Milngavie & Bearsden welcome Jo to Shinty practice

11.07.00am GMT Sat 23rd Jun 2007

The under-14 team recently won the Central Scotland Winter league trophy

Milngavie & Bearsden Junior Shinty Club were delighted to welcome Jo Swinson to Auchenhowie last night.

Shinty has been increasing in popularity in East Dunbartonshire in recent years with both Milngavie & Bearsden and Meadowburn Primary School, Bishopbriggs regularly participating in competitions. In addition, the sport is being offered to children at the Allander Sports Centre.

Jo Swinson took the opportunity of her visit to present the Milngavie & Bearsden under 14 team with the Central Scotland Winter league trophy that they recently won. Commenting on the visit, Jo Swinson said:

"I was delighted to see so much enthusiasm for shinty being shown by such a large group of children, particularly on a very wet Friday evening! It is fantastic to see one of Scotland's indigenous sports well established in East Dunbartonshire."

Milngavie & Bearsden are keen to establish senior Shinty in the area and one of the topics of discussion with Jo was the search for a full size park (150m x 70m) preferably within the vicinity of Auchenhowie. Senior Shinty is played during the summer months meaning that it would not necessarily come into conflict with sports traditionally played during the winter such as football and rugby.

Elsewhere on the playing side it is the u10 team that has taken the plaudits recently. Winning the Central Scotland Youth Shinty Association shield at the Kelvin Hall in February has been followed by success in both the Central Scotland indoor and outdoor leagues. A delighted coach Neil McLay suggests that the team's success has been down to the fact that they have regularly trained throughout the winter in all weathers and adopted a very positive attitude throughout the season.

He adds that their successes came despite fierce competition from Linlithgow, Aberdour and the Glasgow Gaelic School amongst others. The u10 team consisted of Jack Berg, Jamie Ogg, Cameron Diver, Scott Anderson, Callum McLay (all Craigdhu PS) and Robbie Emsley (High School of Glasgow).

Next weekend (30th June), senior Shinty takes centre stage with the final of the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup. Bute and Inverary will play for the oldest trophy in Shinty, dating from 1879, at the High School of Glasgow grounds, Anniesland (1430 Hrs).

Related Link:

Milngavie & Bearsden Junior Shinty Club