SISIS -

Lochcarron Camanachd have been promoted to the Premier League and it’s all down to their recent purchase of a SISIS Multislit!

Well that’s a gross exaggeration, but President of the Lochcarron Shinty Club, George Hendry, tells us that they are very pleased with its performance. The club has 2 senior and 3 youth teams and the 1.3 hectare pitch is therefore in heavy use throughout the week. Given the high rainfall on the N.W coast of Scotland, good drainage is vital and the deep slitting action of the Multislit has been a valuable aid to keeping the playing surface firm and dry.

2002 has been an exceptional year for Lochcarron. As well as promotion to the Premier League, they won the Balliemore Cup and were awarded the “Marine Harvest Club of the Year”. Full Centre Kenny Ross was voted North Player of the year for the second season in succession and went on to win the Ross and Cromarty Sports Council “Sports Personality of the Year”.

Lochcarron Camanachd (that’s Gaelic for shinty), founded in 1883, is one of the oldest shinty clubs in the Highlands and is the sporting and cultural focal point for a community of 800. Most of the players are drawn from the traditional occupations of the Highlands such as fishing, stalking, shepherding, crofting and forestry. The club also has an active youth development policy with weekly coaching sessions from the age of eight.

Shinty is an ancient and unique stick sport entailing traditions of skill, courage and stamina dating back over countless generations to the earliest roots of the Celtic race. Unique to Scotland, it is one of the world’s oldest games, dating back at least 2000 years. Similar to lacrosse and hurling it is a fast and skilful game and very exciting to watch. The caman (stick) was originally made from ash or hickory cut from a tree with a natural curve, but nowadays strips of wood are glued together. It has two sloped sides so that the ball can be hit with either side. The caman can be swung above the head and the ball can be stopped with the feet. The ball is small and hard, and covered in leather.

Testing physical fitness and endurance to the limit, Shinty is not a sport for the faint hearted!