Kingussie shinty legends and accomplished golfers Dallas Young and Dave Anderson this week achieved a 6 year golfing ambition, when they finally defeated ex Skye Camanachd players Slippy Finlayson and Willie Cowie in a four ball, match play challenge.
Games involving the two teams have taken place over a number of years at different venues and until today the Skye team have always managed to win over their more illustrious opponents.
It is fair to say that while the Skye players put up a dogged and fighting display, Dallas and Dave brought their “A” game to the challenge and at a windy Castle Stuart, their straight hitting, solid putting and competitive ethos won the day.
An emotional Dallas said after the match: “This is a joyous day for the whole Young family and Kingussie Shinty Club and, for the first time in many years, I expect to sleep peacefully and soundly tonight.”
A happy Dave, whose recent 7 days a week practice schedule supported his solid play throughout the day, confirmed he too was happy with the result and he said: “I am delighted we ordered the open top bus for out victory parade through the town this weekend and we look forward to further matches against Slippy and Willie and now that we have finally put a score on the board, we would hope to win future matches and close the points gap that exists.”
The ever modest and magnanimous Skye players acknowledged they had finally been beaten on the day by the better team and indicated that given Dallas’s preoccupation with handicaps, perhaps an increase in their handicaps would be supported by the Kingussie boys for the next encounter.