Shinty league reshuffle set for approval
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TONIGHT’S Camanachd Association annual general meeting is expected to be one of the least controversial in years although club delegates will be asked to vote on league re-organisation proposals for the second time in 12 months.
Last year clubs failed by a narrow margin to halt the introduction of the ruling body’s league structure blueprint which ushered in a new National Division and saw the Premiership reduced from 10 teams to eight.
It proved deeply unpopular particularly with the Premiership teams who were strongly in favour of restoring the 10-team structure for the top league.
And, after the rumblings of discontent grew louder, Badenoch rivals Kingussie and Newtonmore put aside their differences to work on a new model which enshrines the 10-team Premiership concept and leaves the National Division in place as an eight team league. Below that structure comes the area league set-up with North Division One expanded to 10 teams, while North leagues two and three are amalgamated into a new 11-team league.
The reaction across the clubs has been largely positive with few clubs disadvantaged or adversely affected. The gripe from one-team clubs, such as Boleskine who were barred from entry into the junior cups, has also been answered and next season they will be in the draw for the Sutherland and Strathdearn Cups, rather than the senior competitions of the Balliemore and MacTavish Cups where they experienced morale-battering double digit defeats.
In the Premiership, Lochaber receive a relegation reprieve and Fort William and Oban Camanachd both move up from last year’s National Division to be replaced by play-off rivals Skye and Ballachulish.
The new structure, which has the backing of most of the local sides, including Premiership rivals Glenurquhart and Lovat, if approved is set for immediate implementation. Beauly are known to be in favour and perhaps not surprisingly, Inverness, who escape a humiliating relegation into North Division Two.
In other developments, Kingussie’s proposal for the introduction of protective helmets for senior players has had to be withdrawn after running foul of discrimination legislation.
Incumbent president Archie Robertson stands down after three years in the top job to be replaced by Glenurquhart’s Jim Barr, who has been on the board for a number of years handling the finance portfolio. Barr has shadowed Robertson for the past six months to ensure a seamless handing over of powers. Inverness-based Keith Loades, who was co-opted onto the board, will become a director at the meeting.
