhearsnachd na camanachd (agus air rèidio agus Tbh), thàinig e gu aire an -t-saoghail nuair a chlàraich Fergie Dòmhnallach nach maireann an ceòl agus an uairsin òran “The Shinty Referee”. Bha sin aig àireamh a h-aon air clàr i-Tunes ceòl an t-saoghail agus air a chluich air feadh an t-saoghail. Chaidh am pòrt a dhèanamh an toiseach aig Fèis Cheilteach ann an Trá Lí, agus thàinig an t-òran bho làimh Fhergie an dèidh sin. Chaidh a’ chiad chromag son urram a Chinn Feadhna a thoirt do dh’Ùisdean MacIllInnein aig Mòd Phàislig an uiridh agus bidh esan an làthair aig Pàirc Mhossfield anns an Òban aig geamaichean camanachd na bliadhna seo aig a’ Mhòd, Disathairne seo tighinn son a toirt do dh’Eanruig. Thuirt Ùisdean : “Bha e na urram dha-rìreabh dhomh fhèin nuair fhuair mi a’ chromag an-uiridh air a’ bhliadhna a bha mi a’ sgur a dh’obair mar chraoladair. Tha mi air leth toilichte gum bidh cromag a nis aig Eanruig, ged nach eil feum aige air buileach fhathast. Tha e gu math iomchaidh gur esan a tha tighinn as mo dhèidh agus e cho dealasach a’ frithealadh nam Mòd agus geamaichean camanachd fad is farsainn.” Chaidh a’ chromag a dhèanamh le Roddie MacIllInnein ann an Inbhirnis a tha nis ainmeil airson a bhith a’ cruthachadh chamain agus duaisean fiodha. Cha a mhaoineachadh leis a’ bhuidhinn Camanachd na Cuimhna (Shinty Memories Scotland). Mòd Shinty Chieftain’s “Cromag” goes to “The Shinty Referee” The honour of National Mòd Shinty Chieftain will be bestowed upon Henry MacInnes, who belongs to Portnalong, Skye but now lives in Stornoway, at the Royal National Mòd in Oban this coming Saturday. Henry first blew his referee’s whistle when working on the mainland when he rrtired from playing iwth Inverness. He would go on to officiate at several major finals, including the MacTavish Cup, the Sutherland Cup and the Bank of Scotland Cup on Camanachd Cup Final day, as well as being a goal judge at the final itself on occasion. He has also been a referee for several Mòd Cup Finals in Portree, Stornoway, Shawbost, Uist, Caithness, Sutherland and finally in Perth. The Mòd Cup Final in Perth was his final performance, one last game after retiring two years ago with a game between Camanachd Leòdhais and Strathglass almost 45 years to the day since his first game between Lochcarron and Strathglass. Although Henry is famous as a referee and well known amongst the shinty community (and on TV and radio) he came to the attention of the world when the late Fergie Macdonald recorded the tune, and then the song, “The Shinty Referee”. It reached number one on iTunes World Music Chart and was played throughout the world. The tune was first wirtten at the Pan-celtic Festival in Tralee, and then Fergie wrote the song years later. The role of Mòd Shinty Chieftain and the ceremonial cromag or crook was first rangte to Hugh Dan MacLennan at the Paisley Mòd last year, and he will be in attendance at Mossfield Stadium in Oban this Saturday to present this year’s cromag to Henry. Hugh Dan said : “It was truly a great personal honour to receive the cromag last year when I was retiring from broadcasting. I am delighted to present this croamg to Henry, even though he doesn’t need it quite yet. It is very fitting person to succeed me as he has been so passionate in attending the Mòd and shinty matches across the country.” The cromag has been crafted by Roddie MacLennan of Inverness, a renowned artisan who specialises in ceremonial camans and wooden prizes. It has been funded by Shinty Memories Scotland

by Camanachd Association

7 October 2024

Glasgow Mid Argyll Crowned Mowi WCA South 2 Champions After Playoff Victory

by Camanachd Association