This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Shinty scores extra funding
27/04/2005
The Camanachd Association, the governing body for shinty
in Scotland, is to receive nearly £100,000 from
sportscotland to help the game's continued growth.
Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson said:
"Since 1999 the numbers of young people participating in
shinty sport has doubled and sixteen new clubs have formed.
This will allow the sport to develop even further.
"Shinty is moving from strength to strength with a
particular rise in women's shinty. Over the last five years
nine women's clubs have been formed across Scotland.
"The investment will continue to fund area development
officers, targeting groups such as girls and children with
learning disabilities. There will also be a link to our
Active Schools programme, which aims to boost childrens
participation in sport.
"I'm pleased that shinty has received funding from
Tulloch Homes, who will, over three years, plough a further
£50,000 into the sport. With the public and private sectors
working so closely together we can look forward to shinty
growing and developing across the country in the years to
come."
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of
sportscotland, said:
"sportscotland is committed to helping
governing bodies address the modernisation of their
management structures to introduce positive changes to
sport and we are delighted with the progress which The
Camanachd Association has made.
"Particularly promising is the rapid growth of the game,
and
sportscotland funding will help shinty
continue increasing participation levels and ensure the
sport develops and nurtures talent through supporting its
clubs."
John MacKenzie, President of The Camanachd Association
said:
"We are absolutely delighted that
sportscotland is making this continued and
increased investment in our game, which supports almost
every target outlined in our four year plan.
"The Camanachd Association are progressing well in its
modernisation programme and we are already seeing tangible
outcomes from this process"
In 1999 1,180 youngsters played shinty, but that figure
has almost doubled, with 16 new youth clubs formed and
latest figures suggest youth participation has reached in
excess of 2,200. At youth level, the sport is now played
across Scotland from clubs in the Western Isles to the
central belt. The investment will also enable progress to
continue with funding towards the youth development manager
position.
The success of the youth game has led to the employment
of a technical development manager at The Camanachd
Association which will be part funded by
sportscotland. A key focus will be to
emulate the youth success at the senior level of the
game.
The Camanachd Association have produced a four year
'Game Plan', which focuses on continuing to improve
participation levels, club development, player improvement,
coach education and youth structures.
sportscotland funding will support the
fundamental areas of this development plan with £23,900
going towards player improvement, and £13,700 backing club
development.
Women's shinty has developed over the last five years,
with nine women's clubs formed across Scotland.
sportscotland's investment will also continue to fund area
development officers in partnership with Highland and
Argyll & Bute Councils. They will target groups such as
girls and children with learning disabilities, and will
link in with the Active Schools programme to continue
increasing participation, development and improvement.