Shinty league system
Encyclopedia
The Shinty league system is a series of interconnected leagues
for shinty
in Scotland
. It is administered by the Camanachd Association
.http://www.shinty.com/shinty/understanding-shinty/league-structure/
. Clubs that are successful in their league can rise higher in the system, whilst those that finish at the bottom can find themselves sinking further down. In theory it is possible for any club's first team to rise to the pinnacle of shinty and become champions of the Premier Division
. While this may be unlikely in practice (at the very least, not in the short run), there certainly is significant movement within the pyramid. The number of teams promoted between leagues or divisions is usually one, although promotion and relegation sometimes do not occur due to Reserve teams winning leagues or relegation resulting in an imbalanced league.
The top level is a national Premier Division. Below this, the leagues are based on geographic areas. At the lower levels the existence of divisions becomes intermittent. http://www.shinty.com/shinty/understanding-shinty/league-structure/
The Shinty league system does not include the University leagues or any other leagues.
In the North region, shinty was organised into the MacGillivray Leagues. This league was one step ahead of the south area which took sometime after the Second World War to develop the Dunn Leagues, which encompassed, Cowal
, Lorn
and Argyll
and tbe Southern League, which encompassed the Central Belt
of Scotland.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ig41AAAAIBAJ&sjid=q6ULAAAAIBAJ&pg=4377,5849075&dq=dunn+league+shinty&hl=en
The Southern League played for the Skeabost Horn.
Eventually the Dunn and Southern Leagues amalgamated and by the early 1980s a national league playoff was established between the winners of the top tiers of the north and south leagues.
In 1996, a national Premier Division was established for the first time and then in 1999, a second national tier was established, National Division One, which was disbanded after 2006.http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/69667443.html?dids=69667443:69667443&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+04%2C+2001&author=Fraser+MacKenzie&pub=Sunday+Herald&desc=Shinty+getting+tied+down+by+money+shackles&pqatl=googlehttp://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/70139565.html?dids=70139565:70139565&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+18%2C+1999&author=Fraser+Mackenzie&pub=Sunday+Herald&desc=Shinty+bridges+the+traditional+north-south+divide&pqatl=google
When the shinty playing season switched from a winter to summer season, the whole league system was replaced by an "interim" league season for the autumn and winter of 2003. The league titles available under this system are considered to be equivalent titles to other league titles, especially by Kingussie.
The Camanachd Association board of directors will be discussing the future of the league structure in December 2010 with a reduction of the Premier Division to 8 teams being mooted.http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2026552?UserKey=
Any club can apply to the Shinty league system if they meet the Camanachd Association's registration rules.
.
Glenurquhart second team won North Division Two in 2009 and 2010 but has rejected promotion on either occasion.
From 2011, the Camanachd Association plans to introduce "Development Leagues" for the North and South of Scotland. Whether these can be seen as a Fifth Tier of the shinty league system remains to be seen.
League system
A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends...
for shinty
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is administered by the Camanachd Association
Camanachd Association
The Camanachd Association is the World governing body of the Scottish sport of shinty. The body is based in Inverness, Highland, and is in charge of the rules of the game...
.http://www.shinty.com/shinty/understanding-shinty/league-structure/
About the system
The system consists of a hierarchy of leagues, bound together by the principle of promotion and relegationPromotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
. Clubs that are successful in their league can rise higher in the system, whilst those that finish at the bottom can find themselves sinking further down. In theory it is possible for any club's first team to rise to the pinnacle of shinty and become champions of the Premier Division
Premier Division (shinty)
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 in order to create a Scotland-wide league set-up for the first time...
. While this may be unlikely in practice (at the very least, not in the short run), there certainly is significant movement within the pyramid. The number of teams promoted between leagues or divisions is usually one, although promotion and relegation sometimes do not occur due to Reserve teams winning leagues or relegation resulting in an imbalanced league.
The top level is a national Premier Division. Below this, the leagues are based on geographic areas. At the lower levels the existence of divisions becomes intermittent. http://www.shinty.com/shinty/understanding-shinty/league-structure/
The Shinty league system does not include the University leagues or any other leagues.
History
Traditional shinty was not played on a league basis, with challenge matches and cups taking precedent but over time in different areas, league shinty began to develop.In the North region, shinty was organised into the MacGillivray Leagues. This league was one step ahead of the south area which took sometime after the Second World War to develop the Dunn Leagues, which encompassed, Cowal
Cowal
thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
, Lorn
Lorn
Lorn may refer to:* John Lorn McDougall , Ontario businessman and political figure* John Lorn McDougall, Sr. , businessman and political figure in Canada West* Lorn, New South Wales, Australia...
and Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
and tbe Southern League, which encompassed the Central Belt
Central Belt
The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland. Despite the name, it is not geographically central but is nevertheless situated at the 'waist' of Scotland on a conventional map and the term 'central' is used in many local...
of Scotland.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ig41AAAAIBAJ&sjid=q6ULAAAAIBAJ&pg=4377,5849075&dq=dunn+league+shinty&hl=en
The Southern League played for the Skeabost Horn.
Eventually the Dunn and Southern Leagues amalgamated and by the early 1980s a national league playoff was established between the winners of the top tiers of the north and south leagues.
In 1996, a national Premier Division was established for the first time and then in 1999, a second national tier was established, National Division One, which was disbanded after 2006.http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/69667443.html?dids=69667443:69667443&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+04%2C+2001&author=Fraser+MacKenzie&pub=Sunday+Herald&desc=Shinty+getting+tied+down+by+money+shackles&pqatl=googlehttp://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/70139565.html?dids=70139565:70139565&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+18%2C+1999&author=Fraser+Mackenzie&pub=Sunday+Herald&desc=Shinty+bridges+the+traditional+north-south+divide&pqatl=google
When the shinty playing season switched from a winter to summer season, the whole league system was replaced by an "interim" league season for the autumn and winter of 2003. The league titles available under this system are considered to be equivalent titles to other league titles, especially by Kingussie.
The Camanachd Association board of directors will be discussing the future of the league structure in December 2010 with a reduction of the Premier Division to 8 teams being mooted.http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2026552?UserKey=
The system
At present, the league system consists of the following tiers;- Tier One (National) - National Premier DivisionPremier Division (shinty)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 in order to create a Scotland-wide league set-up for the first time...
(10 teams) - Bottom two teams relegated to relevant regional league - Tier Two (Regional) - North Division OneNorth Division One (shinty)The North Division One is a league for shinty teams. It is presently the in second tier of the Shinty league system. The winners of the league are promoted to the Premier Division....
(8 teams) & South Division OneSouth Division One (shinty)The South Division One is a league for shinty teams. It is presently in the second tier of the Shinty league system. The winners of the league are promoted to the Premier Division...
(9 teams) - Champions promoted to Premier Division, bottom team relegated to next lowest regional league - Tier Three(Regional) - North Division TwoNorth Division Two (shinty)The North Division Two is a league for shinty teams. It is presently in the third tier of the Shinty league system. The winners of the league can be promoted to the North Division One although this rarely occurs due to the winners being a reserve team...
(10 teams) & South Division TwoSouth Division Two (shinty)The South Division Two is a league for shinty teams. It is presently in the third tier of the Shinty league system. The winners of the league are promoted to the South Division One....
(9 teams) -Champions promoted to regional Division One, bottom team relegated to next lowest regional league - Tier Four (Regional) - North Division ThreeNorth Division Three (shinty)The North Division Three is a league for shinty teams. It is presently the only league in the fourth tier of the Shinty league system. The winners of the league are promoted to the North Division Two....
(10 teams) - Champions promoted to next highest regional league - Tier Five (Regional) - Development League North & Development League South - A development league for new clubs and clubs to enter second teams when they are not yet ready to enter the integrated league system. Teams from this league can apply for entry into Tier Three/Four if they meet the Camanachd Association's registration rules
Any club can apply to the Shinty league system if they meet the Camanachd Association's registration rules.
Problems with relegation and promotion
Especially since the dissolution of the second tier, National Division One, in 2006, there have been several issues regarding promotion and relegation in the system. In 2007, Oban Camanachd and Inveraray were allowed to run second teams in South Division One. In 2009, Oban's reserves, Lochside Rovers, won this league but due to Oban Camanachd first team playing in the top tier , they could not gain promotion. Despite an effort from Oban to have both teams playing in the one league, the Camanachd Association offered the opportunity for promotion to Glasgow Mid ArgyllGlasgow Mid Argyll
Glasgow Mid Argyll Shinty Club AKA GMA is a shinty club from Glasgow, Scotland. It is the only senior side in Glasgow and was founded in 1928. They currently play in the Premier Division as of 2010...
.
Glenurquhart second team won North Division Two in 2009 and 2010 but has rejected promotion on either occasion.
Cup eligibility
A team's position in the system (as opposed to a club's, due to most clubs fielding two teams) affects what cup competitions that the team may play in. The eligibility rules at present are the following;- Camanachd CupCamanachd CupThe Camanachd Association Challenge Cup AKA the Camanachd Cup or Scottish Cup is the premier prize in the sport of shinty...
- All teams, excluding reserve teams in the Premier Division, North Division One and South Division One - Macaulay CupMacaulay CupThe MacAulay Association Camanachd Cup is a trophy in the sport of shinty. It is competed for by the eight highest-placed league teams from the north and south areas at the end of the previous season. The first winner of the cup, in 1947, was Newtonmore. It will be sponsored by Artemis from the...
- The top 8 ranked first teams from the North Area and the South Area except reserve teams - Sutherland CupSutherland CupThe Sutherland Cup is the ice hockey Ontario Junior "B" Provincial Championship trophy. The Sutherland Cup is now the championship trophy of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. Until 2007, the Cup served as an interleague provincial championship...
- All teams in South Division Two, North Division Two and Three plus non-league teams. Reserve teams in South Division One also play in this cup. - MacTavish CupMacTavish CupThe MacTavish Cup is a knock-out cup competition in the sport of shinty. It is competed for by senior teams from the North of Scotland district...
- All North teams in Premier and North Division One - Glasgow Celtic Society CupGlasgow Celtic Society CupThe Glasgow Celtic Society Cup is a knock-out cup competition in the sport of shinty. Entry is open to all senior teams from the South District playing in the Premier Division and South Division One. It is the oldest competition in the sport, first being played for in 1879...
- All South teams in Premier and South Division One except Reserve teams - Strathdearn CupStrathdearn CupThe Strathdearn Cup is a knock-out competition in the sport of shinty. The present holders are Newtonmore.It is played for by reserve-level teams from the North of Scotland, that is all teams playing in North Division Two and Three as well as non-league teams....
- All North teams in North Division Two and Three plus non-league teams - Bullough CupBullough CupThe Bullough Cup is a knock-out competition in the sport of shinty.It is played for by reserve-level teams from the South of Scotland, that is all teams playing in South Division Two, Lochside Rovers, Inverary Second Team as well as non-league teams such as London Camanachd.-History:Lochside Rovers...
- All South teams in South Division Two and Reserve teams in South Division One plus non-league teams
Other shinty leagues currently in operation
The following shinty leagues operate outside the Shinty league system:- The Women's Shinty League SystemWomen's shintyWomen's shinty is a sport identical to the men's game - with the same rules, same sized pitch and same equipment. However its history is significantly different. Social pressures - along with the broader game's self image - resulted in a largely hidden history until comparatively recently...
which mirrors the men's game with a national Premier Division and Regional Lower leagues. - The University Shinty LeagueUniversity ShintyShinty 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....
which runs between higher education establishments in Scotland through the close season. - The Norcal Camanachd League has been running since 2009 in Northern CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. - The Far North Shinty League has been running since 2008 in SutherlandSutherlandSutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
and CaithnessCaithnessCaithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
. - The various under-17, under-14 and Primary School leagues under the auspices of the Camanachd Association and other governing bodies.
- The North Carolina Shinty Association League has been running since 2010 in North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
From 2011, the Camanachd Association plans to introduce "Development Leagues" for the North and South of Scotland. Whether these can be seen as a Fifth Tier of the shinty league system remains to be seen.