Caithness and Sutherland are set for the fourth Kenny “Nostie” MacLeod Memorial Cup meeting which will take place at Viewfirth Park, Thurso on Saturday 5 September 2015.
Kenny “Nostie” MacLeod, as he was affectionately known, played shinty for Kinlochshiel, Lochcarron and Aberdeen University.
He established Thurso Junior Shinty Club in 2006 and he was a co-founder of Navar Athletic Shinty Club a couple of years later. This move brought senior shinty to Caithness for the first time since the Dounreay team of the 1960s.
Many will recall the 2010 Mod Cup match when Kenny captained Caithness to victory over and Sutherland at Bignold Park, Wick. Kenny was presented with the famous trophy by his good friend, then MSP John Farquhar Munro.
Kenny was minister at Thurso Free Church and also took midweek sessions at Helmsdale. He passed away in April 2012, aged just 52.
It is fitting that Kenny is remembered in this way as shinty was a great passion of his.
Caithness have two victories in this annual event with Sutherland recording one win.
Over the past three years a senior Caithness shinty team has taken shape. The players meet to train each week at their adopted home of Viewfirth Park in Thurso and compete in matches and tournaments around Scotland. The next step will be the club’s most ambitious to date – to join the North Division 3 Shinty League for the 2016 season.
Shinty has continued to grow apace in West Sutherland where Duncan and Paula Clark and Heather Macneil have worked tirelessly over the last eight years to develop the game. The Sutherland team will mainly comprise of players from Kinlochbervie Camanachd but will also include former players from Farr High School shinty team.
The memorial match has gone from strength to strength since its inception three years ago. This Saturday’s occasion promises to be the biggest yet with a new cultural input being included in the build up to the match. Musicians from Feis Ghallaibh, members of the town’s pipe band and other local performers will provide entertainment from 11.30am onwards. It is also hoped that Runrig’s Calum Macdonald will be in attendance as special guest and patron of the day. Pre-match entertainment will also be provided on the pitch with a sixes tournament involving Caithness, Kinlochbervie, Inverness and Kenny’s former club, Kinlochshiel.
Admission to the game is free but donations can be made to the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Care Centre. Refreshments will be provided by members of the local scout group.
The match will throw up at 1.30pm.
(Picture of Kenny "Nostie" MacLeod and his good friend John Farquhar Munro)