ON SATURDAY, Caberfeidh Shinty Club had a first class support with them in the Balliemore Cup at Portree, where they contested the final with Bute, leaders of the Marine Harvest South Division One and likely candidates for promotion to the Scottish Hydro Premier Division.
Bute resided overnight in Portree to avoid a long journey on the day of the final. Caberfeidh travelled west on the Saturday morning, the team bus accompanied by two bus-loads of supporters, and hosts of others in private cars.
The mood was buoyant, even at the end of the day when Caberfeidh just failed to record a sixth victory in the competition in which they hold the record of five wins. For Bute it was their third Balliemore Cup final victory.
Conditions were perfect, blue skies, bright sunshine, but in the shade there was a sharp enough wind.
The teams were led on to the field by the Isle of Skye Pipe Band.
Since their quarter and semifinal victories in the competition, Caberfeidh have not been experiencing the best of fortunes, and their play has suffered. However, on Saturday they raised their game, and with a first class squad were prepared to give their all in search of victory.
The team was: DJ Mellis, Brian Macdonald, Graham MacGregor, Ian McColl, Lee Nicol, Paul Ross, Ali Maclennan, Kevin Bartlett, Martin Macdonald, Stewart Krzyzanowski, Ewen Murray and Kirk Taylor. Substitutes: Donald Macdonald, Malcolm Morrison, Gavin Macdonald, Liam Mutch and Ruaridh Macleman.
Brian Macdonald and Lee Nicol were outstanding in the defence.
Roberto Zavaroni opened the scoring in the 26th minute, and in the 62nd minute Robert Walker notched the second counter for Bute. Kirk Taylor's goal came in the 64th minute as Cabers played out the game with near misses from Stewart Krzyzanowski, Kevin Bartlett and Kirk Taylor, but all in vain - Bute were the winners.
There were some humorous incidents in the game, especially when a collie pup came onto the field and insisted on chasing after the ball!
Other results: vArtemis MacAulay Cup semifinal Newtonmore 2, Kingussie 1.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division Glenorchy 1, Oban Camanachd 2; Glenurquhart 0, Kyles Athletic 3; Kilmallie 0, Fort William 5; Lovat 2, Inveraray 1.
Marine Harvest North Division One Beauly 1, Lochaber 1.
Marine Harvest North Division Two Fort William 3, Lochaber 0; Lovat 1, Newtonmore 7; Kilmallie 5, Lochaber 3; Fort William 4, Glenurquhart 0; Kingussie 0, Glengarry 6.
Marine Harvest North Division Three Beauly 2, Aberdeen University 4; Strathglass 2, Loch Broom 3.
This weekend's fixtures:
Tonight (Friday) at 7.30pm Beauly v Lochcarron (Referee Mr Evan Macrae).
Tomorrow (Saturday):
Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup final Kyles Athletic v Kingussie, at King's College playing field, Aberdeen.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division Inveraray v Oban Camanachd; Kilmallie v Glenurquhart; Lovat v Newtonmore.
Marine Harvest North Division One Caberfeidh v Strathglass (Mr Graeme Macmillan); Lochaber v Inverness (3pm).
Marine Harvest North Division Two Glengarry v Newtonmore; Glenurquhart v Kilmallie; Lochaber v Fort William; Skye v Lovat (noon).
Marine Harvest North Division Three Ardnamurchan v Inverness; Beauly v Strathglass; Lewis v Caberfeidh.
* THE winners of the Marine Harvest Shinty Awards were announced recently at a ceremony in Oban. A number of new awards were introduced including a Player and Coach of the Year for each of the six leagues, and an emerging Referee of the Year award. The winners were:
Marine Harvest Player of the Year and Premier Division Player of the Year Gary Innes, Fort William.
Player of the Year: North Division One Finlay Macrae, Kinlochshiel. North Division Two Steven Cameron, Glengarry. North Division Three Kenny Macleod, Aberdeen University.
Coaches of the Year: Premier Division Stevie Borthwick, Kingussie. North Division One Peter Jackson, Lachie Innes and John Morrison, Kilmallie. North Division Two Steven Henderson and Mike Cameron, Glenurquhart. North Division Three Callum Cameron, Lochaber.
Players of the Year: Under 21 Kevin Bartlett, Caberfeidh. Under 17 Thomas Borthwick, Kingussie. Under 14 Ewan Brady, Glenurquhart / Glengarry.
Youth Coach of the Year Michael Delaney, Lochaber.
The Johnny "Ach" Macrae Quaich for Referee of the Year Billy Wotherspoon.
Emerging Referee of Year Deek Cameron.
* CABERFEIDH Shinty Club are to celebrate the 125th anniversary of their formation with a buffet dance in the Pavilion, Strathpeffer on Friday, August 26 and a club 6-a-side tournament the following day at Castle Leod, Strathpeffer.
There will also be an exhibition of photographs, both old and new, staged within the Sports Pavilion at Castle Leod on the day of the tournament. A book is being published to mark the occasion.
Due to the large number of people with connections to the club who may wish to attend those events it is not possible to issue individual invitations and all those interested in attending, those in possession of photographs which they deem worthy of inclusion in the exhibition, and those requiring further details should contact David MacMaster.
