New season, new investment for sport of shinty
Wednesday 1 March 2006
In time for the new playing season, a funding boost for shinty from sportscotland was announced today by Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson. The Camanachd Association, the sport’s governing body, will receive £95,000 to help the game’s continued growth.
The investment, of which £30,000 is sportscotland Lottery funding, is aimed at the development of the sport and will go towards overall player improvement and coach education, volunteering, and organisational and club development.
Ms Ferguson said: "This funding will help to support the development of Scotland’s ancient and unique sport as it grows and develops in its modern form by investing in current talent and in introducing the game to the shinty stars of the future."
The big news in the sport this year is the permanent shift in the playing season to summer following a two-year pilot. The historic first season of play is due to begin on 4 March, with the season due to end 28 October. Using the strap line "shinty - more than a game" ("a’ cumail taic ri spors na h-Alba") the organisation has rebranded itself to raise the game’s profile. The move in the playing season also saw the reorganisation of the current National League Division One set-up and the strengthening of the area leagues’ structure. In addition, the Camanachd Association has confirmed that the 2006 Camanachd Cup Final, the 99th playing of shinty’s blue ribbon event, will be held in Dunoon on 16 September at the Dunoon stadium. This is the first time that shinty’s annual event will be played in the Argyll-shire town.
This funding will help to support the development of Scotland’s ancient and unique sport as it grows and develops in its modern form by investing in current talent and in introducing the game to the shinty stars of the future
The New Year saw the appointment of CEO Richard Tulloch, while 2005 saw the incorporation of the governing body and the restructuring of the executive board to seven members; each director has been assigned responsibility for one of the sport’s areas, such as club and volunteering development. Also new for 2006 is the introduction of compulsory helmet wearing in shinty for all children and young people under the age of 14.
At the youth level, player improvement is being developed locally, regionally and nationally with plans to expand the under-16 development squad; in fact, this summer, shinty road shows will be offered. The sport is played among youths in Scotland from clubs in the Western Isles to the central belt. Currently there are 120 teams at the first level of shinty, 90 at primary, 32 at under-14 and 20 teams at under-16. In 2005, four additional shinty clubs were formed at youth level. At the senior level there are 37 clubs (men’s and women’s leagues) and there are nearly 4,000 members in total at the senior and youth level.
The annual sportscotland investment will also assist the technical manager who oversees referees, coaching and club development and works in conjunction with the youth development manager whose work is supported by sportscotland. A key focus of the funding will be to emulate the youth success at the senior level of the game and to develop university and women’s shinty. On the agenda for 2006 are plans to set up a women’s club development weekend and the employment of two sports development officers to develop from primary to youth shinty and new and existing clubs in Highland and Argyll and Bute. They will target groups such as girls and children with learning disabilities, and will also link in with Active Schools to continue increasing participation, development and improvement. Additionally, work is well underway to produce a best-practice manual and training course for volunteers and to implement a development programme that will support clubs in the recruitment, support and reward of volunteers.
Richard Tulloch, Camanachd Association Chief Executive, said: "The continued support of sportscotland is greatly valued by all in shinty. Not only is the money of huge, practical value, but it also indicates sportscotland’s endorsement of how the Camanachd Association is organising and managing the game. Together we are making significant progress and the partnership will continue to develop as we go forward."
Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair, sportscotland, said: "sportscotland is committed to helping governing bodies modernise their management structures to introduce positive developments to the sport. We are delighted with the progress The Camanachd Association is making and we congratulate Richard Tulloch on his appointment as CEO.
"Particularly exciting in shinty is the expansion of the game and the move to the new playing season. sportscotland funding will help shinty to continue to improve participation levels and ensure the sport develops and nurtures talent through supporting its clubs."
The Camanachd Association has committed itself to the implementation of an equity policy aimed at ensuring that opportunities within the sport will be open and accessible to everybody, regardless of personal characteristics such as race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religious or political belief, age or social background.
The Camanachd Association has fully implemented a child protection programme.
The Camanachd Association and sponsors Tulloch Ltd have been short-listed in the annual Scottish Sport Sponsorship awards for 2006.
The CA has engaged with Bord na Gaidhlig, the statutory Gaelic development agency, with a view to strengthening links between the Gaelic language and the sport of shinty.
The CA is to meet the Scottish Parliament’s cross Party Group on sport on 8 March to discuss developments in the game and plans for the future.
The Camanachd Cup will be part of the Highland 2007 exhibition on Tartan Day, 8 April, in New York, the first time the cup has ever travelled abroad.
Ullapool shinty player Ruaraidh Hughes, 16, was nominated in December for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Ruaraidh won the BBC Scotland monthly award for November and was confirmed as the Scotland’s Unsung Sporting Hero of the Year.
Sarah Corrigal (Skye) and Duncan Rodger (Fort William), two of shinty’s finest young players, received National Playing Field Association Scotland Medallions on 20 February for their performances, development and contribution to the sport last year.