PICTURES: Kingussie Old Boys prove they still have plenty in the tank
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Kingussie’s traditional New Year’s Day shinty match between the generations resulted in a win for the seniors albeit with a little help from a couple of today’s stars.
There was a great turn-out of several hundred spectators for the fixture at The Dell on Monday afternoon which ended in a 3-0 victory for the over 30s with the goals coming from a Savio Genini brace and Pete Dickson.
Michael Ritchie held aloft the Bob Sinclair Memorial Trophy at the end of the well contested curtain-raiser for the new year.
The game was played over two half-hour halves with Robbie MacPherson managing the ‘old boys’ and Roddy Young and teammate Alexander Mitchie at the helm for the under 30s side.
Tributes were paid to Calum MacKintosh at the game following his tragic sudden death aged just 20 in November – with players sporting a green strip on their helmets. Calum was easy to pick out on the pitch because of his green helmet.
The players also wore their socks rolled down to mid calf with shin guards showing in the style of the club’s young player of the year.
Shinty’s player of the season Robert Mabon and keeper Bob MacGregor added some steel to the Old Boys’ defence with Thomas Borthwick and Savios Genini also from the current crop adding some firepower.
They were bolstered by the recently retired James Hutchison and some big names from the recent past.
The dubious honour of oldest player went to Clark who is now 53 years old.
MacPherson said afterwards: “Barry Dallas, Louis Munro and James MacLean all showed their high level of fitness and shinty ability.
“A special mention has to be given to the young teams goal keeper Hayden Taylor-Ramsay – who is just 14 years old and who made multiple good saves to keep the score down to just 3-0.
“I would like to thank both sets of players who put on a good display of shinty and all the supporters who made it a great atmosphere for the players.”
MacPherson joked that there were a several players who were perhaps still feeling the effects from the celebrations into the early hours of the same day.
Roddy Young said after the final whistle: “I was very happy with the turnout on the day from the young squad which were up against a very experienced team with a sprinkling of present first team players to contest the Bob Sinclair Memorial Trophy.
“It was great to get all our players a run out before the start of pre-season and it’s always a great way to start the new year.
“Sadly on this occasion we never came out on top and our motivation now goes to pre-season training.
“A big thank you to all local supporters and many who may have gone to this as their first game of shinty. Also thanks to everyone behind the scenes who make it such a fantastic day.”
Ex-Kings legendary forward Kevin Thain was thanked for refereeing the match.
The Kingussie Seniors were: Bob MacGregor, Robert Mabon, Barry Dallas, Gary Munro, Louis Munro, Fraser Munro, James Hutchinson, James MacLean, Thomas Borthwick Michael Clark, Paul Gow, Savio Genini. Pete Dickson & Darren Hanlan.
Last year’s New Year’s Day clash was cancelled due to the weather.
• Kingussie’s rescheduled annual general meeting will take place at Talla Nan Ros on the town’s King Street next Tuesday (January 9).
The AGM was initially to take place at the end of November but was postponed.
The meeting will reflect on a season during which the senior side won the Camanachd Cup, the Mowi Premiership and the MacTavish Cup.
However, the second team had a difficult season following which they finished bottom of Mowi North Division 1 so will play in Mowi North Division 2 next season. The AGM starts at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome with all players asked to attend.
