| Caithness Shinty Club | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Full name | Caithness Shinty Club | |
| Gaelic name | Comann Camanachd Ghaillibh | |
| Nickname | The Wolves, The Panthers | |
| Founded | 2014 | |
| Ground | Viewfirth Park Thurso | |
| League | non-league | |
| ||
Caithness Shinty Club is a shinty team from Caithness, Scotland. They are the most northerly club in Scotland, based primarily in Thurso but pulling players from across the county.
Whilst there was a shinty team for players working at Dounreay in the 1960s, Caithness had very little competitive shinty tradition since the early 20th century. [1]
In the 2000s, efforts were made to develop shinty. Youth teams from Wick and Thurso competed in the Far North League established in 2007. Some players from Caithness team who competed in 2008 but this first attempt at national competition was highly unsuccessful.
The success of the Mod Cup at the Caithness Mod in 2010, where a Caithness select defeated Sutherland 3–1 sparked hopes that Naver, or a different Caithness club might be resurrected. [2] However, shinty activity took a backseat as an instrumental founder of the Naver side, Kenny "Nostie" Macleod, who was also a minister in the Free Church of Scotland, died in April 2012. [3]
However, the passing of Reverend MacLeod did result in the establishment of an annual match in his memory, which has led to the founding of a proper Caithness club. This annual fixture, first played in 2012 saw a Caithness side defeat Sutherland 5–4. [4] [5]
The trophy was then played for again in 2013 with Caithness losing on penalties to Sutherland. [6]
In 2014, Caithness Shinty Club entered the St. Andrews 6-a-side shinty tournament for the first time, reaching the semi-finals on a run that included a win against local rivals Kinlochbervie Camanachd Club and a memorable 1–0 victory over league side and top seeds, Col-Glen Shinty Club. [7] Caithness also played Cornwall Shinty Club in the inaugural Natural Retreats Shinty Challenge Cup, succumbing 2–1 to the duchy side. [8]
Caithness Shinty Club entered the Inverness 6's for the first time in 2014,and despite being overpowered by some strong league sides, they managed to leave with their heads held high and far better for the experience. [9] A second Natural Retreats Shinty Challenge Cup match was held versus Cornwall Shinty Club, with Caithness going down 2–1 again to an experienced Cornwall side.
On 19 August 2014, in the Holburn Hotel, Caithness Shinty Club held its inaugural general meeting and constituted the club for the first time. Since then the club has secured sponsorship deals with Ashley Ann Ltd, the Holburn Hotel and Scrabster Seafoods.
On Saturday 4 October 2014, Caithness defeated a Sutherland select side 4–3 to regain the Kenny "Nostie" MacLeod cup This was also a significant day as the Caithness starting line up all trained and resided in Caithness. The scorers for Caithness were Angus Thorburn x2, Chris Sinclair and Darren Douglas.
Caithness Shinty Club held its first club 6's tournament in November, 2014. Three teams entered, East Caithness, Thurso and West Caithness. Thurso came out victors, winning both their matches, East Caithness were runners-up.
Caithness Shinty Club secured a grant from Dounreay Site Restoration Limited which will assist in the procurement of equipment.
The club held its first New Year's Day beach shinty match in Thurso with a fantastic turnout, the tradition will be repeated next year too.[ citation needed ]
On 24 January, Caithness succumbed to a 4–2 friendly defeat to Kinlochbervie Camanachd Club at Naver Park, Thurso. The match was played despite 2–3 inches of snow.
Caithness travelled to Inverness to meet Inverness Shinty Club in a friendly on 21 February.
Caithness entered the Strathdearn Cup for the first time and received a home draw against Beauly Shinty Club, they succumbed 6–1 in a gritty performance. Luke Merchant scored the club's first ever senior goal.
The club aimed to enter the National league set up in 2017, thus completing the journey from non-league level to senior level. The club also plans to establish a Women's team. However, whilst it is still expected that Caithness will join the leagues, the long term viability of shinty in the area was put under threat by the possible destruction of the club's park, the only proper-sized area for shinty in the region, for a four lane athletics track.
However, the club secured a park in association with the local rugby club and while this augured well for future plans, a lack of player commitment resulted in the club still only competing in the cups in 2017.
In 2018, Caithness only competed in a couple of sixes tournaments.
Shinty is a team sport played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands and among Highland migrants to the major cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread in Scotland, and was even played in Northern England into the second half of the 20th century and other areas in the world where Scottish Highlanders migrated.
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Glenurquhart Shinty Club is a shinty team which plays in Drumnadrochit on the banks of Loch Ness, Scotland. It draws its players from the part of the Great Glen which encompasses Drumnadrochit, Lewiston and Glenurquhart. The club has been existence since 1885. They won their first senior trophy, the MacAulay Cup in 2012. After 2013 and 2014 saw them lose two successive MacTavish Cups, they are currently the holders as of 2015.
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Inverness Shinty Club is a shinty club from Inverness, Scotland. The first team competes in North Division One and the second team in North Division Three. Founded in 1887 as Inverness Town and County Shinty Club to distinguish from other clubs in Inverness such as Clachnacuddin, Inverness moved to the Bught Park in 1934. Inverness won the Camanachd Cup in 1952. The club struggles to compete for players with the wide proliferation of football clubs in Inverness, in particular Inverness Caledonian Thistle but still manages to put out two teams.
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Naver Athletic Camanachd Club was a shinty club based in Bettyhill, Sutherland, Scotland established in 2008. It was a select team drawing players from both Sutherland and Caithness. Naver competed in the Strathdearn and Sutherland Cups in 2008.
Taynuilt Shinty Club is a shinty team based in Taynuilt, Scotland. The club has existed in several different forms most recently in junior form but has reformed and won South Division Two in 2009.
Kinlochbervie Camanachd Club is a shinty club from Kinlochbervie, Sutherland, Scotland.
The Mod Cup, also known as the Aviemore Cup1995 - Royal National Mòd Programmes and fringe events > Royal National Mòd Programmes > [Mod / Mòd Naìseanta Rìoghail - An Comunn Gaidhealach - National Library of Scotland] is a trophy in the sport of shinty first competed for in 1969, traditionally played for by the two teams who are based closest to the host venue of the Royal National Mod. The current holders are Aberdour.(2022)
The Shinty league system is a series of interconnected leagues for shinty in Scotland. It is administered by the Camanachd Association.
Strathspey Camanachd is a shinty club based in Grantown-on-Spey, Strathspey, Scotland, currently competing in the Marine Harvest North Division Two.
SCOTS Camanachd is the only shinty team in the British Armed Forces.
The Cornwall Shinty Club is a shinty club from Cornwall in the UK. Formed in 2012, it is one of few clubs outside the Scottish Highlands.
The English Shinty Association (ESA) is the main body for promoting and encouraging the sport of shinty in England and Wales.
