Being a softy, peely-wally lowlander and a sassenach to boot (but I plead a Celtic place of birth in mitigation, your Honour) shinty, or camanachd to give it its Gaelic form, always seemed the preserve of strapping Highlanders with gleaming eyes and bulging forearms who could whack a ball over the horizon and think little of it. Yet despite its reputation as an extremely physical game, a fast, adroit player will have the edge on a less nimble powerhouse of a player; skill with the stick, or caman, and ball proving mightier than brawn at the final whistle.
The game came to Scotland a millennium and a half ago, brought along as part of the cultural baggage of the Celtic immigration from Ireland and to this day has many similarities and links with the Irish game of hurling. Naturally the game has survived and flourished in the same areas of Scotland as those which boast the largest proportions of Gaelic speakers - the sport being not just a game but an integral part of the Gaelic heritage. Back when Scotland was still
a clan-based society shinty was seen
i l
I Hamilton v Raith Rovers Douglas Park. Douglas Park Lane. Hamilton. 3pm.
I Dunfermline v Clydebank East End Park. Halbeath Road. Dunfermline. 3pm. I Stranraer v Dundee Stair Park. London Road. Stranraer. 3pm.
SECOND DIVISION
I Morton V Meadowbank Cappielow Park. Sinclair Street. Greenock. 3pm.
I Berwick Rangers v Brechin Shielficld Park. Tweedmouth. l3erwick-uport—Tweed. 3pm.
I East Fife v Stenhousemuir Bayview Park. Methil. Fife. 3pm.
I Clyde V 005 Broadwood Stadium. Cumbernauld. 3pm.
I Dumbarton v Stirling Albion Boghead
; Park. Miller Street. Dumbarton. 3pm.
; Tuesday 8
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Motherwell v Dundee United Firpark.
Motherwell. ' I Falkirk v Kilmarnock Brockville Park.
/' Hope Street. Falkirk.
I Wednesday 9
PREMIER LEAGUE I Celtic v Partick Thistle Celtic Park, ()5
Kerrydale Street. Glasgow.
I Hearts V Rangers Tynecastle. Gorgie , Road. Edinburgh.
' I Aberdeen V Hibs Pittodrie Stadium.
7 r Pittodrie Street. Aberdeen.
.1, V13, « .:,:;;.r 77,625.?-
Shinty is thriving at all levels as good training for the rigours of warfare, requiring tactics, technique, fitness and endurance. Following a period of relative decline after the Jacobite Uprising, the popularity of the sport burgeoned in the 19th century and in 1893 the rules were formalised and the present day governing body, the Camanachd Association was formed.
Today the sport continues to flourish and develop with it being played in schools up north. Plans are afoot to run a pilot Premier National League next year in place of the current North and South leagues and shinty is finding a growing band of adherents in the south of Scotland. Those playing further south are unlikely to face the problems of their more northern colleagues who, in some areas, have suffered pitch invasions trom amorous deer during the rutting season. The clash of the sticks puts the deer in mind of the sound of antlers colliding. (Jonathan Trew)
Contact the Scottish Sports Council on 031 317 7200 for details of the closest shinty club.
Events are listed alphabetically by sport, then by day. Sport Listings compiled by Jonathan Trew.
Glasgow
I Race Days Tuesdays. Thursdays and Saturdays. Shawfield Stadium. Rutherglen Road. Glasgow. There are ten races in each meeting starting at 7.45pm.
Edinburgh
I Race Days Tuesdays. Thursdays and Saturdays. Powderhall Stadium, Beaverhall Road. Edinburgh. Each meeting includes ten races. starting at 7.30pm. Race programme free with admission.
FOOTBALL - Saturday 5
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Dundee United V Celtic Tannadice Park. Tannadice Street. Dundee. 3pm. I Falkirk V Aberdeen Brockville Park. Hope Street. Falkirk. 3pm.
I Hearts V Motherwell Tynecastle Park. Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Kllmarnock v Hibs Rugby Park. Kilmarnock. 3pm.
I Rangers v Partick Thistle lbrox. Edmiston Drive. Glasgow. 3pm.
FIRST DIVISION
I St Johnstone v Airdrie McDiarmid Park. Crief Road. Perth. 3pm.
I St Mirren V Ayr United St Mirren Park. Love Street. Paisley. 3pm.
Saturday 12
} FIRST orvrsrou I St Mirren v St Johnstone St Mirren
Park. Love Street. Paisley. 3pm. I Hamilton v Dunfermline Douglas Park.
Douglas Park Lane. Hamilton. 3pm.
I Dundee v Clydebank Dens Park. : Sandeman Street. Dundee. 3pm. i I Ayr United V Airdrie Somerset Park.
Trytield Place. Ayr. 3pm.
I Raith Rovers v Stranraer Stars Park. Pratt Street. Kirkcaldy. 3pm.
SECOND DIVISION
I Clyde V East Fife Broadwood Stadium. Cumbernauld. 3pm.
I Dumbarton v Berwick Rangers Boghead Park. Miller Street. Dumbarton. 3pm.
I Brechin v Morton Glebe Park. Trinity Road. Brechin. 3pm.
I DOS V Meadowbank Palmerston Park. Terregles Street. Dumfries. 3pm.
I Stirling Albion v Stenhousemuir Eorthbank Stadium. Spinkerse Industrial Estate. Stirling. 3pm.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Wednesday 16
I Scotland V Russia Hampden Park. 8pm. £l()—£14(£2 kids).
Saturday 5
MEN’S OUTDOOR DIVISION ONE
I Edinburgh MIM v Grange Saughton Sports Complex. Edinburgh.
I TR Gordonians v Torbrex Wanderers Countesswells. Aberdeen.
I Watsonians v Insights lnverleith Myreside. Edinburgh.
I Menzieshill v Edinburgh University Gussie Park. Dundee.
Saturday 12
MEN’S OUTDOOR DIVISION ONE
I Western V Watsonians Auchenhowie. I Grange v Kelburne Raeburn Place. Edinburgh.
I Torbrex Wanderers v Menzieshill Maryfield Astroturf. Edinburgh.
I Edinburgh University v Edinburgh MIM Peffermill Playing Fields. Edinburgh.
I Insights lnverleith v TR Gordonians Meadowbank Astroturl‘. Edinburgh. WOMEN’S OUTDOOR DIVISION ONE
I Grange v GW Klick Photopoint 2
Raeburn Place. Edinburgh.
I Boroughmuir v Heriot Watt University Meadowbank/Meggatland. Edinburgh. I Hyndland v Royal High Gymnasts
Auchenhowie.
Friday 11-Saturday 12
I Ayr Races Ayr Racecourse. 2 Whitletts Road, Ayr. First race lpm Fri. 12.40pm Sat. National Hunt racing from Scotland's premier course.
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O in; H as... t1!
Saturday 5
MCEWAN’S NATIONAL lEAOUE 70/- DIVISION 1
I Boroughmuir v Jedburgh Forest Meggetland. Edinburgh. 2.30pm.
I Hawick v Watsonians M anslield Park. Hawick. 2.30pm.
I Heriot’s FP v Dundee HS FP Goldenacre. Edinburgh. 2.30pm.
I Stirling County v Edinburgh Academicals Hridgehaugh. Stirling. 2.30pm.
I Gala v West of Scotland Netherdale. Galashiels. 2.30pm.
I Glasgow High/Kelvinside v Melrose Old Anniesland. Glasgow. 2.30pm.
I Stewart/Melville FP v Currie lnverleith. Edinburgh. 2.30pm.
DIVISION 2
I Haddington v Wigtownshire Neilson Park, Haddington. 2.30pm.
I Glasgow Academicals v Edinburgh Wanderers New Anniesland. Glasgow. 2.30pm.
I Corstorphine v Kelso Union Park. Edinburgh. 2.30pm.
I Grangemouth v Biggar Glensburgh. Grangemouth. 2.30pm.
I Kirkcaldy V Peebles Beveridge Park. Kirkcaldy. 2.30pm.
I Gordonians v Selkirk Countesswells. Aberdeen. 2.30pm.
I Musselburgh v Preston Lodge FP Stoneyhill, Musselburgh. 2.30pm. DIVISION 3
I Dunfermline v Royal High McKane Park. Dunfermline. 2.30pm.
I Edinburgh University v Portobello FP Peffermill Sports Ground. Edinburgh. 2.30pm.
I Trinity Academicals v Clarkston Bangholm. Edinburgh. 2.30pm.
I Langholm v East Kilbride Milntown. Langholm. 2.30pm.
I Hutcheson’s Aloysians v Dumfries Auldhouse. Glasgow. 2.30pm.
I Ayr V Hillhead/Jordanhill Millbrae, Ayr. 2.30pm.
I Kilmarnock v Stewartry Bellsland. Kilmarnock. 2.30pm.
INTERNATIONAL MATCHES Wednesday 9
I Scotland A v South Africa The Greenyards. Melrose. 2pm. Saturday 12
I Combined Scottish Districts v South Africa Old Anniesland. Glasgow. 2pm. Tuesday 15
I Scottish Select v South Africa Rubislaw. Aberdeen. 2pm.
The List 4—17 November 1994 55