There was plenty to play for as The Oban Times looks back on the second half of the 2016 shinty season.   

With the curtain now drawn on another shinty season and the current year drawing to a close, it’s a chance to look back on the shinty stories making the news during 2016.   

The 2017 Lovat Cup match between Beauly and Lovat takes place at Braeview Park on Monday 2 January 2017.

Lochcarron will hold their Annual General Meeting at the Lochcarron Village Hall on Friday 13 January 2017.

Aberdour will hold their Annual General Meeting at Cedar Inn on Monday 16 January 2017.

John “Chitty” MacRae passed away peacefully at his home in Dornie, after a long illness, on Sunday 18 December 2017.

There was disappointment in Fort William as the inclement weather led to the postponement of the third Annual Boxing Day Shinty Sixes competition at an Aird.

Everyone at Skye Camanachd would like to wish all shinty fans a very Merry Christmas!

The Skye Camanachd Shinty Lotto was drawn on Saturday 24 December 2016.

Kinlochshiel became the latest club to change their first team manager as former boss Johnston Gill takes over from Colin Fraser.

The 2017 Womens Camanachd Association Shinty Camp will take place at the excellent facilities at Strathallan School from Friday 7 July 2017 until Sunday 9 July 2017.

Fort William will host their third Annual Boxing Day Shinty Sixes competition at an Aird.

Lochaber are the latest club to announce their pre-season plans.

Kilmallie first team manager Mark MacPherson has wasted no time in putting together a pre-season programme to in preparation of his side’s return to the Marine Harvest Premiership.

Fort William have confirmed a busy and indeed tough pre-season programme ahead of the 2017 shinty season.

The Camanachd Association has announced details of a new project launched in conjunction with visual arts organisation Highland Print Studio.

The Skye Camanachd Shinty Lotto was drawn on Saturday 17 December 2016.

The 2017 Artemis Macaulay Cup draw was made live on Oban FM on Saturday 17 December 2016.

Around 120 children took part in the recent Annual Uddingtson Grammar School Shinty Festival for both high schools and primary schools in Lanarkshire.

Strathspey Camanachd have raised a fantastic £731 from a number lottery which was part of a fund raising drive after a fire destroyed all their shinty equipment.

The Camanachd Association has approved a request from Strathglass to play in the Marine Harvest National Division this coming season.

Kilmallie are unhappy at missing out on a place in the 2017 Artemis Macaulay Cup draw which took place last weekend. 

The draw for the 2017 Artemis Macaulay Cup will be made live on Oban FM on Saturday 17 December 2016.

Skye Camanachd will host the John MacKinnon Memorial Sixes in Portree on Saturday 7 January 2017.

The Skye Camanachd Shinty Lotto was drawn on Saturday 10 December 2016.

Inveraray became the latest club to announce their player of the year award winners at a Dinner Dance at the Inveraray Inn.

The 2016 Inverness player of the year award winners have been confirmed.

Bute made their annual shinty awards at a social event held at the Marine Harvest National Division side’s Clubhouse.

The countdown continues ahead of the 2017 Artemis Macaulay Cup draw which will be made live on Oban FM on Saturday 17 December 2016.

Fort William Ladies are on the look-out for a new coach to manage the team during the 2017 shinty season and beyond.

There was an emotional backdrop to last month’s Camanachd Association AGM as board members and staff – past and present – gathered ahead of the meeting for an especially arranged meal after which they presented gifts to outgoing Chief Operating Officer Torquil Macleod as a mark of appreciation for his service in the post. 

Skye Camanachd will host the John MacKinnon Memorial Sixes in Portree on Saturday 7 January 2017.

A nomination from Glengarry Shinty Club that shinty stalwart John Sloggie be made a Camanachd Association Honorary member was unanimously agreed at the recent Camanachd Association Annual General Meeting. 

Skye Camanachd Ladies were presented with the Marine Harvest National Division 1 trophy at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 3 December 2016.

As far as New Year resolutions go, finding a new sponsor for the 2017 Camanachd Cup will be a priority for the Camanachd Association.

Ten Dunadd Camanachd members took part in Emergency Life Saving (ELS) and Defibrillator training at the Lochgilphead Joint Campus.

Strathglass have announced their player of the year awards for the 2016 shinty season.

Glenurquhart are another club who have confirmed their prize winners for the 2016 shinty season.

Lovat have advertised for a new first team manager to replace John MacRitchie.

Marine Harvest North Division 2 side Strathspey Camanachd were dealt a devastating blow when a fire destroyed all their shinty equipment; sticks, balls, helmets and even corner flags.

Newtonmore’s haul of trophies last season marked another successful year for the club and there was plenty competition when it came to handing out the player of the year prizes.

Col Glen reflected on the 2016 shinty season at their annual awards and youth was very much to the fore.

Fort William announced their player of the year winners at their Annual Dinner Dance at the West End Hotel, Fort William on Friday 2 December 2016.

There was confirmation at the Skye Camanachd AGM that the club has now become a SCIO.

The Womens Camanachd Association Annual General Meeting took place at The Isles of Glencoe Hotel on Saturday 26 November 2016.

West Highland Free Press Editor Ian McCormack was added to the list of Skye Camanachd Vice Presidents at the club’s Annual General Meeting at the Skye Camanachd Clubhouse on Saturday 3 December 2016.

Artemis Macaulay Cup winners Kinlochshiel marked an historic season at their player of the year awards evening at the Lochalsh Hotel.

The Skye Camanachd Shinty Lotto was drawn on Saturday 3 December 2016.

Continuity was key at the Skye Camanachd Annual General Meeting which took place at the Skye Camanachd Clubhouse on Saturday 3 December 2016.

North Skye lifted the 2016 Ewen Morrison Memorial Cup when they edged out South Skye following a penalty shoot-out at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 3 December 2016.

The Jack Asher Memorial Tournament will take place at the Garscube Sports Complex on Saturday 28 January 2017.