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'Ruaridh’s rasper' is penned to mark another remarkable season for Kingussie





Kingussie's Ruaridh Anderson celebrates his goal that won the Camanachd Cup against Oban Camanachd in the 2023 Tulloch Homes final played at The Bught in Inverness in September.
Kingussie's Ruaridh Anderson celebrates his goal that won the Camanachd Cup against Oban Camanachd in the 2023 Tulloch Homes final played at The Bught in Inverness in September.

A poetic shinty fan has mark another great season for his team Kingussie in prose.

Keith-based Charlie Simpson has penned 'Ruaridh’s rasper' celebrating the Red and Blue's defence of the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup and another winning season on the pitch.

Charlie also celebrated Kingussie's historic record-breaking seventh grand slam achievement last season with his Doric poem 'The Kings of Badenoch and Beyond!’

He is an avid fan too of Keith FC where he is vice-president, treasurer and club historian and has been heavily involved with The Maroons for more than 40 years.

Related article:

Tribute to the sharp-shooters of the Dell

Charlie told the Strathy: "I felt obliged after Kingussie's epic Camanachd Cup victory over Oban to put pen to paper and try to capture the victory."

Ruaridh’s rasper

The Reid an’ Blue scarves were wavin’

At the Bught in Inverness

Fin Ruaridh Anderson let fussle

In the verra last meenit – nae less!

The ba’ fair flew intae the net

Beatin’ the Oban goalie a’ eynds up

An’ fin Des McNulty blew time up on his peeper

Kings hid won the Camanachd Cup

It wizna’ a runaway win

A’ Kings fans wid surely agree

For Oban Camanachd gave their a’

‘Twas there for abiddy tae see

It wiz Scottish Cup win Twinty Five

For the Michty Men fae the Dell

Stretchin’ back tae Aichteen Ninety Six

Fit a marvellous tale tae tell

It took fower hard games tae win the Cup

Startit’ wi’ fower tae one against Newtonmore

Sine, the journey tae play Cabers

Eynded in a three tae one score

A last fower place wiz in the bag

Corky’s men lined up against ‘Shiel

Goals fae James an’ Ruaridh – 2-1

Proved the boys cwid be the real deal

So – tae the Hunner an’ Twinty Sivinth Final

A sunny Bught Park set the scene

Baith teams lookit fit an’ smairt

It is the showpiece Final fin a’ said an’ deen

Play raged fae eynd tae eynd

In front o’ a bumper crowd

Fans on baith sides were cheerin’

Makkin’ the atmosphere fine an’ loud

Nae quarter wiz geen or askit

Tho’ naebiddy cwid find the net

The eggtimer wiz rinnin’ oot

Extra Time? - We lookit a’ set

Then Ruaridh took a han’

Wrote his name intae ‘Gussie folklore

A goal fit tae win ony Cup

Leavin’ Oban feel o’ sae sore

Captain James Falconer wiz ecstatic

As he raised the Cup abeen his heid

Kings diehards were delirious

Jings, a marvellous spectacle indeed

Kingussie’s shinty tradition is great

Indeed, some fowk wid say the best

Abiddy’s oot tae beat them

But – they stood up tae the Cup Final test

Noo, the Cup is bein’ retired

A Replica’s tae tak’ it’s place

They’re feart it gets a bash

Richtly, pit intil a Showcase

If the famous aul’ Trophy cwid speak

I’m sure it’s bound tae say

“I’m richt gled it wiz Kingussie

That won me on that MEMORABLE FINAL DAY!”


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