Lochcarron Camanachd
Encyclopedia
Lochcarron Camanachd is a shinty
club from Wester Ross
, Scotland
. It has two teams, a senior team which was relegated from the Marine Harvest Premier Division in 2007 and a reserve team which plays in the North Division Three.
. In its first century the Club won the Strathdearn Cup eight times and the Sutherland Cup six times as well as winning its league division on many occasions.
The early nineties were a particular success for Lochcarron, as having temporarily reduced to one team, they went from North Division Four to the Premier Division in quick succession. http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/10583/Glen_reserves_just_a_win_away_from_Division_Two_title.html
The first team reached the club's only senior final, the Macaulay Cup
final in 2001, where they were beaten 3-0 by Inveraray. They then won the National First Division Championship in 2002 and the Balliemore Cup also in 2002. Amongst the key players in this era were Kenny Ross
and Fraser MacKenzie
.http://www.lochcarronshinty.org.uk/about_history.htm
The club was voted Marine Harvest Club of the Year 2002. The club was chosen as the Highland Sports Development Association Club of the Year 2003, a first for the sport of shinty. The club also secured a third spot finish in the Premier Division. However, the club then went into decline, narrowly avoiding relegation in 2006. After finishing bottom of the Premier Division, they had to defeat Kyles Athletic
in a playoff.
The club was relegated in 2007 after a prolonged season, with their final match being played against Inveraray
in Kiltarlity
on 8 December 2007 - a 2-2 draw was not enough to overhaul Oban Camanachd
. The club only finished 4th in North Division One
in 2008 and was threatened with relegation again at the end of the 2009 season to North Division Two. This would have had far reaching repercussions for the club which would have seen their second team (which has failed to fulfil several fixtures) be disbanded.
However, the club received a reprieve from relegation as Glenurquhart
rejected the chance to have their reserve team promoted from North Division Two
despite new bye-laws permitting reserve sides to do this. The club retained its place in North One for 2010 and also retained its second team.http://www.shinty.com/uploads/pdfs/2010%20Fixtures%20x%208.pdf The club was rocked early in 2010 by the resignation of Alasdair "Gaiter" MacKenzie as manager, he was swiftly replaced by Murdo John Fraser.http://www.skyecamanachd.com/default.aspx.locid-087new1n7.Lang-EN.htm
Today the Club has a reputation for its youth development and represents shinty in Sportscotland’s national youth sports programme. The club actively supports shinty at both its local senior school Plockton
High and Lochcarron Primary School and through the recently formed Ross
& Sutherland
Shinty Development Association.
The club plays at the Battery Park in Lochcarron (opposite the Bank of Scotland) on its newly extended pitch, complete with modern changing rooms.
Lochcarron have local rivals Kinlochshiel in which they compete annually in the Tommy Ross memorial cup.
The club has a large amount of MacKenzie
s involved with the club and the varying different families are often differentiated by inter-generational nicknames, such as "Ham", "Jek" and "Gaiter".http://www.skyecamanachd.com/default.aspx.locid-087new1ie.Lang-EN.htm
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
club from Wester Ross
Wester Ross
is a western area of Ross and Cromarty in Scotland, notably containing the villages on the west coast such as:* Lochcarron* Applecross* Shieldaig* Torridon* Kinlochewe * * * Aultbea* Laide* Ullapool* Achiltibuie...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It has two teams, a senior team which was relegated from the Marine Harvest Premier Division in 2007 and a reserve team which plays in the North Division Three.
History
Founded in 1883, Lochcarron Camanachd is one of the oldest in the west HighlandsScottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. In its first century the Club won the Strathdearn Cup eight times and the Sutherland Cup six times as well as winning its league division on many occasions.
The early nineties were a particular success for Lochcarron, as having temporarily reduced to one team, they went from North Division Four to the Premier Division in quick succession. http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/10583/Glen_reserves_just_a_win_away_from_Division_Two_title.html
The first team reached the club's only senior final, the Macaulay Cup
Macaulay Cup
The MacAulay Association Camanachd Cup is a trophy in the sport of shinty. It is competed for by the eight highest-placed league teams from the north and south areas at the end of the previous season. The first winner of the cup, in 1947, was Newtonmore. It will be sponsored by Artemis from the...
final in 2001, where they were beaten 3-0 by Inveraray. They then won the National First Division Championship in 2002 and the Balliemore Cup also in 2002. Amongst the key players in this era were Kenny Ross
Kenny Ross
Kenneth "Kenny" Ross is a shinty player from Achnasheen, Scotland. He plays for Lochcarron Camanachd and is that club's most capped player. He is presently assistant manager of the Scotland national shinty team.-Playing Career:...
and Fraser MacKenzie
Fraser MacKenzie
Fraser McKenzie is a Scottish professional rugby union player, who plays for Sale Sharks. He plays either at lock or blindside flanker and is a former Scotland under 20 captain. He started his career at Dunfermline Rugby Club and later joined Edinburgh.-References:* on scrum.com...
.http://www.lochcarronshinty.org.uk/about_history.htm
The club was voted Marine Harvest Club of the Year 2002. The club was chosen as the Highland Sports Development Association Club of the Year 2003, a first for the sport of shinty. The club also secured a third spot finish in the Premier Division. However, the club then went into decline, narrowly avoiding relegation in 2006. After finishing bottom of the Premier Division, they had to defeat Kyles Athletic
Kyles Athletic
Kyles Athletic Shinty Club is a shinty team from Tighnabruaich, Argyll, Scotland. It is one of the sport's most illustrious names, presently playing in the Premier Division after recently being outwith the top flight of Scottish Shinty.-History:...
in a playoff.
The club was relegated in 2007 after a prolonged season, with their final match being played against Inveraray
Inveraray Shinty Club
Inveraray Shinty Club is a shinty club from Inveraray, Argyll, Scotland. It plays in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division. There is also a reserve team who plays in the South Division One as well as a Ladies team.-History:...
in Kiltarlity
Kiltarlity
Kiltarlity is a small village in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is west of Inverness, and south of Beauly, on the Bruiach Burn. It has a population of under 1000 people, and a primary school, Tomnacross Primary...
on 8 December 2007 - a 2-2 draw was not enough to overhaul Oban Camanachd
Oban Camanachd
Oban Camanachd is one of the oldest Camanachd clubs playing in the Shinty leagues of Scotland. they were relegated from the Premier League. They have a reserve team called Lochside Rovers.- History:...
. The club only finished 4th in North Division One
North Division One (shinty)
The North Division One is a league for shinty teams. It is presently the in second tier of the Shinty league system. The winners of the league are promoted to the Premier Division....
in 2008 and was threatened with relegation again at the end of the 2009 season to North Division Two. This would have had far reaching repercussions for the club which would have seen their second team (which has failed to fulfil several fixtures) be disbanded.
However, the club received a reprieve from relegation as Glenurquhart
Glenurquhart Shinty Club
Glenurquhart Shinty Club is a shinty team which plays in Drumnadrochit on the banks of Loch Ness, Scotland. It draws its players from the part of the Great Glen which encompasses Drumnadrochit, Lewiston and Glenurquhart...
rejected the chance to have their reserve team promoted from North Division Two
North Division Two (shinty)
The North Division Two is a league for shinty teams. It is presently in the third tier of the Shinty league system. The winners of the league can be promoted to the North Division One although this rarely occurs due to the winners being a reserve team...
despite new bye-laws permitting reserve sides to do this. The club retained its place in North One for 2010 and also retained its second team.http://www.shinty.com/uploads/pdfs/2010%20Fixtures%20x%208.pdf The club was rocked early in 2010 by the resignation of Alasdair "Gaiter" MacKenzie as manager, he was swiftly replaced by Murdo John Fraser.http://www.skyecamanachd.com/default.aspx.locid-087new1n7.Lang-EN.htm
Today the Club has a reputation for its youth development and represents shinty in Sportscotland’s national youth sports programme. The club actively supports shinty at both its local senior school Plockton
Plockton
Plockton is a village in the Highlands of Scotland with a population of 378 .- Details :Plockton is a picturesque settlement on the shores of Loch Carron...
High and Lochcarron Primary School and through the recently formed Ross
Ross
Ross is a region of Scotland and a former mormaerdom, earldom, sheriffdom and county. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning a headland - perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. The Norse word for Orkney - Hrossay meaning horse island - is another possible origin. The area...
& Sutherland
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
Shinty Development Association.
The club plays at the Battery Park in Lochcarron (opposite the Bank of Scotland) on its newly extended pitch, complete with modern changing rooms.
Lochcarron have local rivals Kinlochshiel in which they compete annually in the Tommy Ross memorial cup.
The club has a large amount of MacKenzie
Mackenzie
-People:* Mackenzie , surname origin, and a list of people with the surname..* Mackenzie , name origin, and a list of people with the name.* Clan Mackenzie, a Scottish clan.- Fictional characters:...
s involved with the club and the varying different families are often differentiated by inter-generational nicknames, such as "Ham", "Jek" and "Gaiter".http://www.skyecamanachd.com/default.aspx.locid-087new1ie.Lang-EN.htm