Cash boost for Inverness
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CHRISTMAS has come early for Inverness Shinty Club when it was confirmed this week that they have been awarded a £5500 grant under the Awards for All Scheme.
The initiative, which aims to put lottery money back into the community, accepted the city club’s application with the money to be used to purchase equipment, while also paying for training and transport costs.
The money has come at exactly the right time for Inverness, according to President Peter Gow.
"Since taking over as President, the main focus of my energies has been to rebuild a youth system and with matters starting to take shape this money is key to our plans," he said.
Already the club, working in tandem with the Camanachd Association, has shown a dramatic upturn with coaching taking place at all the youth age groups from under-17 down to primary school level.
"When we started our youth section consisted of two under-17 players, but that has transformed and currently we have 60 primary school children, 10 under-14 and 10 under-17 players taking part in regular coaching sessions," he said.
"There is so much enthusiasm at these sessions and I think it has helped to bring a feel good factor back to the club."
But the self effacing Gow has refused to take the credit for the encouraging developments at the Highland Capital club.
"It’s really down to the coaches whose work has been excellent and it is their enthusiasm and commitment which has driven the project," he said.
"We have gone from having almost no qualified coaches to a situation where we now have fourteen".
The three lead coaches — Andrew Fraser, James Munro and Ewen Mackinnon — have worked a minor miracle starting their work at the Gaelic School and now expanding into Raigmore Primary.
Mackinnon has an outstanding shinty background playing mostly for Skye where he was at the age of 18, the youngest member of their 1990 Camanachd Cup-winning team.
Another Skye connection, current internationalist Sorley MacDonald, has paved the way for the primary school coaching sessions at Culloden Academy where he is a teacher.
Inverness have endured a tough time over the last few seasons and although their senior side have consistently punched above their weight in North Division One, the reserve side has struggled, finishing last after a difficult season characterised by team-raising difficulties and heavy defeats.
"We are not out of the woods just yet," said Gow. "We are realistic about the project which will take years to bear fruit.
"However, we recently sent an under-17 side to the prestigious MacAulay Sixes and that is the first time the club has been represented at this level for a number of seasons, which is highly encouraging."
Coaching sessions take place at both Culloden Academy and Charleston Academy Community Centre.
Primary school children sessions take place at Culloden on a Sunday from 11am to noon and for under-14 and under-17 players at Charleston on Friday evenings between 6-7pm. Full details are available on the club’s website www.Inverness-Shinty-Club.co.uk.
THE Women’s Camanachd Association will hold their annual general meeting in Fort William on Sunday.
President Fiona Mathie and secretary Iona Campbell have both intimated their intention not to seek re-election.
The meeting, which will also see the women’s player of the year announced, goes ahead at the Nevis Centre and will start at 1.30pm.
