Portree Primary School are shinty World Cup champions after they defeated Fort William Primary School 4-1 in the final at the Inverness Highland Games, Bught Park, Inverness.
Both teams qualified by winning their respective leagues in the sixes qualifying tournament held at Drumnadrochit last month. Eighteen primary school teams took part in the event organised in partnership between the Camanachd Association and Highland Active Schools.
The final was 12.5 minutes each way - match total 25 minutes - and was played in front of the large crowd which included many who had travelled through from Skye to cheer on their team. The players were piped onto the field and announced individually to the crowd. There was also match commentary throughout the game for the supporters.
Portree dominated from the start and a hat-trick from Willie Cowie gave them a comfortable 3-0 half time lead. Portree made changes in the second half with Steven MacKinnon replacing Calum MacInnes and DJ Gilpen replacing the injured Cowie who took a knock to his leg just above the shin pad. Andrew Grant added a fourth before Alexander MacMillan scored a consolation for Fort William.
Portree captain Calum MacInnes was presented with the World Cup and he and his team mates were delighted to receive their winners medals. The winning Portree team was: James Pringle, Calum MacInnes, (Steven MacKinnon), Jack Latton, Kyle Pirie, Willie Cowie, (DJ Gilpen), Andrew Grant
Once the shinty was over, there was a tug of war challenge between the 2 side with a bottle of whiskey for the winning coach at stake. That bottle of whiskey is now with Portree coach Willie Cowie after his side, with Calum MacInnes at anchor and Steven MacKinnon leading from the front, again came out of top.