Camanachd Association EGM – The Voting | |
27 May 2013 The way that clubs throughout the various shinty divisions voted on league reconstruction at the Camanachd Association EGM in Fort William on Friday 17 May 2013 should be of concern to the games ruling body.
The EGM was held to allow member clubs and associations to consider resolutions put forward by Skye Camanachd, supported by Kingussie, Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore. The resolutions, which required a 75% vote to be successful, were as follows: 1. That the Board’s decision to adopt a national first division for the 2014 season be withdrawn and the current league model, which includes a ten team premiership with its existing system of promotion and relegation, be retained. 2. That, subject to resolution 1 above being passed, the Board be instructed to carry out further consultation into the perceived problems of the sport and how a new league structure can help address these.
A total 40 member clubs and associations took part in the vote. The result was 22 votes in favour of the resolution with 18 voting against. This means that the resolution gained 55% support which fell short of the 75% requirement. Each club gets one vote although many have two teams. The message sent out by the voting clubs throughout shinty’s various divisions is particularly interesting and it went as follows:
Orion Group Premiership The only three clubs in favour of the Camanachd Association’s new set up were Inveraray, Oban Camanachd and Fort William. The clubs against the new plans who supported Skye’s motion were Glenurquhart, Kingussie, Kinlochshiel, Kyles Athletic, Lochaber, Lovat and Newtonmore. This shows that 70% of the game’s top division clubs do not agree with the new format which will be implemented at the start of the 2014 shinty season. For the Camanachd Association's New Format – 30% Against The Camanachd Association's New Format – 70%
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Inverness and Kilmallie were the only two clubs that supported the Camanachd Association’s selected option. Beauly, Caberfeidh, Skye Camanachd and Strathglass all recorded their dissatisfaction meaning 67% of Marine Harvest North Division 1 clubs are against the new set up with only 33% in favour. For the Camanachd Association's New Format – 33% Against The Camanachd Association's New Format – 67%
Marine Harvest South Division 1 The Camanachd Association’s new set up found support from Bute, Kilmory, Lochside Rovers, Oban Celtic and Taynuilt. Those who did not want the new set up were Aberdour, Glasgow Mid Argyll and Strachur. Glenorchy did not vote. Thus 62.5% of voting clubs voted in favour of the new competitions format with 37.5% against. For the Camanachd Association's New Format – 62.5% Against The Camanachd Association's New Format – 37.5%
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Aberdeen University and Fort William were the only clubs in favour of the 2014 structure whilst Beauly, Glengarry, Glenurquhart, Kingussie, Kinlochshiel, Lovat, Newtonmore and Skye Camanachd all backed the Skye Camanachd motion. Thus a resounding 80% of clubs in this league oppose the new structure. For the Camanachd Association's New Format – 20% Against The Camanachd Association's New Format – 80%
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Ballachulish, Bute and Inveraray supported the Camanachd Association’s new 2014 structure but again the majority who voted were against with Aberdour, Glasgow Mid Argyll, Kyles Athletic and Tayforth all supporting Skye Camanachd’s motion. Col Glen did not vote. Therefore 57% of voting clubs are against the new plans with 43% in favour. For the Camanachd Association's New Format – 43% Against The Camanachd Association's New Format – 57%
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Again the support for the Camanachd Association’s new structure only found minority support from the voting clubs with only Inverness, Kilmallie and Lochcarron in favour. Caberfeidh, Lewis, Lochaber, Strathglass and Strathspey are against the new plans whilst Boleskine and Lochbroom did not vote. Again the majority of the voting clubs came out against the new plans with 62.5% supporting the Skye Camanachd resolutions and only 37.5% in favour of the 2013 format. For the Camanachd Association's New Format – 37.5% Against The Camanachd Association's New Format – 62.5%
League Summary Marine Harvest South Division 1 is the only league from shinty’s six divisions to vote in favour of the Camanachd Association’s plans for 2014 with all the other five divisions coming out against the new format. It matters how these clubs voted as they will be the ones playing shinty week in, week out in the new leagues next season. Such an outcome hardly demonstrates support from the participating clubs and this should be of great concern to the game’s governing body but it seems that the new plans are going ahead regardless.
Non-League Clubs and Associations The non-league clubs and Associations are of course entitled to a vote as fully paid up Camanachd Association members. Edinburgh, Glasgow Gaels MacAulay Association, Strathkelvin, Strath of Appin, and Uist Camanachd all supported the Camanachd Association’s new plans whilst Kincraig, US Camanachd, Ross-shire Schools and Schools Camanachd all supported the Skye Camanachd motion.
The full voting went follows: Against the Skye Camanachd Resolutions: Edinburgh Uist Camanachd Glasgow Gaels MacAulay Association Strathkelvin Strath of Appin Aberdeen University Ballachulish Bute Fort William Inveraray Inverness Kilmallie Kilmory Lochcarron Oban Camanachd Oban Celtic Taynuilt Total – 18 Votes
In Support of the Skye Camanachd Resolutions: Kincraig Ross-shire Schools Schools Camanachd US Camanachd Aberdour Beauly Caberfeidh Glasgow Mid Argyll Glengarry Glenurquhart Kingussie Kinlochshiel Kyles Athletic Lewis Lochaber Lovat Newtonmore Skye Camanachd Strachur Strathglass Tayforth Strathspey Total – 22 Votes
Vote Withheld Or Did Not Vote: Ardnamurchan Boleskine Col Glen Cowal Ladies English Shinty Association Glasgow Celtic Society Glenorchy Lochbroom Referees Association The SCOTS Womens Camanachd Association |