Tribute to the Sharpshooters of the Dell after historic Grand Slam win
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Budding Doric poet Charlie Simpson has turned his attentions once more to Kingussie's historic seventh Grand Slam win.
The Keith wordsmith was so encouraged by the response he received to his earlier prose – 'The Kings of Badenoch and Beyond! Grand Slam Heroes ‘O 2022’ that he has penned another poem on the feat.
'The Sharpshooters of Kingussie Camanachd' is a tribute to the Red and Blues' goalscoring exploits over the past season.
They are the first team in the history of the game to win seven grand slams – that’s the Camanachd Cup, MacTavish Cup, Macaulay Cup and the Premiership.
Simpson usually writes on his beloved Highland League club Keith FC – being not only an avid fan of Keith FC but also vice-president, treasurer and club historian – but has a soft spot for Kingussie Camanachd.
He was initially inspired by Ronaldo of the Glens – Ronald Ross – and his teammates' record-breaking exploits in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
They entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2005 as world sport's most successful sporting outfit.
Simpson recently told the Strathy: “I write poetry in the Doric, mainly about Keith FC and players. But after the Kings won the Camanachd Cup, the Grand Slam was a definite possibility and I decided to start writing about it."
Sharpshooters of Kingussie Camanachd
They are the sharpshooters o’ Shinty
As deadly as William Tell
The goal aces fae Kingussie
Master marksmen fae the Dell
Netbulgin’ at iviry turn
A’ feared fae far an’ wide
Goalscorers in iviry department
O’ that famous Grand Slam side
It wiz 96 marvellous goals
Played twinty nine games an’ scored
Followin’ the Reids an’ Blues
Ye kin nivir say yer bored!
Winnin’ fower trophies is great
Scorin’ sae mony a super feat
Iviry goal that hit the ingin bag
Hid the fans up aff their seat
Settin’ the ba’ rollin’
Back in Mairch o’ 2022
Zander Michie’s pen against Cabers
Man, fit a tae do!
The quarter century wiz clockit up
Against the Fort – beginnin’ o’ May
Dylan Borthwick wiz the marksman
As Kings went nap that day
Then, half o’ a hunner wiz reached
Against Lovat, the start o’ July
Scorer Roddy “Hot Rod” Young
On him ye can aye rely
It wiz only three wiks later
Goal 75 Kings managed tae score
Again Roddy wiz the man on target
Against old foes Newtonmore
The final goal o’ the season
Number 96 wiz the landmark
Guess fa? - Aye, Roddy again
Doon at Oban – He’s deadly on the shinty park
Elivin different scorers
Responsible fer that marvellous tally
Helps fin they a’ get on
Great team spirit – a’ sae very pally
Roddy “Hot Rod” led the wye
Wi’ 36 goals tae his name
Skipper Savio Genini weighed in wi’ 19
They baith fair ken the game
Ruaridh Anderson ? - Weel, he grabbed 16
Wi’ James Falconer folleyin’ up wi’ elivin
Dylan Borthwick’s sivin an’ “young” James Hutchie’s double
Hid ‘Gussie fans thinkin’ they’d deid an’ gone tae hivvin
Makkin’ their mark wi’ singles
Ryan Borthwick, Zander an’ Lee Bain
Added tae young Iain Fraser an’ Fraser Munro
Fit a worthy band o’ goalscorin’ men
Their names’ll ging doon in History
O’ the Grand Slammers that reign supreme
Each an’ iviry goalscorer
FER THE GLORIOUS KINGUSSIE CAMANACHD TEAM!!
Charlie Simpson
Keith.
