Wednesday 16 April 2008
sportscotland recognises the cultural importance of the indigenous sport of shinty in Scotland and we are pleased to announce today a two-part investment in the sport totalling £247,145. The funding will go to the Camanachd Association, the governing body of shinty, to support its continued development as well as an investment in Strachur Shinty Club in Argyll to assist with the construction of a new shinty pitch.
Welcoming the investments in shinty, Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell said: “
“Shinty has strong cultural roots in many Scottish communities.
“This funding will encourage more people to try the sport while boosting the standard of coaching.
“Providing communities across Scotland with modern facilities of a high standard will help deliver our ambitions for sport.”
The annual investment of £107,145 to the Camanachd Association will help deliver a new coaching action plan and the development of coaching education programmes for shinty officials. It will also assist with the further development of an improved new player pathway and improving systems linked to membership. The improved new player pathway is designed to link schools, youth development and coaching initiatives with shinty clubs helping to attract and retain players and the new membership system will improve communications between the governing body and its members.
The Camanachd Association CEO Gill McDonald welcomed this investment saying: “We are delighted that sportscotland continue to support the development of shinty across Scotland through this investment. The Camanachd Association have a wide ranging agenda for 2008 and at the core of this is the drive to improve coaching, the player pathway and membership initiatives”.
Quality accessible facilities are vital if the sport of shinty is to continue to thrive and sportscotland is pleased to announce that Strachur Shinty Club, on the shores of Loch Fyne, is set to receive a sportscotland Building for Sport investment of £140,000 to assist with the construction of a new shinty pitch. The 167m x 85m pitch is being constructed to Camanachd Association standards and the whole project is being developed by Strachur and District Development Company Ltd.
Strachur Shinty Club, which was founded in 1880, has membership of around 90 people and the new pitch will provide the club with its very own facilities. The club hope the new facilities will encourage more young people to join seeing it continue to thrive for many years to come. The pitch will also be a much‑needed facility for the Strathcur community with the local primary school and other sports teams benefiting from it construction.
The Chairman of Strachur Community Development Company Ltd, Douglas Currie said: “This is a magnificent contribution from sportscotland. It makes possible the realisation of the Strachur community’s hopes and dreams stretching back many decades and generations.
“Since the inception of the development company some seven years ago, the directors, management committee and a dedicated fundraising committee have given freely of their time and it is most gratifying that all their hard work and effort should be recognised by sportscotland in such a positive way.”
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive, sportscotland said: “sportscotland recognises that shinty has a long and proud tradition in Scotland and is part of the cultural heritage of many communities. We are pleased to be investing in the whole infrastructure of the sport from local shinty facilities through to the governing body.
“The investment of £107,145 in the Camanachd Association will see its continued development and growth and allow it to put in place a robust coaching action plan for the future. In addition the investment of £140,000 to Strachur Shinty Club for their new shinty pitch, which will benefit the whole community, is another example of our commitment to providing communities across Scotland with quality accessible sports facilities.”
Notes to editors
- In 2007 sportscotland invested over £10 million in 54 sports governing bodies.
- The £107,145 investment in the Camanachd Association is made up of £35,000 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund and £72,145 sportscotland funding from the Scottish Government.
- Launched in March 2004, the Building for Sport Programme (BfS) is divided into two strands: Community Facilities and Training and Competition Facilities.
- Applications for the Community Facilities Programme covers the provision or upgrading of facilities for the local community.
- The Training and Competition Facilities Programme concentrates on the provision or upgrading of centres designated as a national or regional facility by the relevant national governing body for sport.
sportscotland Building for Sport Programme – April 2008
Community Facilities Strand
Applicant: Strachur and District Community Development Company Limited
Project Title: Formation of playing fields and facilities
Award: £140,000
Contact for Press: Les Kerr, Secretary, Strachur Shinty Club
Tel: 01369 704000
Construction of new shinty pitch to Camanachd Association standards (167 x 85m, with 6m run-offs) incorporating a football pitch (100 x 50m). Construction of an off road car park for 36 vehicles including three disabled and overflow for 30 vehicles.
