Badenoch Ladies captain joins board of shinty's governing body
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The Camanachd Association has appointed Badenoch Ladies shinty star Kirsty Deans as a board director.
Deans has been co-opted into the role and will focus on areas including planning for a return to shinty and supporting the evolution of the successful School of Shinty programme.
She is the current captain of the Kingussie based side and was integral to her side pipping Skye Ladies to the Mowi National Division title last season.
Deans is also a regular Scottish internationalist and one of the most recognisable players in the modern game.
Away from the sport, she has done a significant amount of travelling and balances her shinty and football training with full-time work as a PE teacher.
Deans said: “I was absolutely delighted to be asked to join the board and one of the main reasons I was keen to take on this role was because of the opportunity it gave me to try and help improve and move the game forward.
"As a player I am passionate about the sport and thoroughly enjoy all aspects from training and playing to coaching.
"This role adds another dimension and a chance for me to learn more about the game but also work to improve the experience of those currently playing.
"I feel I can provide a fresh perspective as a younger member of the board but also as someone with a football background and an occupation working with young people.
"Shinty has progressed massively in recent years and this has been really encouraging to see and I hope that this is something that I can help support and this will hopefully be furthered by the development of the school programmes.
"I think this is a really challenging time for all sports, however, I have embraced these challenges so far and I hope I can keep contributing positively and support a return to youth and adult shinty in the near future.”
Deans will bring a wealth of experience in the game to the board as well as a fresh perspective and expertise on how the governing body can further the game at junior level having worked in both Kingussie and Forres high schools in her six-year teaching career.
Keith Loades, Camanachd Association President, said: “Kirsty is an exciting addition to our board of directors who will add a great deal to what is an already very strong and multi-talented group of people.
"We look forward to working with her more closely as we aim to return our sport to some kind of normality and her expertise in schools within the Highland region can only help us further the School of Shinty programme.”
