Kinlochshiel

Infobox shinty club
clubname = Kinlochshiel


fullname = Kinlochshiel Shinty Club
gaelicname = Comann Camanachd Ceann Loch Seile
nickname = Shiel
founded = 1958
ground = Kirkton, Balmacara
managers = Johnstone Gill + Keith Loades
league = North Division One
season = 2007
position = 2nd
pattern_la1=_whiteshoulders|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=_whiteshoulders
leftarm1=FF0000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FF0000|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=FF0000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=000000|body2=0000FF|rightarm2=000000|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FF0000
Kinlochshiel Shinty Club is a shinty club based in Balmacara, near Kyle of Lochalsh, Lochalsh, Scotland. The club has two sides, a senior team which plays in North Division One and a reserve team in North Division Two. Kinlochsiel also has a young, promising under 14's team.2007 has been a very successful year for the club as they have won north division three and the Balliemore cup.

History

The club was the result of an amalgamation of three clubs "Kin"tail, "Loch"alsh and Glen"shiel", who first joined forces in 1958.

The club won its first trophy in the form of the Sutherland Cup in 1962 and the Strathdearn in 1975. Whilst the club have been successful over the years, a troublesome patch in the 1990s led to Kinlochshiel dropping down to the lowest division in the North and working their way back up the leagues and re-establishing a reserve team. This has reaped long term benefits and the club are now considered one of the best teams outside the top flight. The club now boasts several internationalists in its ranks, including: Finlay MacRae (senior squad), Keith MacRae, John MacRae, Criosdean MacRae, Gordon MacDonald, John Don Mackenzie Jr, and Neil Fraser (at either Under 17 or 21).

The club won the Balliemore Cup on 1st September 2007 against Glenurquhart in a rearranged match at Newtonmore after the first game was rained out on 17th August 2007 in Oban.

The club also missed out on promotion to the Premier Division, coming second in North Division One in 2007 although the second team won North Division Three

In 2006, the club was joined by the wider shinty community in mourning for Johnny "Ach" Macrae, referee co-ordinator for the Camanachd Association and former North Player of the Year who died at the age of 50. His funeral was attended by over 2000 people.

The club is the only team specifically referred to in the Runrig song, "Clash of the Ash", in the line;

"Tell me who’s gonna mark the Kinlochshiel BearHe’s hard as nails, quick as a flashHe comes down from the cavesFor the clash of the ash"

- Clash of the Ash, C&R MacDonald, 2007

External links

* [http://www.shinty.com/kinlochshiel/Default.htm Kinlochshiel @ Shinty.com]
* [http://www.whfp.com West Highland Free PRess with coverage of Kinlochshiel Games]
* [http://www.whfp.com/1762/local.html Johnny "Ach" Macrae's Funeral Coverage and Obituary]
* [http://www.jimwillsher.co.uk/Site/Runrig/Lyrics/Lyrics_Detail.php?AlbumID=41 Clash of the Ash Lyrics]