Camanachd Association consider changes
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THE Camanachd Association has launched a review of its competition structures with the aim of introducing any changes at the beginning of the 2014 season.
The headline proposal appears to be a plan to reduce the Premiership from 10 to eight teams in a bid to reduce fixture congestion and also improve the standard of the teams being promoted.
Although North sides like Glenurquhart, Lovat and Kinlochshiel have managed to make the step up from area league shinty with relative ease, South teams have generally struggled and in the last three seasons Bute, Glasgow Mid Argyll and Glenorchy have been relegated after only a season, barely winning a match.
The proposal could start a scramble for places in the top league as a new promotion system looks likely, perhaps with three teams being relegated from the top league at the end of next season.
The association has issued a questionnaire to all clubs and member associations seeking their opinions.
One subject certain to stir up strong opinions is the current set up in North Division One, which has only got seven teams.
A proposal to introduce a third game, approved by the clubs at the start of the season, has proved problematic and led to the association relaxing the rules on sanctions for not playing a scheduled fixture.
So far Inverness and Strathglass have escaped punishment for their inability to raise a team for the third match, but that has proved controversial and has led to the association attracting heavy criticism.
Other issues up for review will be the international structure and representative shinty in general.
Away from the debating chamber, the tail end of the season sees five of the remaining nine fixtures scheduled.
All issues of promotion and relegation have been settled and nearly all of tomorrow’s matches involve jostling for the minor places.
Beauly have the chance to go third in the North Division One table if they can take at least a point from newly-crowned champions Lochaber. The Spean Bridge side will be presented with the league trophy by a representative of Marine Harvest after the match at Braeview.
Also in North Division One, Strathglass hope to put their team-raising problems behind them as they prepare for their final match of the season in Portree.
Skye booked second place with a win over Beauly last Saturday and will be aiming to finish their most successful season in years in style.
Strathglass, who have won just one match this season, will start the process of rebuilding for 2013.
In the Orion Premiership, the final match sees Inveraray travel to Kingussie with the home side hoping to steal fourth place from Glenurquhart.
Meanwhile, Oban will play host to the women’s North versus South matches on Sunday with action at both senior and under-18 level.
The youngsters will commence first at 1pm and will provide a curtain raiser to the senior game, which is scheduled for a 2.30pm start.
KINGUSSIE High School retained the Great Glen Schools Shinty Sixes title for under-16s at Blairbeg Park, Drumnadrochit.
A total of seven teams from across the Highlands took part in a round-robin tournament, which saw Kingussie winning by a point from Lochaber High School, who were second, and third place Dingwall Academy.
Kingussie had further cause for celebration when defender Rory MacKeachan won player of the tournament.
The other schools which took part were Charleston Academy, Kilchuimen Academy and two teams from Glen Urquhart High School.
