Inverness set to welcome shinty fans as new look grandstand at Bught Park will host MacTavish Cup final
THE new-look Bught Park is set to host its first major sporting event this weekend with final preparations being made to the grandstand.
The historic Inverness venue is set to host shinty’s MacTavish Cup final between Kingussie and Lovat which takes place on Saturday afternoon.
The redevelopment of the grandstand, which started in December 2023, is set to be completed in time for Saturday’s final which will see the first of shinty’s four major trophies won this season.
The ground will also play host to the sport’s most famous prize, the Camanachd Cup, when the final is scheduled to be held in September.
Camanachd Association chief executive officer Ruari Davidson says it is fantastic that the MacTavish Cup has returned to Bught Park and that the grandstand will be ready to host one of the biggest occasions in shinty.
He said: “It is really exciting as it has been a long time in the making.
“There are last touches being made to the grandstand so it is ready for Saturday.
“It is worth saying that Highland Council and High Life Highland have been fantastic in working closely with us to ensure that the final will be going ahead on Saturday.
“They have been a massively supportive of us. We will make it on time and it will be a fantastic spectacle that is for sure.”
In addition to the redevelopment of the grandstand and changing facilities, a brand-new purpose-built pavilion and shinty museum is also being constructed alongside it. But that will not be completed until at least later this year.
Davidson said they are still waiting for a decision on funding before it can commit to a completion date for the new pavilion and shinty museum.
He confirmed: “The pavilion will not be ready this weekend.
“But we are awaiting a funding decision from the National Lottery Heritage Fund which hopefully will allow us to speed up plans for the opening of the exhibition in 2025.
“It will be an excellent resource in the wider community.”
It is the first time that the MacTavish Cup will be held at Bught Park in two years, when Kingussie beat Skye 1-0 in 2023.
Last year, the final was played at The Eilan in Newtonmore when Kingussie defeated Fort William 3-1.
Kingussie will be looking to win the trophy for the fourth year running against a Lovat team who will be looking to lift the cup for the first time since 2014.
Davidson said with fans from both clubs travelling from Kiltarlity and Kingussie, along with shinty fans across the country, organisers are expecting a bumper crowd at the new look Bught Park on Saturday.
He said: “There will be a lot of intrigue as this will be the first final at Bught Park for two years.
“They are two teams who will not have to travel that far and we hope that there will be a bumper crowd to enjoy the spectacle.
“These are two teams who are familiar to seeing each other in recent years in finals and hopefully Saturday’s final will be one fitting of the new ground at Bught Park.
“The Mackay Cup and Junior MacTavish Cup will also take place over the weekend beforehand, so we encourage spectators to come early and enjoy a full day of shinty across the entire age pathway.”
