University Shinty
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Shinty teams which play University Shinty are clubs which play under the banner of a university. However, these clubs are not always student teams in the strictest sense of the word and have a long history of participation at national senior level.
The move to the summer season in the sport meant that of the four teams playing in the north and south leagues only the University of Aberdeen continued to play on a full time basis.
However, the change in status means that players from clubs playing in the National Leagues such as Kingussie and Fort William can now play for their university outwith the senior season. Previously these players could only compete in the annual one-day Littlejohn Vase tournament. They may now play in the winter University League.
The Scottish Universities also have a representative side which plays against the British Univrsities GAA in Composite rules Shinty/Hurling annually.
[edit] Aberdeen University Shinty Club
For the article about the senior side of the same name see Aberdeen University Shinty Club.
This club is the successor to the University of Aberdeen side which continued in the senior leagues with the advent of summer shinty in 2004. The two clubs maintain a symbiotic relationship, training together and sharing players, although non-students can play for the senior side and players from other clubs can play for the student side. Although in saying this non-students frequently turn out for the university side as well, often giving the team an unfair advantage over smaller university sides such as St. Andrews. See the senior side article for more information on the history of the club. The most notable of players to come from the university was Henry Colvin Hunter, a professional American football player and winner of the nobel prize for geology. He died saving his family and the crew of his yacht, The Pallasguard, in 1903 and received a knighthood for his services to king and country.
[edit] Edinburgh University Shinty Club
Edinburgh University Shinty Club has one of the oldest shinty club's in existence having been founded in 1891. The club has both male and female team sides and the ladies side have been instrumental in the foundation of Forth Camanachd.
The period 1927 to 1933 is the most notable in the Club's history, the University retaining the Littlejohn Vase for six years in succession. In those days the team was also competing in the Southern League and the Camanachd Cup.
The team was once so strong it fielded a second string after the Second World War
Through the sixties and seventies the club remained strong. In the eighties the club competed in Division Three (South) save for one regrettable year of isolation when fixtures were provided by the Littlejohn Vase. Such a period shows how a University team’s fortunes can fluctuate as the season 1986-87 saw the team narrowly miss promotion, 1987-88 saw relegation to Division Four.
In 1991 the club enjoyed its centenary year in which a grand reunion was organised. Guests of honour included Sorley MacLean who played for the club in the late twenties.
In 2004, the club played its last games of senior shinty with the advent of Summer Shinty, meaning that the University could not field a team through the summer months. Players now return to their home teams or play for local sides Tayforth Camanachd, Edinburgh East Lothian or Aberdour Shinty Club.
[edit] Glasgow University Shinty Club
Founded in 1901, Glasgow University Shinty Club also competed in senior competition right up until the advent of summer shinty. The club's final season in 2003 in the south leagues saw them win South Division Two undefeated. Throughout the years the club has also been very strong in University competition, its glory years being in the late 1950s and 1960s, when they won the southern league and the Littlejohn three years in a row. A memory of those days is provided still by the presence of Jack Asher, honorary president who still attends games.
The club struggled in the 1980s although they had reached the final of the Sutherland Cup in 1981 but the late 1990s saw a renaissance in the team, the club appearing in 5 Littlejohn finals in a row, winning the trophy twice alongside the aforementioned league victory in 2003.
The club is notable for having the shortest pitch in shinty and was one of the first clubs to make effective use of the internet as a recruiting tool. The club is also a major force for promoting Gaelic through shinty, the team also known in Scots Gaelic as An t-Òr is Dubh, the Gold and Blacks.
[edit] St Andrews University Shinty Club
St Andrews University was the last university to enter the senior leagues. Due to the lack of a strong Highland community at the university, shinty was introduced by medical students in 1967, who were looking for an unusual activity to participate in. To this day the vast majority of St Andrews players are entirely unfamiliar with the sport before they come to the university.
The club are enjoying increasing success on the pitch, finishing above Edinburgh and equalled with Aberdeen in the 2007 Littlejohn, winning the St Andrews 6s tournament (which they host) and beating London Camanachd. The club has achieved great success off the pitch, with a membership which far outstrips most shinty clubs in Scotland.
[edit] Strathclyde University Shinty Club
Teams representing the University of Strathclyde had been competing in the Littlejohn Vase since the early 1990s. Most matriculated students who did not play for their home club tended to play for Glasgow University in the senior leagues. Despite being able to draw upon a good base of players and perhaps hampered by a lack of familiarity which other universities had from playing regularly together, Strathclyde did not win the Littlejohn until in 2005 when they also won the first official University league. They reached the final in 2006 when they lost to Robert Gordon. However, Strathclyde once again won the trophy in 2007 which saw them defeat Dundee University 2-0 in the final.
[edit] Robert Gordon University Shinty Club
Robert Gordon University have been a force in University shinty in recent years winning the Littlejohn in 2004 and 2006. The club has risen to prominence partly through the presence of Glenurquhart Shinty Club's John Barr who made RGU a tough proposition for any team, especially in Aberdeen, and of course with when they have their chief goal machine fit and sober Gordy Boy.
[edit] Dundee University Shinty Club
Dundee University Shinty Club was founded in 2004 to compete in the University league. The new team has drawn heavily on players with experience of Hurling but have also benefited from the backing of a small hardcore of experience shinty players to help drive the game forward. The club have performed admirably since formation winning the SUSF league in 2006/07 and reaching the final of the Littlejohn
[edit] University of Abertay Dundee Shinty Club
University of Abertay Dundee have the distinction of having won every Littlejohn they have competed in, having only competed in one to this point in 2003 defeating Glasgow University in the final 2-1. They have failed to make an appearance at any Littlejohn since. They have a sixes team which plays infrequently.
[edit] Playing Colours
- Abertay: All Black With Gold Trim
- Aberdeen: Blue Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks
- Dundee: Red Shirts, Black Shorts and Socks
- Edinburgh: White Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks
- Glasgow: Gold Shirts, Black Shorts, Black and Gold Hooped Socks
- RGU: White and Blacks Stripes or Red with Black Trim.
- St Andrew's: Sky Blue and White Quarters
- Strathclyde: Maroon and Gray.
[edit] External links
- SUSF University Shinty Website
- University Shinty Results Service
- Dundee University Shinty Club
- Other Dundee Site
- St Andrews Uni
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