Shinty
in Scotland
Or in Gaelic - "iomain" or "Camanachd"
(prounounced yi-mane and ca-man-achd)
Introduced by the Irish over 2,000 years ago with Christianity.
Official
Shinty Website: www.shinty.com
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Shinty
is unique to Scotland and one of the oldest games in the world.
The
game is similar to games such as hockey and lacrosse in some
aspects and has historical roots with golf and ice hockey. As
with lacrosse the game is a fast moving aerial game where physical
fitness is tested to the limits. However, different from both
hockey and lacrosse as in Shinty, feet can be used to stop the
ball but not the hands (unless you are the goal-keeper). You
can carrry the ball on your caman which can be also be swung
above shoulder height.....a skilful eye and a sense of survival
are paramount!!
The
Game
-
Fast
moving skilful sport that, like lacrosse
is thrilling to watch
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Played between 2 teams of 12 players
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Each
player is "armed" with a curved stick called a Caman (pronounced
ca-man) which has a triangular in section
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Each
game lasts 90 minutes
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Shinty
is a community game played in some of the most remote parts
of Scotland
- The Dell playing fields at Kinguisse are considered by some
to be the original home of organised shinty as we know it
today.
The
Rules
The fundamental difference between hockey and shinty is that
in the game of shinty there is no restriction on the swing of
the caman. Players can strike the ball with both sides of the
stick - like ice hockey. However, handling and reaching for
the ball is not allowed.
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The
"stick"
The caman was originally made of ash or hickory cut from a
tree with a natural bend, but nowadays modern sticks are made
from strips of wood glued together. The shortage of high quality
wood in some areas of the country led to experimentation with
various other materials such as aluminium but players have
always reverted back to the natural product.
The
Ball
The Ball is a similar size to a tennis ball. The interior
is cork and worsted, with an outer cover of leather or a similar
approved material. Originally blocks of wood or pieces of
cork were used instead of the modern ball until the rules
were formally accepted about 100 years ago and the cork ball
became the standard.
Shinty
is still a truly amateur sport, although the level of skill
and athletic ability demands great things of the players.
Some players travel hugh distances to play and represent the
club in competitions. The best teams and players play in the
national premier league and there are different grades of
the game from school teams to international games.
The
Glenmorangie Camanachd Cup Knock Out Championship
was first played in 1896 and won by Kingussie Annual event
with the the cup final normally played on the first Saturday
in June. The cup final attracts shinty's biggest crowds of
between 3,000 - 5,000.
Shinty
and Hurling
Hurling is played in Ireland with different sticks from shinty
players with a broad face. There often are matches between
the shinty and the hurling teams on an organised basis. The
first games were played in 1897 in Glasgow . Challenges regularly
take place at club level particularly in the summer.
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Shinty
Teams |
Aberdeen University |
Balgownie Playing Fields, Aberdeen
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Ballachulish |
Jubilee Park, Ballachulish |
Beauly |
Braeview Park, Beauly |
Boleskine |
Smith Park Inverarnie |
Bute |
The Meadows, Rothesay |
Caberfeidh |
Castle Lead, Strathpeffer |
Col Glen |
Colintraive, Argyll |
Dunfermline |
Dunfermline |
Edinburgh Uni. |
Peffermill Playing Field, Edinburgh |
Fort William |
An Aird, Fort William |
Glasgow Mid Argyll |
Pirie Park, Govan, Glasgow |
Glasgow University |
University Playing Fields, Glasgow |
Glengarry |
Craigard, Invergarry |
Glenorchy |
Mart Park, Dalmally, Argyll |
Glenurquhart |
Blairbeg, Drumnadrochit |
Inveraray |
The Winterton, Castle Grounds |
Inverness |
Bught Park, Inverness |
Inverness UHI |
University of the Highlands and Islands Camanachd
Club |
Kilmallie |
Canal park, Caol, by Fort William |
Kincraig |
Kincraig |
Kingussie |
The Dell, Kingussie |
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Kinlochshiel |
Balmacara, near Kyle |
Kintyre |
The Meadows Park, Campbeltown |
Kyles Athletic |
Sports Field, Tighnabruaich |
Lochbroom |
Inverlael, Ullapool |
Lochaber Camanachd |
Playing Field, Spean Bridge |
Lochcarron |
Battery Park, Lochcarron |
London Camanachd |
London (cup matches in Scotland) |
Lovat |
Balgate, Kiltarlity, near Inverness |
Musselburgh |
Musselburgh, near Edinburgh |
Newtonmore |
The Eilan, Newtowmore |
Oban Camanachd |
Mossfield Park, Oban |
Oban Celtic |
Ganavan, Oban |
Skye Camanachd |
Portree, Isle of Skye |
St. Andrews University |
University Playing Fields, St. Andrews |
Strachur |
Strachur Park |
Strathclyde Police |
Loch Inch, Glasgow |
Strathglass |
Cannich Playing Field |
Tayforth |
South Inch, Perth |
Taynuilt |
Taynuilt Sports Field, Argyll |
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