Camanachd Cup
The Camanachd Association Challenge Cup known as the Camanachd Cup is the premier competition in the sport of shinty. It is one of the five trophies considered to be part of the Grand Slam in the sport of shinty.
The 2019 champions were Newtonmore Camanachd, beating Oban Camanachd 5-1 in the Final, making this their 34th Camanachd Cup.
The tournament
The tournament was first played in 1896 with Kingussie beating Glasgow Cowal 2-0 at Needlefield Park, Inverness.At present the tournament is contested by the eligible teams in North and South Division 1, together with the teams in the Premiership, who join the competition at the second round stage. There was formerly a Qualifying Cup.
Traditionally, the trophy was competed for on a North/South basis with the best team from the North facing the best team from the South only in the final. In 1983 the open draw was introduced which resulted in the first, and until 2012, only all-South final, between Kyles and Strachur. 1984 saw the first ever All-North final and first ever final clash between heated rivals Kingussie and Newtonmore.
Four teams have won the trophy three times in a row, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Kyles Athletic and Fort William.
The highest margin of victory was in 1997 when Kingussie hammered Newtonmore 12-1. The highest scoring final, and the previous largest margin of victory was held by Newtonmore themselves, 11-3 with Furnace in 1907.
Only Furnace and Newtonmore have gone through the competition without conceding a goal.
In 2006, the Cup had its first ever televised draw on BBC Scotland sports programme Spòrs, with the final also being broadcast live.
The trophy
The trophy itself was made after public donation in 1896 and, as befits such a Blue Riband event, the cup is designed and constructed by Hamilton and Inches, Edinburgh. The player on the lid was modelled from Jock Dallas who played for Kingussie and whose great grandson, Ally Dallas, still plays for Kingussie.In 2006, the ancient trophy made its way to New York City for the Tartan Day celebrations, the first time it had ever left Scotland.
Due to the rumbunctious nature of the celebrations of victorious teams leaving the trophy in a fragile state,, the board of directors at the Camanachd Association took the decision to have the trophy renovated and a replica of the trophy made for presentation after finals. The replica was to be ready for the centenary final in 2007 in Inverness but the cost of a replica were considered prohibitive and therefore the original trophy is still used.
The Final
The final is usually played on a rotation system, with An Aird in Fort William, the Bught Park in Inverness and Mossfield Park in Oban hosting the final. In recent years the final has also been held at The Dell in Kingussie, Dunoon and at Old Anniesland in Glasgow. The 2019 Final is set to be played at The Dell for the first time since 1999.The 2011 final was the first ever to go to extra time; no final has ever required penalties.
The Man of the Match has been awarded the Albert Smith Medal since 1972.
Recent Finals
Between the years of 1990 and 2012 there was not a final which did not feature either Kingussie or Fort William.Kyles Athletic won the Cup in 1994, the match refereed by John Henderson of Caol. Captain David Taylor received the trophy from Peter Cullen of sponsor Glenmorangie Distillery Co. Mr Cullen died on 7 December 2011 in Edinburgh.
Oban Camanachd won the trophy in 1996, The Centennial Final, under the management of Colin MacDonald. Ron Millican refereed. BBC Radio Scotland provided live coverage with commentary by Iain Anderson. This was a repeat of the 1993 final.
The 2009 final was held at Mossfield Park, Oban between Kyles Athletic and holders Fort William on 19 September. An exciting final saw Fort William take a 3-0 lead before being pegged back to 3-3 by a Kyles comeback with 10 minutes to go. Fort William achieved a three in a row streak however thanks to a late goal by James "Big Jim" Clark and won the game 4-3. The match was shown live on BBC 2 & BBC Alba. Ronnie Campbell refereed with the assistance of Billy MacLeod, Billy Witherspoon, Euan FS Pearson, Robert Baxter Jnr, Graham Irving and Dougie Cameron.
The 2010 final was played at the Bught Park on 18 September 2010 between holders Fort William and Kingussie, who have not won the trophy since 2006. Fort William won 3-2 with a last minute goal. Billy Wotherspoon refereed.
The 2011 final was played at the Bught yet again as An Aird is undergoing repair work. Newtonmore won the game 4-3 with an extra time goal. Derek Cameron refereed, assisted by John Crawford, Gus Campbell, Graeme MacMillan, Jock Matheson, Kevin Cheeseman and Iain Kennedy.
The 2012 final was played on 15 September at Mossfield Park, Oban. Kyles Athletic defeated Inveraray. The match was televised with commentary from Gary Innes.
In 2013, Newtonmore lifted the trophy for the 30th time without conceding a goal the whole tournament.
The 2014 Camanachd Cup Final saw Kingussie win it for the 23rd time. This win also marked 100 years since Kingussie won 6-1 against Kyles at Possil Park in Glasgow. Four months after this final Britain declared war on Germany. By the end of 1918, six players of the winning team were dead, two had been shot and wounded, and one had been badly gassed. To commemorate this, the 2014 winning team wore specially-made shirts which included a remembrance poppy and the names of the 1914 players, including those who gave their lives.
In the 2015 final Lovats Goalkeeper Stuart MacDonald was the winner of the Albert smith medal as his side went on to win 2-1.
The 2016 final saw Oban return to the show-piece occasion but in an uneventful game, Newtonmore reclaimed the trophy for their 31st win.
The 2017 final saw both 2015 and 2016 Camanachd Cup champions face off with Newtonmore retaining the title against a spirited Lovat side.
The 2019 final was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, it was called off at the start of the second half.
Media coverage
The Camanachd Cup final is shown live on BBC Two Scotland.Sponsorship
and SSE plc have both sponsored the Camanachd Cup. In 2017 the cup was first sponsored by Tulloch Home.Winners
*Updated 15 September 20181896 - Kingussie 2, Glasgow Cowal 0, at Inverness
1897 - Beauly 5, Brae Lochaber 0, at Inverness
1898 - Beauly 2, Inverary 1, at Inverness
1899 - Ballachulish 2, Kingussie 1, at Perth
1900 - Kingussie 1 - 0 Furnace at Inverness; Replay played in Perth *Final drawn in Inverness, replayed in Perth
1901 - Ballachulish 2, Kingussie 1, at Inverness
1902 - Kingussie 3, Ballachulish 1, at Inverness
1903 - Kingussie awarded Cup after final drawn in Perth, with Inverary refusing to play replay in Inverness
1904 - Kyles Athletic 4, Laggan 1, at Kingussie
1905 - Kyles Athletic 2, Newtonmore 0, at Inverness
1906 - Kyles Athletic 4, Newtonmore 2, at Inverness
1907 - Newtonmore 7, Kyles Athletic 2, at Kingussie
1908 - Newtonmore 5, Furnace 2, at Inverness
1909 - Newtonmore 11, Furnace 3, at Glasgow
1910 - Newtonmore 6, Furnace 1, at Kingussie
1911 - Ballachulish 3, Newtonmore 1, at Lochaber '
1912 - Ballachulish 4, Newtonmore 2, at Perth
1913 - Beauly 3, Kyles Athletic 1, at Kingussie
1914 - Kingussie 6, Kyles Athletic 1, at Glasgow
1915-19 - No competition owing to Great War
1920 - Kyles Athletic 2, Kingussie 1, at Glasgow, after drawn game, 0-0 at Inverness
1921 - Kingussie 2, Kyles Athletic I, at Inverness)
1922 - Kyles Athletic 6, Beauly 3, at Oban
1923 - Furnace 2, Newtonmore 0, at Inverness
1924 - Kyles Athletic 2, Newtonmore 1, at Kingussie, after drawn game, 3-3, at Glasgow
1925 - Inverary 2, Lovat 0, at Inverness)
1926 - Inverary 3, Spean Bridge 2, at Oban
1927 - Kyles Athletic 2, Newtonmore 1, at Inverness)
1928 - Kyles Athletic 6, Boleskine 2, at Glasgow
1929 - Newtonmore 5, Kyles Athletic 3, at Spean Bridge
1930 - Inverary 2, Caberfeidh 1, at Oban
1931 - Newtonmore 4, Inverary 1, at Inverness
1932 - Newtonmore 1, Oban 0, at Glasgow
1933 - Oban Camanachd 3, Newtonmore 2, at Keppoch, Lochaber, after drawn game, 1-1, at Corpach, Fort William
1934 - Caberfeidh 3, Kyles Athletic 0, at Inveraray
1935 - Kyles Athletic 6, Caberfeidh 4, at Inverness
1936 - Newtonmore 1, Kyles Athletic 0. at Spean Bridge, after drawn game, 2-2, at Inverness
1937 - Oban Celtic 2. Newtonmore 1, at Keppoch, after drawn game, 2-2 at Inverness
1938 - Oban Camanachd 4, Inverness 2. at Oban
1939 - Caberfeidh 2, Kyles Athletic 1, at Inverness
1940-46 - No competition owing to Second World War
1947 - Newtonmore 4, Lochfyneside 0, at Oban
1948 - Newtonmore 4, Ballachulish 2, at Inverness
1949 - Oban Celtic 1, Newtonmore 0, at Glasgow
1950 - Newtonmore 4. Lochfyneside 2, at Oban
1951 - Newtonmore 8, Oban Camanachd 2, at Inverness
1952 - Inverness 3, Oban Celtic 2. at Glasgow
1953 - Lovat 4, Kyles Athletic 1, at Fort William, after drawn game. 2-2, at Oban
1954 - Oban Celtic 4. Newtonmore 1, at Inverness
1955 - Newtonmore 5, Kyles Athletic 2, at Glasgow
1956 - Kyles Athletic 4, Kilmallie 1, at Oban
1957 - Newtonmore 3, Kyles Athletic 1, at Spean Bridge
1958 - Newtonmore 3, Oban Camanachd 1, at Inverness
1959 - Newtonmore 7, Kyles Athletic 3, at Glasgow
1960 - Oban Celtic 4. Newtonmore 1, at Oban
1961 - Kingussie 2. Oban Celtic 1, at Fort William
1962 - Kyles Athletic 3, Kilmallie 1,
1963 - Oban Celtic 3, Kingussie 2, at Glasgow
1964 - Kilmallie 4. Inverary 1, at Fort William
1965 - Kyles Athletic 4, Kilmallie 1, at Oban
1966 - Kyles Athletic 3. Newtonmore 2, at Inverness
1967 - Newtonmore 3, Inverary 0, at Glasgow
1968 - Kyles Athletic 2, Kingussie 1, at Oban, after drawn game, 3-3, at Fort William
1969 - Kyles Athletic 3, Kilmallie 1, at Oban
1970 - Newtonmore 7, Kyles Athletic 1, at Kingussie
1971 - Newtonmore 7, Kyles Athletic 1, at Inverness
1972 - Newtonmore 6, Oban Celtic 3 at Glasgow
1973 - Glasgow Mid Argyll 4, Kingussie 2, at Fort William
1974 - Kyles Athletic 4, Kingussie 1, at Oban
1975 - Newtonmore 1, Kyles Athletic 0, at Fort William, after drawn game, 3-3, at Kingussie
1976 - Kyles Athletic 4, Newtonmore 2, at Inverness
1977 - Newtonmore 5, Kyles Athletic 3, at Glasgow
1978 - Newtonmore 3, Kyles Athletic 2, at Fort William
1979 - Newtonmore 4, Kyles Athletic 3, at Oban
1980 - Kyles Athletic 6, Newtonmore 5, at Kingussie
1981 - Newtonmore 4, Oban Camanachd 1, at Glasgow
1982 - Newtonmore 8, Oban Celtic 2, at Inverness
1983 - Kyles Athletic 3, Strachur and District 2, at Fort William
1984 - Kingussie 4, Newtonmore 1, at Oban
1985 - Newtonmore 4, Kingussie 2, at Kingussie
1986 - Newtonmore 5, Oban Camanachd 1, at Glasgow
1987 - Kingussie 4, Newtonmore 3, at Fort William
1988 - Kingussie 4, Glenurquhart 2, at Inverness)
1989 - Kingussie 5, Newtonmore 1, at Oban
1990 - Skye 4, Newtonmore 1, at Fort William
1991 - Kingussie 3, Fort William 1, at Inverness
1992 - Fort William 1, Kingussie 0, at Glasgow
1993 - Kingussie 4, Oban Camanachd 0, at Fort William
1994 - Kyles Athletic 3, Fort William 1, at Inverness
1995 - Kingussie 3, Oban Camanachd 2, at Oban
1996 - Oban Camanachd 3, Kingussie 2, at Inverness
1997 - Kingussie 12, Newtonmore 1, at Fort William
1998 - Kingussie 7, Oban Camanachd 3, at Oban
1999 - Kingussie 3, Oban Camanachd 0, at Kingussie
2000 - Kingussie 3, Kyles Athletic 1, at Fort William
2001 - Kingussie 2, Oban Camanachd 0, at Glasgow
2002 - Kingussie 3, Inverary 2, at Inverness
2003 - Kingussie 6, Fort William 0, at Fort William
2004 - Inverary 1, Fort William 0, at Oban
2005 - Fort William 3, Kilmallie 2, at Fort William
2006 - Kingussie 4, Fort William 2, at Dunoon
2007 - Fort William 3, Inveraray 1, at Inverness
2008 - Fort William 2, Kingussie 1, at Fort William
2009 - Fort William 4, Kyles Athletic 3, at Oban
2010 - Fort William 3, Kingussie 2, at Inverness
2011 - Newtonmore 4, Kingussie 3, at Inverness,
2012 - Kyles Athletic 6, Inverary 5, at Oban
2013 - Newtonmore 3, Kyles Athletic 0, at Fort William
2014 - Kingussie 4, Glenurquhart 0, at Inverness
2015 - Lovat 2, Kyles Athletic 1, at Oban
2016 - Newtonmore 1, Oban Camanachd 0, at Fort William
2017 - Newtonmore 3, Lovat 2, at Bught Park, Inverness
2018 - Newtonmore 3, Lovat 0, at Oban
2019''' - Newtonmore 5, Oban Camanachd 1, at Fort William
Wins by club
*Updated 15 September 2018| Club | Total | Years |
| Ballachulish | 4 | 1899, 1901, 1911, 1912 |
| Beauly | 3 | 1897, 1898, 1913 |
| Caberfeidh | 2 | 1934, 1939 |
| Fort William | 6 | 1992, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Furnace | 1 | 1923 |
| Glasgow Mid Argyll | 1 | 1973 |
| Inveraray | 4 | 1925, 1926, 1930, 2004 |
| Inverness | 1 | 1952 |
| Kilmallie | 1 | 1964 |
| Kingussie | 23 | 1896, 1900, 1902, 1903, 1914, 1921, 1961, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014 |
| Kyles Athletic | 21 | 1904, 1905, 1906, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1935, 1956, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1994, 2012 |
| Lovat | 2 | 1953, 2015 |
| Newtonmore | 34 | 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1936, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Oban Camanachd | 3 | 1933, 1938, 1996 |
| Oban Celtic | 5 | 1937, 1949, 1954, 1960, 1963 |
| Skye Camanachd | 1 | 1990 |
Runners-Up by club
*Updated 15 September 2018| Club | Total | Years |
| Ballachulish | 2 | 1902, 1948 |
| Beauly | 1 | 1922 |
| Boleskine | 1 | 1928 |
| Caberfeidh | 2 | 1930, 1935 |
| Brae Lochaber | 1 | 1897 |
| Fort William | 5 | 1991, 1994, 2003, 2004, 2006 |
| Furnace | 4 | 1900, 1908, 1909, 1910 |
| Glasgow Cowal | 1 | 1896 |
| Glenurquhart | 2 | 1988, 2014 |
| Inveraray | 8 | 1898, 1903, 1931, 1964, 1967, 2002, 2007, 2012 |
| Inverness | 1 | 1938 |
| Kilmallie | 5 | 1956, 1962, 1965, 1969, 2005 |
| Kingussie | 13 | 1899, 1901, 1920, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1974, 1985, 1992, 1996, 2008, 2010, 2011 |
| Kyles Athletic | 22 | 1907, 1913, 1914, 1921, 1929, 1934, 1936, 1939, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 2000, 2009, 2013, 2015 |
| Laggan | 1 | 1904 |
| Lochfyneside | 2 | 1947, 1950 |
| Lovat | 3 | 1925, 2017, 2018 |
| Newtonmore | 20 | 1905, 1906, 1911, 1912, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1933, 1937, 1949, 1954, 1960, 1966, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1997 |
| Oban | 1 | 1932 |
| Oban Camanachd | 11 | 1951, 1958, 1981, 1986, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2016, 2019 |
| Oban Celtic | 4 | 1952, 1961, 1972, 1982 |
| Spean Bridge | 1 | 1926 |
| Strachur and District | 1 | 1983 |