Skye Teams Compete Well In 2013 Gilmour Sports Shinty World Cup | |
25 June 2013 Skye teams Portree Primary School and Dunvegan Primary School competed well in the 2013 Gilmour Sports Shinty World Cup which took place at the Bught Park, Inverness on Monday 24 June 2013. The Gilmour Sports Shinty World Cup is a sixes competition for North area primary school teams and the action started at 12.30pm. A total of 256 primary school age shinty players from 32 teams across the North area converged on the Bught to compete in the three competitions.
Shinty World Cup Premier Competition Portree Primary School took part in the Shinty World Cup Premier Competition for established schools and they were joined by schools from Beauly, Lochaber, Inverlochy, Banavie, Kingussie, Newtonmore, Dingwall, Lochcarron and Glenurquhart. The teams played two round robin leagues of five and Portree beat Beauly 3-0, Lochaber 5-1, Newtonmore 3-0, and they drew 0-0 with Banavie in their league. Banavie, Portree, Kingussie and Inverlochy (just pipping Glenurquhart by one goal on goal difference) advanced to contest the semi finals. Kingussie raced in to a 2-0 lead in the first semi against Portree but the Islanders fought back strongly and halved the deficit but could not find an equaliser. In a tight Lochaber derby, Banavie edged past Inverlochy 1-0. The final was an end to end affair with some great shinty played and Kingussie drew first blood but Banavie were not to be denied and equalised and then snatched victory and the cup with almost the last hit of the ball.
Shinty World Cup Championship Competition Kinlochbervie, Raigmore, Grantown, Alvie, Cannich Bridge, Kinlochleven, Balnain, Dunvegan, Strathdearn and Dalneigh contested the Shinty World Cup Championship Competition for emerging schools. Dunvegan drew with Kinlochbervie 1-1, and they drew with Dalneigh 1-1, but lost to 2-0 to Kincraig before being awarded a 1-0 win over Strathdearn who unfortunately had to leave early due to transport arrangements. Dalneigh were the surprise package of the day finishing top of their league above Kincraig and a strong Cannich Bridge team finished ahead of last year’s winners Kinlochleven in the other league. Single goal victories for Cannich Bridge and Kinlochleven in the semis set up an equally tight final which Cannich Bridge edged 1-0 to lift the trophy.
The Shinty World Cup Super-Sixes Competition There was also a junior even where teams aged primary 5 and under from Beauly, Lochaber, Kirkhill, Kingussie, Raigmore, Gergask, Alvie, Newtonmore, Inverlochy, Lochcarron, Glenurquhart and Dingwall battled it out in The Shinty World Cup Super-Sixes Competition. The teams were split in to two leagues of six and Inverlochy and Lochaber topped their leagues ahead of Kingussie and Dingwall respectively and the Lochaber area sides both won their semi finals 2-1 to set up a local derby final which did not disappoint. The sides were extremely evenly matched and a solitary strike from Inverlochy was all that separated the teams at full time although Lochaber had had as much of the game. All of the games in each of the three competitions were extremely close and the skills on show from the young players were a credit to themselves and their coaches and made for a really enjoyable afternoon of shinty. Camanachd Association Chief Operating Officer Torquil MacLeod presented the trophies to the winning captains and medals to all finalists. Following the event, Highland Shinty Development officer Russell Jones said, “I would like to thank our sponsor Gilmour Sports, referees Laura Gallagher, Rory MacGregor, Darren Hanlon, scorers Susanne Standish-White, Bridget Thomas and Graham Cormack but most of all the Coaches and all 256 players from the 32 teams for a terrific afternoon of Shinty.” |