Step into the unknown for Kingussie in Artemis Macaulay Cup
Kingussie’s quest to regain the Artemis Macaulay Cup will be a step into something of the unknown, says boss Iain Borthwick.
The Red and Blues open with a trip to Blairbeg to play newly promoted Glenurquhart following the 2024 Macaulay Cup draw which was made live on Oban FM on Saturday.
The Kings won this trophy, contested between the top eight sides from the north and south, three times in a row before last season’s 2-1 final defeat to Oban Camanachd and they want it back.
Manager Borthwick said: “There is an element of the unknown as we’ve not played Glenurquhart for a while but we’re happy with the draw.
“It’s not too far to travel but it won’t be easy on their pitch.

“When I took the Kingussie juveniles, I remember the Glen having good youngsters too and I’m sure several of them will have progressed to their first team.
“They got promoted last season for a reason, but we will concentrate on playing our own game. It’s one of a number of good ties in the first round draw.”
Glenurquhart make a return to a competition they last won in 2012 and manager David Stewart observed: “They don’t come much more difficult than a tie against Kingussie.”
The winners will have home advantage in the second round against whoever comes out on top in the derby between Skye and Kinlochshiel in Portree.
When Newtonmore won the Macaulay in 2014 and again in 2015, it was a first success in this competition since 1986.
The 2014 win came courtesy of an Evan Menzies strike and a Steven Macdonald brace in a 3-1 victory over Inveraray. A year later, Danny Macrae and an extra-time effort from Fraser MacKintosh saw off Kyles Athletic 2-1.
To reach the final once more, they will first have to get past Lovat at the Eilan.
‘More co-manager Norman MacArthur reflected on the draw, saying: “It’s a home draw so I’m happy with that but the standard of teams in the north half of the draw, they are all from the Premiership, is high so it’s a difficult tie whoever you get.
“We had close games with Lovat last season – games we deserved to get more out of – but it’s difficult to know which players each team will have available as we go from season to season so you don’t really know what you are dealing with at this stage.
“The Macaulay draw is always a sign that things are starting to move ahead of the new season though.”
Lovat boss Jamie Matheson commented: “That’s probably one of the toughest draws we could have got, especially as the tie at the Eilan, but to win any of the major trophies, you have to beat teams like Newtonmore at some point along the way.”
The winners of the tie between Newtonmore or Lovat will have home advantage against Lochaber or Caberfeidh in the second round.
There are two derbies in the south where Oban Camanachd meet Oban Celtic and Kyles Athletic travel to Col Glen.
Meantime Inveraray play Glasgow Mid Argyll in an all-Mowi National Division clash whilst Aberdour and Bute, who were both in Mowi South Division 1 last season, meet at Silversands.
The draw in full for the first round is as follows: Artemis Macaulay Cup – Oban Camanachd v Oban Celtic; Col Glen v Kyles Athletic; Inveraray v Glasgow Mid Argyll; Aberdour v Bute; Glenurquhart v Kingussie; Skye Camanachd v Kinlochshiel; Lochaber v Caberfeidh & Newtonmore v Lovat.
The Artemis Macaulay Cup Final takes place at Mossfield in August 2024 with the dates still to be confirmed.