Maybe we should sign Ronald Ross, he has scored all four goals so far for Kingussie who lead Inverary 4-2 in extra time.

Tough sport this, hockey for big boys.

Maybe we should sign Ronald Ross, he has scored all four goals so far for Kingussie who lead Inverary 4-2 in extra time.

Tough sport this, hockey for big boys.

Final score 4-3 Kingussie a.e.t. As Manfer has said, Ronald got all four for Kingussie. I did a calculation back in July when Kingussie's run of wins sat at about 10 and although I forget the precise figure, I think he had scored something like 70% of Kingussie's goals in these games. This is by no means the only time that he has scored all four(ish) in a Kingussie win and he's been dominant for years.

Here's an interesting point. Last week Ronald was out with a minor injury and Kingussie beat severely relegation threatened Oban Camanachd 1-0. Today he was back and scored all four as Kingussie beat cup specialists Inveraray 4-3 in this MacAulay final. Also, Kingussie made a very slow start to this season - which coincided with a couple of Ronald's absences.

Make no mistake. I am NOT saying that Kingussie are a one man team. There are many other very fine players in that side and Ronald Ross would not be putting away the goals he does without first class service.

However what we do have here is without question the finest goalscorer the game has seen, possibly ever. Put an asset like that into an environment which can give him the supply and the combined effect is devastating.

How good Ronald is with the foot I don't know. Indeed the Beautiful Game is sometimes regarded with some disdain down Badenoch way. For instance Stevie Borthwick the Kingussie manager on one occasion this season dropped his own son and his own nephew after they played midweek football. I also recollect an instance when Newtonmore football club were forbidden to start a fund raising effort from within the Eilan shinty ground.

Edited August 21, 201015 yr by Charles Bannerman

Aye I love the shinty. A lot of my school mates went on to win Camanachd Cup medals with Kyles Athletic.

After a decline, thankfully they are back and a force to be reckoned with again

Of course our own chairman and his brother John were stalwarts of the great Newtonmore side that used to whip all before them.

Of course our own chairman and his brother John were stalwarts of the great Newtonmore side that used to whip all before them.

The famous Newtonmore side of the 70s (whose great rivals were Kyles)relied hugely on guys like John and George Fraser as well as the likes of keeper Hughie Chisholm and "Tarzan" Ritchie. That was the team which really kept Newtonmore in the forefront into the 80s at which point Kingussie took over with a Grand Slam in 1984 - repeated by Newtonmore the following year but since then the game has really been Kingussie's although Fort William's Camanachd Cup exploits and one off interruption of Kingussie's quarter century league domination are very well worth noting too.

The question for Kingussie is - what will happen when Ronald ross finally hangs up his caman?

On the other hand they were saying 10 years ago that Kingussie were a spent force.... we are still waiting.

Dont make the mistake of suggesting the Fort's league win was a one off. Fort are now a force to be reckoned with. They have a more professional attitude to the game...........stay sober before throw-up.........and they have a number of gifted youngsters coming through their ranks. I'm not biased either for I was a Lochaber man myself.

Dont make the mistake of suggesting the Fort's league win was a one off.

So far it has been - but that might well change. Since 1984 just three clubs have won the League (or the MacGillivray North league pre Premier League) - Newtonmore in 1985, Fort William in 2008 and Kingussie on the 24 other occasions.

Fort's record in the Camanachd Cup over the last 8 years or so has been superb but they only have that one league victory.

Alex - I trust you know that Fort lost 2-1 at home to Kyles in the league yesterday when a 3 goal victory would have put them top?

I have to say I thoroughly enjoy reporting on Shinty. In particular the people make you feel so welcome (not that this isn't the case elsewhere, but Shinty is outstanding in that way.)

Maybe you can take over the Willie John mantle Charles. He's bound to be close to retirement.

Maybe you can take over the Willie John mantle Charles. He's bound to be close to retirement.

Alex.. John Willie actually retired from BBC shinty reporting about 20 years ago and for some time after that Hugh Dan MacLennan did the BBC reports on a Saturday. There have been one or two others in between and currently it is Fraser MacKenzie from Glenurquhart. Over the last 15 years I have tended to stand in if the regular reporter is unavailable - subject to my football commitments.

Dont make the mistake of suggesting the Fort's league win was a one off.

So far it has been - but that might well change. Since 1984 just three clubs have won the League (or the MacGillivray North league pre Premier League) - Newtonmore in 1985, Fort William in 2008 and Kingussie on the 24 other occasions.

Fort's record in the Camanachd Cup over the last 8 years or so has been superb but they only have that one league victory.

Alex - I trust you know that Fort lost 2-1 at home to Kyles in the league yesterday when a 3 goal victory would have put them top?

I have to say I thoroughly enjoy reporting on Shinty. In particular the people make you feel so welcome (not that this isn't the case elsewhere, but Shinty is outstanding in that way.)

As you will be aware Charles this seasons league is developing into a really interesting scenario.

It looks to be a two horse race between Newtonmore and Fort William and indeed the two of them meet in Fort William at the end of the season, BUT Kingussie have still got them both to play and if they win their games in hand they could well snatch it !

If I were a betting man though I'd put my money on Fort William.

It looks to be a two horse race between Newtonmore and Fort William and indeed the two of them meet in Fort William at the end of the season, BUT Kingussie have still got them both to play and if they win their games in hand they could well snatch it !

If I were a betting man though I'd put my money on Fort William.

I'm not convinced that it's a two horse race by any means. Inveraray I think are out of it but Kingussie are sitting there respectively with four and three games in hand on the top two, although still one point short of Newtonmore and the Fort if they win them all.

Stevie... how big a reverse do you think Fort's defeat by Kyles was at the weekend?

And are you really Kignussie manager Stevie Borthwick trying to take some pressure off your team by tipping the other two?

Stevie... how big a reverse do you think Fort's defeat by Kyles was at the weekend?

Sorry Charles, you'll need to excuse me but I'm not 100% sure what you mean.

If you mean how much of a set back to the Fort was the defeat to Kyles on Saturday, then yeah it must have been a huge blow but the Kyles can beat anyone, on their day.

Still see them winning the league though.

For Kingussie to have a chance they'll need to beat Newtonmore next week. Looking at the remaining fixtures, Oban v Fort....Kingussie v Fort.... then Fort v Newtonmore.

Newtonmore v Kingussie....Inverarey v Newtonmore.... and Fort v Newtonmore I wouldn't discount Kingussie of even Kyles but I think Fort can do it this season and another Camanachd cup win.

For Kingussie to have a chance they'll need to beat Newtonmore next week. Looking at the remaining fixtures, Oban v Fort....Kingussie v Fort.... then Fort v Newtonmore.

Newtonmore v Kingussie....Inverarey v Newtonmore.... and Fort v Newtonmore I wouldn't discount Kingussie of even Kyles but I think Fort can do it this season and another Camanachd cup win.

This could be the most exciting three way league race for... well decades!! I think Inveraray are out of it now after losing to the Fort on Saturday. Newtonmore have the obstacle of a slightly more difficult run in than Fort given that Fort have Oban Camanchd who have been struggling all season (but on the other hand might start fighting for their lives.) Kingussie have the disadvantage of also needing to win three games in hand and in addition need to beat Fort and Newtonmore to overhaul them both.

Basically all three have it in their own hands to win the league. What a finish! I'm strongly tempted to take advantage of the free football Saturday and get myself down to The Eilan for the Badenoch derby.

Edited August 30, 201015 yr by Charles Bannerman

Well, what an amazing result today !

Newtonmore 6 -0 Kingussie !

Definate 2 horse race now, looks like it will come down to the Fort William v. Newtonmore tie later in the month.

I still think the Fort will win it, but Newtonmore will be absolutely desperate to get their first title in a long long time.

Charles, did you go to the game today ?

Edited September 4, 201015 yr by Stevie

For instance Stevie Borthwick the Kingussie manager on one occasion this season dropped his own son and his own nephew after they played midweek football. I also recollect an instance when Newtonmore football club were forbidden to start a fund raising effort from within the Eilan shinty ground.

Kingussie welfare side are very strong,probably the best in the league,Strathspeyh have also managed to attract a def from Kingussie,but he isnt joining until the shinty seasons finished,and stfc youth development set up has managed to attract players from newtonmore,but NO-ONE from Kingussie,say it all really the grip shinty has there even on the kids

Charles, did you go to the game today ?

Yes, I took full advantage of the football international break and went for what turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in Newtonmore.

Newtonmore started with all guns blazing and were 3-0 up after 18 mins and 5-0 at half time. Kimgussie started the second half a bit more brightly but Newtonmore's 6th in 51 minutes put paid to any chance of even a modest revival.

Significantly, Ronald Ross wasn't playing because he contracted a minor illness on Friday night. Although it was in midfield and defence that Kingussie looked shaky, Stevie Borthwick admitted afterwards that when Ronald is not playing this has an adverse effect on the morale of the rest of the team.

Edited September 5, 201015 yr by Charles Bannerman