Kingussie and Newtonmore get byes in opening round of Sutherland Cup
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Badenoch rivalries will be renewed with Newtonmore and Kingussie seconds meeting each other in the Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup.
The two clubs will meet in the second round of the cup on July 24 with the Blues and Whites hosting the Kings.
This year’s competition is regionalised in the early rounds to avoid long travel distances but strangely Grantown-based Strathspey have been put into a different league to their neighbours.
The draw for the Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup was made yesterday at the HIS Offices by company director Garry Mackintosh and Camanachd Association president Steven MacKenzie.
The first round of the HIS Sutherland Cup takes place on Saturday July 3 and this year’s final is set for Saturday October 16 at Blairbeg Park in Drumnadrochit.
Mr MacKenzie commented: “It is vital that shinty is sponsored by local businesses who serve and employ people who are involved in our sport.
"We would not be in such a positive position today if it wasn’t for the support we have received from Highland Industrial Supplies.
"This cup is the competition with the highest number of teams involved in shinty – meaning that a huge number of participants are able to reap the benefits that being active has on physical and mental health."
Mr Mackintosh said: “We are lucky to be in a local economy, not just in the Highlands but in all the areas that HIS supply.
"Shinty is involved in most of these areas and is often the focal point for these communities.
"One of the most important things for us is that it involves being active too as we can all recognise the benefit that staying active can have on mental health.”
There are four sections in total for qualification from the early rounds.
A Camanachd Association spokesman said: "The draw is regionalised to a certain extent. Naturally there will be variation so as every trophy doesn’t have the same local groups but the idea was to get it into manageable groups with travel that doesn’t include Kingussie going to Oban for example."
Section 1: Aberdeen Uni, Beauly, Boleskine, Caberfeidh, Scots Camanachd & Strathspey
Section 1 first round games (July 3): Caberfeidh v Boleskine; Strathspey v Beauly; bye: Aberdeen Uni; bye: SCOTS Camanachd
Section 1 second round (July 24): Caberfeidh/Boleskine v Aberdeen; SCOTS Camanachd v Strathspey/Beauly
HIS Sutherland Cup
Section 2: Fort William, Kilmallie, Kingussie, Lochaber, Lochside Rovers & Newtonmore.
Section 2 first round (July 3): Fort William v Kilmallie; Lochside Rovers v Lochaber; bye: Kingussie; bye: Newtonmore
Section 2 second round (July 24): Newtonmore v Kingussie; Lochside Rovers/Lochaber v Fort William/Kilmallie
