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Tag Archives: Camanachd Association
Camanachd Cup 2009 result
Today, the 2009 Homecoming Camanachd Cup, the blue riband Continue reading
Camanachd Association Director resigns, citing collapse of ‘sound governance structure’
Trouble has boiled over in the cauldron of the national game as Donnie MacKenzie resigned as Director of shinty’s governing body, the Camanachd Association.
The resignation has focused the spotlight on the organisation, with at least three other Directors said to be unhappy.
MacKenzie’s view is that the current problems began with last year’s election of Duncan Cameron as President and Donald Stewart as Communications Director. In his letter to the Association’s CEO, Gill MacDonald he describes the pair as undermining others, including MacDonald.
He claims that respect in the Boardroom is no more and that ‘the speed at which a sound governance structure is collapsing is meteoric’.
Duncan Cameron has set MacKenzie’s claims aside and is quoted as putting them down to ‘disagreements arising from differences of opinion’.
Shinty referees get protection – Camanachd Association to appoint volunteer match assessors
When the shinty season gets going next month, volunteer match assessors appointed by the game’s ruling body, the Camanachd Association, will attend the games. Graham Cormack of the Camanachd Association has told the press that the growing culture of bad behaviour and, in particular, the abuse of referees by players and fans, will not be tolerated. There has also allegedly been racist abuse of one of Scotland’s international players.
Last year there were instances of respected referees quitting the game in disgust at the behaviour beginning to make its presence felt – including Calum Duff. He left after having to run a bad-tempered game between Newtonmore and Fort William for which the national press reported that Newtonmore was penalised by the Association.
The volunteer match assessors will not be paid but will receive expenses. Their reports will be put together by the Camanachd Association to create a picture of the state of the game today and lead to the development of strategy to keep the game clear of the sort of behaviour other sports have found so damaging.
Camanachd Cup Shinty Final
Oban’s Mossfield Park is the scene for Homecoming Scotland 2009′s national shinty final, the Camanachd Cup – at 3.00pm on 19th September.
Fancy being a shinty referee?
First question is – is it any safer than playing? Joking apart, the Camanachd Association is on the hunt to develop its referees list. The new season is only a couple of months away so if you’re interested, the sooner you make contact with the Association the sooner you can be in charge of a game on the pitch.
The problem is that while the list is quite respectable it’s not long enough to cover all the games that will sometimes have to be played on the same day across the various leagues and competitions. And if there’s no official available, matches have to be postponed. And this can make a mess of a season.
Everyone interested in becoming a referees will complete a foundation course and once they’ve done that satisfactorily they would ne able to officiate at matches from junior through to reserve level.
There is a Foundation Course coming up this month at Inveraray and if budding Argyll referees can’t make that, there are others at Inverness (also in January) and at Fort William and Central in February.
Refereeing is open to all over-16 year-olds and referees in charge of a senior level match get a match fee of £30, plus 40p per mile travelling expenses.
As well as the courses for new referees, the Camanachd Association is also holding a national Level-One coaching course to be held on February 7th and 8th at Lochaber High School in Fort william, with area induction sessions to befporehand in the evening of Thursday 29th January.
Everyone interested in refereeing and in coaching is asked to apply to the Association as soon as possible, in order to be qualified to referee or coach for the start of the new season in March.
As Graham Cormack, the Camanachd’ Association’s Coaching and Performance Development Manager, says: ‘The higher the performance levels of the referees and coaches, the better opportunity for players to improve and enjoy the game fully’.
With Argyll hosting the final of the national competition, the Camanachd Cup, in Oban in this Homecoming Scotland year, it would be good to see referees and coaches taking Argyll’s celebrated shinty profile forwards.
Final: Bullough Cup – shinty
The 2009 final of shinty’s Bullough Cup will be played on 12th September 2009
Argyll Shinty results 8th November
In the Premier Division, Bute continued a good run on Saturday by beating Lochaber 3 – 2. Inveraray were less fortunate, losing 5 – 4 to Newtonmore.
The South Division One Mid-Argyll Derby game between Kilmory and Inveraray was called off; and no other matches were played in South Division Two.
There is concern in the sport over the extended season these days, with some clubs not having a game for up to six weeks. Commitment and motivation for training over such a period without a game is hard to sustain and it is felt that clubs are suffering from this. Some are travelling to away matches wihtout a full team.Many would prefer the energy of a more intensive season, even if it finished earlier. The argument is worth consideration.
2009 Junior Shinty Festivals
The Camanachd Association has released the schedule for the junior Shinty Festivals in 2009.
- The Primary 7 and under Festival will be on 28th February 2009 at the Nevis Centre, Fort William
- The Primary 5 and under Festival will be on 21st March 2009 at the Nevis Centre, Fort William
Regional competitions held across Scotland will produce the qualifiers for these events. Details will be released at a future date.
For more information on the Festivals contact Garry Reid, Youth Development Manager, on 01463 715931