Kingussie club's compulsory shinty helmet bid ruled out
The Camanachd Association meet for their AGM in Fort William tomorrow (Friday), and top of the agenda will be Newtonmore and Kingussie’s proposal to restore a 10 team Premier League for next season.
It looks likely that this proposal, which has the backing of the board and therefore needs only a straight majority, is likely to succeed.
If so then it means that no club will be relegated from the past season and both Fort William and Oban Camanachd will be promoted.
Kingussie’s other proposal for the AGM, however, has been withdrawn from the agenda after it was suggested that the move to force all players to wear helmets might lead to a legal challenge.
In a motion that had been due to go before the annual general meeting, the dell club proposed that as of the 2015 season "all players born on or after 1st January 1997 must wear a helmet and faceguard in all grades of shinty".
Strathy shinty correspondent Dave Fallows said: "That some young players stop wearing helmets as adults is viewed by many as a potentially dangerous anomaly.
"The Kingussie measure had sought to address that, while at the same time placing no obligations on older players not used to the protective equipment.
"However, the motion has now been withdrawn after the Aberdour Club suggested such a measure could fall foul of discrimination laws."
A Camanachd Association spokesperson said: "This action is in response to earlier concerns raised by members that the resolution, if approved, could result in discrimination amongst senior players on the basis of age that contravenes current legislation.
"The advice received from our legal representative Harper Macleod supports that view."