As of the 5th June 2009, sportscotland’s Youth Development Manager embedded within the Camanachd Association, Garry Reid, is to be promoted to partnership manager.
Garry, who has been based within the Camanachd Association for the past 14 years, first as a development officer in Argyll and Bute and latterly as youth development manager – shinty for sportscotland, will fortunately retain his links with shinty using his extensive experience where he has made an outstanding contribution to the development of youth shinty. Over the past five years, as a direct result of Garry’s efforts, the number of Primary School participants has tripled to 1800 and to over 1200 in Secondary Schools.
Within his new role, Garry will take over the role of Gavin Lightwood as partnership manager for shinty, giving support and guidance for the sport where necessary.
In speaking about his departure, Garry says, “I have been offered the opportunity to take on a role with sportscotland that will provide me with new challenges, and take my work in a new direction and while extremely sad to be leaving my present role, I am also very excited about the future. It is hard to believe that I have been involved with youth development in shinty for nearly 14 years, and it has given me an immense amount of pleasure to see young players progress in the game and for youth shinty now to be a key focus of the sport.”
Camanachd Association President, Duncan Cameron, added, “We congratulate Garry on his new appointment and look forward to working with him as a sportscotland partnership manager. He has been a very successful Youth Development Manager in shinty evidenced by the huge growth in young people with participation figures tripled over his period of office.”