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Salute to Sandy


By Tom Ramage

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A legendary shinty ground today paid tribute to one of its greatest.

The Eilan salutes its legend, Sandy Ralph
The Eilan salutes its legend, Sandy Ralph

The Eilan, Newtonmore Camanachd Club's hallowed turf, saluted Sandy Ralph's life and achievement – and paid its thanks – as he made his way to a private family funeral service.

Sandy, of Caman Dubh, Newtonmore, died peacefully last Wednesday at St Vincent's Hospital in Kingussie.

He was 81.

In this week's Strathy fellow Newtonmore hero John Mackenzie MBE describes his team-mate as one of the game's fastest and most versatile, fearless and skilful of exponents.

"Sandy Ralph was, quite simply, one of the greatest players to represent the village on the shinty field in a long and successful career.

"He was fully deserving of the accolade of 'legend', that often overworked and misused measure of a player's abilities, while playing with a clutch of other players of similar abilities."

Ralph was the holder of no fewer than nine Camanachd Cup winner's medals.

He captained Newtonmore in the 1977 final and played his last game in 1979 against Kyles Athletic.

Photos: Aidan Woods


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