2024 Winter Newsletter
Alaina MacLennan - Regional Development Officer (East)
In January, 6 Badenoch and Strathspey Coaches went through their Foundation Coaching Course in Aviemore. These coaches are now in an active coaching role within Kincraig Juniors and Strathspey Camanachd.
Children Human Rights in Sport
Attended the Children Human Rights in Sport Conference in Stirling, this month alongside all other Sport Governing Bodies. Alaina heard from fantastic speakers across the sector, celebrated good practice and shared ideas in how to encourage participation and protect children rights.
Taster sessions
Alvie Primary School
Taster block started with Alvie Primary pupils to encourage shinty participation and make links to Kincraig Shinty Club!
Will Cowie - Regional Development Officer (West)
In the new year we have run our Regional Qualifiers for the National Indoor Competition. This is in continuance from the Winter Series events which have been happening monthly in Cowal and Bute and in the Oban areas. It has been great seeing so many schools back playing shinty in the Argyll and Bute area.
School of Shinty
Continued support of Dunoon Grammar School to help them become a School of Shinty and have shinty within the curriculum. They hosted games against Rothesay Academy for girls, S1-3 and S4-6 which they are looking to repeat after the exam period.
Girls Camp
Organised a girl’s day in Inveraray to try boost numbers for the new women’s team with plans for further girls camps in Lochgilphead and Oban in the Easter holidays.
Key Dates 2024
8th June:
cottages.com MacTavish Cup Final
The Eilan, Newtonmore
29th June:
Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final
Venue TBC
20th July:
Single Team Cup Final
Venue TBC
27th July:
Ferguson Transport & Shipping Balliemore Cup Final
Spean Bridge
3rd & 10th August:
Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Semi Finals
Venues TBC
7th September:
Caol Cup [North v South U21]
Balgate, Kiltarlity
17th August:
Artemis Macaulay Cup Final
Mossfield Park, Oban
7th September:
Mowi WCA Valerie Fraser Camanachd & Challenge Cup Finals
Venue TBC
24th August:
Strathdearn Cup Final
Venue TBC
14th September:
Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup Final
Blairbeg, Drumnadrochit
24th August:
Bullough Cup Final
Venue TBC
21st September:
Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final
An Aird, Fort William
The Half-Swing Podcast is BACK...
Available wherever you get your podcasts
Refereeing
Our sport is in a critical stage in terms of the number of officials available. If you could give back to the sport by sparing the occasional Saturday please get in contact with astie.cameron@shinty.com
Kirsty Lobban - Women & Girls Development Officer
It’s a very exciting time for 43 players travelling to the USA for the first USA Girls Shinty Camp 2024. The group will have the opportunity to develop their skills during a weeks training camp at Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. During the camp, the group will have access to world-class facilities including pristine grass fields, swimming facilities and gym. With only an hour drive to Manhattan, the group will not only get to experience life at a USA boarding school but an opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the Big Apple!
Roddy Young - Regional Development Officer (Central)
Roddy and Alaina supported Lee Thompson and Scottish Student Shinty for first Scotland University Trials, held in Edinburgh at end of January. The Scotland University squads offer an opportunity for students to represent their country in a Shinty/Hurling match in Ireland.
Aarron Duncan-MacLeod - Marketing & Communications Manager
Shinty’s Story – Sgeul na Camanachd
Work has continued at the Association to obtain funding for a shinty exhibition at the developing Bught Park Pavilion. We have begun the process of securing National Lottery Heritage Funds to support the exhibition called ‘Shinty’s Story – Sgeul na Camanachd’. Additionally, we have been working with delivery partners to develop the theoretical design elements.
Two More Clubs Join New Membership System
Beauly and Aberdour are the latest clubs to join JustGo Club+ which reduces the administrative burden on clubs as their subs are collected automatically by the system. They join Fort William and Glenurquhart who have been using the system for the past two years. Glenurquhart Secretary, Laura Stoddart said: "We at GUSC have found it a success in terms of managing club memberships and our members, with both young and old supporting it. Those new to shinty can register themselves on the portal, completing their details, selecting their club and thereby generating their CA numbers and purchasing their memberships, this dramatically reduces the secretary’s workload"
Half-Swing Podcast & Game of the Week Return
The return of the season means the return of the Half-Swing Shinty Podcast and the Mowi Game of the Week Interviews. So far Ruby MacLeod (Skye), Conor Cormack (Kinlochshiel), Calum Grant (Kingussie), Scott MacDonald (Kyles Athletic) and Isabella Langlands (Kinlochshiel) have been interviewed with further content coming from Ishbel Barr (Glenurquhart), Missy Cameron (Lochaber) and Drew MacDonald (Newtonmore) later this week.
Membership & Helmet Waivers
All players and coaches who are training and/or playing must be registered as well as all Committee Members. You can find documents, support and tutorial videos at https://shinty.com/membership/.
Helmets waiver forms are needed for anyone 25+ who does not intend to wear a compliant helmet and need to be renewed at time of registration on an annual basis.
Looking for membership support?
If you are still looking for support after consulting the tutorial videos please do not hesitate to contact atholl.davidson@shinty.com.
2024 Fixtures
The 2024 Fixtures are available by clicking here.
Matches.shinty.com is the place to go to find all the league tables and results as they happen.
Recent news...
YouTube Games Return...
Camanachd at a glance (Mar 2024)
2343
Current members
298
Adult Female
696
Adult Male
303
Youth Female
1046