Ronald Ross To Visit The Western Isles. | |
08 November 2010 The Western Isles will play host to one of the greatest living Scottish sporting legends when shinty superstar Ronald Ross visits Uist and Lewis this week. Ross has broken every scoring record not just in shinty, but Scottish sport, having amassed well over a 1,000 goals in his career with home town club Kingussie and has been instrumental in keeping that famous club at the top of the sport for the last 20 years. He will also captain Scotland in the Shinty / Hurling international against Ireland at the Bught Park, Inverness the Saturday after his trip to the Hebrides. He was recently appointed National Development Officer by the Camanachd Association (Comann na Camanachd) and it is in this role he will be travelling to the Hebrides. Ronald will be accompanied by Camanachd Association Performance Manager, Graham Cormack and they will not just be coaching but providing support and advice to island clubs, Uist Camanachd and Camanachd Leòdhais. Cormack said in anticipation of the trip to the islands, “We are both looking forward to the trip out west. The main purpose is to look at ways of sustaining island shinty in the long term and it’s great for the sport of shinty to be played in as many places in Scotland as possible and the Western Isles is an area ripe for development.” On Tuesday 9 November 2010, there will be training sessions during the day and in the evening at Sgoil Lionacleit in Benbecula for youths and seniors. The evening session between 5pm and 7pm will cater towards both primary age pupils and adults who wish to get involved in coaching. On Wednesday 10 November 2010, Ross and Cormack will move north to Stornoway where they will be spending the afternoon coaching pupils at Stornoway Primary before leading a session for all-comers from 8pm-10pm at Smith Avenue Astro with a plenary session in the school from 7pm. This will also give young and old alike who have no experience of shinty an opportunity to try it out under the watchful eye of the greatest player shinty has ever seen. Shinty sticks, balls and helmets will be provided so there is no excuse for missing out! Ross and Cormack hope to return for a four day visit after Easter 2011 which will include school visits, a Shinty Festival and a Foundation Coaching Certificate Course over two evenings. With Camanachd Leòdhais also looking to enter the mainland leagues, referees will also be required and the Camanachd Association’s reimbursement scheme is quite attractive for any island based football referees who might wish to transfer their skills. For more information on the Lewis sessions please contact Iain Sinclair 01851 701521 and for the Uist sessions contact Fiona Campbell on 0789 455 1335 |