How do we teach people about shinty?
Having lived in a city and travelled around a fair bit, when you mention you play shinty, people usually look at you like you have just robbed them, or say you are crazy!
Shinty does have a reputation for being a dangerous/violent sport; however, more serious long-term injuries occur while playing football and rugby.
A lot of the art in shinty is actually learning how to protect yourself while in close quarters with your opponent, yet too many times I've heard our sport being called "legalised violence" from the uneducated.
So how do we educate?
The Camanachd Association enforces rules designed to protect shinty players. Photo: Neil Paterson
Yes, it is full contact, and yes, injuries do happen, as in all walks of life. However, most injuries are superficial cuts and scraps, not broken arms and legs.
Measures have been put in place over the years with new rules enforced from the Camanachd Association to protect players on the ground, in the air, swinging at head height, and so on which has been a huge success for players' safety.
Shinty is getting more media coverage with each season that passes from newspapers, radio, TV, and even to my weekly blog, which can only be good for the sport.
So how do we teach other parts of Scotland and the world that shinty is moving on and is an extremely skilful game, and not 12 hairy Highlanders running about a field battering lumps out each other with clubs?
The Premier title battle between Newtonmore and Kyles Athletic did not manage to beat the weather, much to the disappointment of many, including members of the Northern California Camanachd Club, who had hoped to catch the clash before returning to the sun on Monday. (I wonder how many fixtures are postponed in their league due to weather?)
Glenorchy, on the other hand, did manage to play their game against Inveraray, and found themselves once more on the receiving end of a goal feast.
Two goals from 'Rary's Chris Crawford and a hat-trick from Gary MacPherson finished the tie 5-0 to the visitors.
Lovat hosted Kingussie and desperately needed points to lift them off the second relegation spot.
Greg Matheson gave the home-side the lead they wanted after only one minute, but King's James Hutchison equalised moments later.
Further goals from Euan Ferguson, James Hutchison and Barry Dallas saw all things square at 3-3, until Ronald Ross, rifled a volley home on 85 minutes to take both points home to Kingussie.
Oban Camanachd also were in search of points to help secure their Premier survival. However, they came up against an in-form Glenurquhart at Mossfield and were left empty handed.
Glen's John Barr and Niall Reid had the Drumnadrochit men ahead by two, until Oban were awarded a penalty. Scott Macmillan slotted home and brought the game back within a goal for Oban, until Reid found his second on the day for Glenurquhart to wrap things up as 3-1 winners.
Looking ahead to this week, Glenorchy welcome Lovat, Oban Camanachd clash with Kilmallie, while Kyles Athletic face Inveraray.
The relegation battle at the bottom is too close to call.
Inveraray, Oban Camanachd, and Lovat, are all hunting for points, and with only two game remaining for Oban, and Lovat, Inveraray must beat league leaders Kyles Athletic this weekend in their last game to secure a place in next season's Premier League.
Safe travels to all clubs and supporters.
My name is Gary Innes and I play shinty for Fort William and Scotland. When not swinging my caman on the field, I play traditional music for a living and travel widely up and down the country to accommodate both passions. I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts, and hearing from you on Scotland's oldest and wildest sport: shinty.
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