Major row over 'cap' imposed on Kingussie Camanachd Cup Final

The Camanachd Association's decision tomorrow's ticket sales at the Dell to 3,000 has been slated by Kingussie Shinty Club, who fear now that what was set to be a record event will now have empty places around the ground.

"Common sense has just flown out of the window with this decision," club president Russell Jones told the Strathy this afternoon.

"There was no consultation on this. The afternoon is the association's responsibility while the club are organising the evening festivities, but this was a ridiculous box-ticking, 'health and safety' red tape exercise which makes no sense. Our ground was capable of handling many more than their limit of 3,000 anyway, but the sad fact is that the way the tickets have been sold means that we won't have 3,000 people - we'll be lucky to have 2,000.

"And at the same time there will be loads of people turning up in the traditional way to buy their ticket at the gate and they'll be turned away. It's bizarre! And it could so easily have been avoided if we had been liaising on this, if before this announcement was made by the association that they had thought to clarify the situation with us."

At the heart of the confusion is the way the tickets were sold. Mr Jones explained that 1,500 tickets were sold on an 'all day' basis - in other words, for an extra £10 fans could pay for both the cup final and the Final Fling event in the evening, starring top musical acts including the sensational Peat & Diesel.

But there was no guarantee - or even likelihood, Mr Jones maintains - that all those people would be there for the shinty match.

"They were music fans just making sure of their evening ticket."

Meanwhile 1,500 tickets were sold purely for the Cup Final and the association decided on Wednesday that that meant a sell-out.

A spokesman for the association, in Kingussie with the CA team to help prepare for tomorrow's big day, told the Strathy this afternoon that consultation had taken place and it was not a last-minute decision. The police had been notified earlier during security checks and had agreed, he said, to the 3,000 cap.

"It's an unfortunate situation," he agreed, "but the reality here is that we have to obey modern laws and regulations. It's a long time since Kingussie Camanachd Club organised a Camanachd Cup final and the world has changed, it's as simple as that.

"We had no option but to limit capacity here to 3,000."

With the association's representatives staying in the Badenoch capital tonight, he was asked if there were any chance of a meeting with the club to arrange a compromise, but that was not going to happen, he confirmed.

The club have posted this message on its Facebook page: "The THCCF is the CA’s event and it is up to them and their sponsors how they run it.

"Please direct all enquiries about this decision to the Camanachd Association and not Kingussie Camanachd Club or our volunteers.

"Tickets for the Final Fling are still on sale and can be bought on Skiddle or at the Ticket Office on Ruthven Road which will be open from 9am until 7pm on Saturday.

"The forecast is good and it should be a great weekend."

In his own post, supporter Sandy Macdonell said: "Unfortunately the supporters who will most likely miss out are the locals from Lovat and Kingussie who fully expected to buy tickets on the day if their team reached the final. For an event to have been planned so far in advance and for the Camanachd Association to close ticket sales at the 11th hour is absurd.

"The after match entertainment has had a 3000 limit since its inception. If the Camanachd Association were going to impose a limit then this should have been done months ago and in line with the safe limits agreed for the venue.

"Shinty has provided me with a lifetime of pleasure both as a player and supporter. I congratulate anyone who gives their time to further the interests of both clubs and association. However on this occasion the association have made the wrong decision and should reverse it.

"If they were not prepared for the potential numbers then they are the only ones and should have addressed their omission in a positive manner by putting further measures in place to manage it."

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