The Premier Division is a league for shinty teams. It is the primary league competition in shinty and top tier of the Shinty league system. The Premier Division was formed in 1996 [1] in order to create a Scotland-wide league set-up for the first time. It is one of the five trophies considered to be part of the Grand Slam in the sport of shinty.[2]
As of 2009, the league is known for sponsorship reasons as the Scottish Hydro Electric Premier Division, although it is sometimes referred to as the Scottish Hydro Premier League.[3]
In 2012, the following teams will make up the Premier Division.
Previously, the winners of North Division One and South Division One would play off in a National Final. The league was initially played through the winter but with the change of the shinty season to summer in 2004, the Premier Division followed suit. In the transition between the two seasons, there was an interim season played, Kingussie were champions. Between 1999 and 2006, there was a National Division One which had relegation and promotion to the Premier Division.
2006 saw Fort William break Kingussie's dominance of the league structure which stretched back to 1986.
2009 saw the title go down to the last round of results and Kingussie squeezing out Newtonmore on goal difference.[4] In 2010, the league again went down to the last round of fixtures with Fort William and Newtonmore facing off for the league title in a final day clash at An Aird. Newtonmore won the league thanks to a goal by Danny MacRae with 10 minutes to go.[5]
A move to reduce the Premier Division to eight teams was mooted by the Camanachd Association board in late 2010.[6] The option of reviving a National Division One was however ruled out due to unhappiness from clubs.[7]
2011 saw an incredible end to the season as Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore were only separated by a last minute goal in the final game of the season which saw Newtonmore become the first team apart from Kingussie to retain the trophy but also dash Kyles' hopes of being the first South team to win the league.[8] Oban Camanachd were also relegated from the league for the first time.