Shinty round-up (Lochaber): Thursday December 19

Same again at Fort William

 

Alan Knox and fellow co-manager Neil Robertson will stay on in charge at 2024 Mowi National Division champions Fort William.

 

The pair also led the An Aird side to runners-up spots in the cottages.com MacTavish Cup and the Ferguson Transport & Shipping Balliemore Cup competitions as well as a semi-final place in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup last season and plans are already under way for their 2025 Mowi Premiership campaign.

 

Alan Knox said: “Neil and I are both up for going again next season. We have a great young squad, all competing for places, and we are all looking forward to the season ahead.”

Kinlochshiel annual awards

 

Kinlochshiel held their annual dinner dance at Dornie Hall and in-between the meal and music from the Robert Nairn Highland Dance Band, the club’s annual awards were handed out as follows:

 

Duncan MacRae Cup - first team players’ player of the year: Duncan Matheson.

 

Kenny (Wilson) MacRae Memorial Cup - committee player of the year: Conor Cormack and Keith MacRae in recognition of their prompt actions and use of a defibrillator when referee Steven MacLachlan suffered a cardiac arrest in a match against Caberfeidh earlier this year.

 

Tommy MacKenzie Cup - second team players’ player of the year: Andrew MacKenzie.

 

Iain Fraser Memorial Shield - under-21 player of the year: Fraser Reid.

 

John MacDougall Senior Shield - volunteer of the year: Katherine Loades.

 

Kinlochshiel Trophy - women’s first team players player of the year: Alaina MacLennan.

 

Ray Coghill Shield - most improved player of the year: Emily Gordon.

 

Loopy’s Fish Van Cup - committee player of the year: Alaina MacLennan.

 

Nixon Cup - second team players’ player of the year: Abby MacRae.

 

Willie “Dooncie” Macrae Memorial Cup - junior player of the year: Kieran Martin.

 

Most improved U17 player: Donald William MacAskill

 

U17 endeavour and effort: Jay MacRae.

 

Under 14 player of the year: Jay MacRae.

 

Under 14 most improved player: Cain Courtney.

 

Under 12 player of the year: Maura Mackenzie.

 

Under 12 most improved player: Freddie Morrison.

 

Meantime, Paul MacRae has stepped down from his coaching role with the Kinlochshiel senior side and will be replaced as one of manager Willie MacRae’s assistants by Duncan “DA” MacRae. Whilst Duncan remains part of the Kinlochshiel first team squad, his contributions are likely to come from the substitutes’ bench.

 

Davie Macleod and Ian MacKenzie remain on the senior management team.

 

At second team level, co-managers Duncan MacLeod and Doe MacRae have left their roles, so the search is on for a new Kinlochshiel second team management team.

The Donnie Martin Stand

 

Construction work is well under way as Skye Camanachd move closer to unveiling a stand at their Pairc nan Laoch home in memory of one of the club’s most prominent figures, Donnie Martin.

 

Donnie Martin died following a road accident in 2022 and Skye started an ambitious fundraising campaign earlier this year to raise the near £100,000 required to build a 100-seater stand with associated lighting and access.

 

The stand will be a heartfelt tribute to Donnie, a cornerstone of the club’s history, whose extraordinary contributions over 50 years - as a player, coach, groundsman, chairman and chieftain - helped shape the club into what it is today.

 

Donnie’s daughter Kim Millar said: “After the clubhouse was built and paid for, Dad always spoke of his ambition to have a stand erected at Pairc nan Laoch where supporters could shelter and watch the games in some comfort.

 

“He wasn’t able to do it himself, so this has been about making his dream a reality.

 

“We have a small committee working on this and have had fantastic support from the club, the community and various funding groups and it will be quite emotional to see the stand complete and in use for the first time.”

 

Skye Camanachd chairman Thomas Wilson added: “Donnie was such a huge figure at Skye Camanachd. I can’t begin to list all the many roles he fulfilled at the club since the early 1970s, so we are all proud to have this stand in his memory.

 

“Thank you to everyone who has played a part in this project, whether through donations, time or effort.

 

“Your incredible support has brought this project to this exciting stage and we couldn’t have done it without you.”

 

Lochaber annual general meeting

 

Lochaber Camanachd’s annual general meeting will take place at the Highland Bridge Hotel, Spean Bridge, on Friday January 10 2025.

 

The club are particularly keen to recruit new volunteers to join the committee. No shinty experience or knowledge of the game is necessary.

 

The positions the club are keen to fill include fundraising co-ordinator, kitchen rota co-ordinator and club secretary. The club can be contacted via their Facebook page.

 

The AGM starts at 7pm. Everyone welcome.