'Spectacular' setting for Sutherland Cup centenary draw as holders Newtonmore draw Strathspey
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Award winning fiddle player and composer Duncan Chisholm joined Highland Industrial Supplies director Garry Mackintosh at Urquhart Castle to carry out the draw for the 2023 Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup on Monday.
The competition this year celebrates its centenary, having first been introduced in 1923 as a national trophy for junior sides. Current holders Newtonmore, who were also the first winners of the trophy, will begin their defence with a first round match against Strathspey in Section 1.
All sectional ties in the first round of the competition will take place on Saturday April 1 with the final being played at Blairbeg Park, Drumnadrochit on Saturday, September 9.
Camanachd Association President, Steven MacKenzie said "We are delighted to be celebrating the centenary of the Sutherland Cup in 2023 and anticipate another exciting competition. Urquhart Castle provides a spectacular backdrop and we thank Historic Environment Scotland for hosting today's draw. We are also delighted that Duncan Chisholm is part of today's proceedings.
"Just as shinty and Urquhart Castle have rich histories, Duncan is a world class fiddler who is a standard-bearer for Scottish traditional music. Both Duncan and shinty draw from the past but are to be vibrant and relevant in the modern Scottish cultural landscape.
"We must also recognise the continued support of Highland Industrial Supplies. They operate widely across the country and are determined that the 2023 Sutherland Cup will be something special. The best of luck to all teams."
In speaking of the draw, Garry Mackintosh, Highland Industrial Supplies director said, “For Highland Industrial Supplies to be sponsoring the Sutherland Cup for its 100th Anniversary is something that brings us great pride. We are passionate about supporting shinty, a sport that is played and watched by the people we serve across the vast majority of Scotland.
"I hope that the whole shinty community and beyond will join us at Blairbeg Park on September 9 to celebrate what I am sure will be an entertaining spectacle of shinty, befitting of such an occasion.”
Camanachd Association CEO, Derek Keir added, “Urquhart Castle is steeped in history, much like the sport of shinty and indeed the Sutherland Cup. It seemed a fitting place to take the cup draw ahead of the 100th Anniversary of the first Sutherland Cup Final this year and our thanks go to Historic Environment Scotland for hosting us – and to Highland Industrial Supplies for making the final possible.
"The match will be taking place once again at Blairbeg, Drumnadrochit – home of Glenurquhart Shinty Club and so to link in with local heritage with this draw is something really important to us.”
This year’s competition is regionalised in the early rounds. The full draw is detailed below:
SECTION 1
1st round – April 1, 2023
Boleskine v Aberdeen University
Kingussie v Inverness
Strathglass v Glenurquhart
Newtonmore v Strathspey
2nd round – May 6, 2023
Kingussie/Inverness v Newtonmore/Strathspey
Boleskine/Aberdeen Uni v Strathglass/Glenurquhart
SECTION 2
1st round – April 1, 2023
Caberfeidh v Skye
Kinlochshiel v Lovat
Beauly v Lewis
Bye – Lochcarron
2nd round – May 6, 2023
Kinlochshiel/Lovat v Lochcarron
Caberfeidh/Skye v Beauly/Lewis
SECTION 3
1st round – April 1, 2023
Kilmory v Lochaber
Fort William v Lochside Rovers
Bye – Oban Celtic
Bye – Kilmallie
2nd round – May 6, 2023
Oban Celtic v Fort William/Lochside Rovers
Kilmallie v Kilmory/Lochaber
SECTION 4
1st round – April 1, 2023
Kyles Athletic v Bute
GMA v Tayforth
Inveraray v Strachur-Dunoon
Bye – Uddingston
2nd round – May 6, 2023
GMA/Tayforth v Uddingston
Inveraray/Strachur-Dunoon v Kyles Athletic/Bute
Quarter-Finals – June 17, 2023
Inveraray/Strachur-Dunoon/Kyles Athletic/Bute v Kinlochshiel/Lovat/Lochcarron
Boleskine/Aberdeen Uni/Strathglass/Glenurquhart v GMA/Tayforth/Uddingston
Kilmallie/Kilmory/Lochaber v Caberfeidh/Skye/Beauly/Lewis
Kingussie/Inverness/Newtonmore/Strathspey v Oban Celtic/Fort William/Lochside Rovers
Semi-Finals – August 5, 2023
Kilmallie/Kilmory/Lochaber/Caberfeidh/Skye/Beauly/Lewis
V
Boleskine/Aberdeen Uni/Strathglass/Glenurquhart/GMA/Tayforth/Uddingston
Inveraray/Strachur-Dunoon/Kyles Athletic/Bute/Kinlochshiel/Lovat/Lochcarron
v
Kingussie/Inverness/Newtonmore/Strathspey/Oban Celtic/Fort William/Lochside Rovers
Final - September 9, 2023
