Camanachd or Shinty
So, what is Shinty? Shinty (also called camanachd or iomain in Scots Gaelic) is a stick and ball game, a cousin of Field Hockey and Hurling, and an ancestor of Golf. It is believed that Ice Hockey developed from Scots immigrants playing Shinty on the Canadian ice.
“Some of my friends refer to Shinty as combat golf,” jokes Michael Bentley, one of the founders of the Northern California Camanachd Club, “and it’s also been described as ‘field hockey without all those bothersome rules!’”
In fact there are rules in Shinty, and fairly simple ones at that. The game is played by two teams (twelve players for full sides), on a field of similar proportions to a soccer pitch – though a full sized field is much larger, 170 by 80 yards! The players use camans (hooked/curved sticks with a triangular cross section) to strike the ball, either in the air or on the ground, with the intention of scoring goals. A Shinty ball is slightly smaller and lighter than a baseball. The goals measure 12 feet across by 10 feet high, and as in soccer a goal-keeper guards the goal nets and is the only player allowed to use his hands (though only with an open hand). A Shinty match is generally either 30 (six-a-side) or 90 minutes (twelve-a-side) in length, divided into two halves with a short break between. A referee runs the match, calling fouls for illegal and/or dangerous play. There are also side judges and goal judges to assist in calling side-outs, end-outs and goals.
Shinty has a rich history as part the Scottish Gaelic culture. The sport has traditionally been part of New Years celebrations in the Highlands and has been memorialized in story and song by poets and singers down through the years.
The Northern California Camanachd Club (NCCC) is the first modern era Shinty club in the US and has just celebrated its fifth anniversary. Last year the NCCC participated in the first US-Scotland Shinty matches during a visit to the Blairgowrie Highland Games in September. The club also participated in the Levenhall Sixes Tournament near Edinburgh where they placed third.
The NCCC holds regular coed practices in the Bay Area and welcomes new players and anyone interested in learning this great sport. For further information and schedule details please visit our information table next to the field athletics pitch and/or visit our website at www.norcalshinty.com.
The Two-day Field Schedule
In addition to the information and demonstration booth, the NCCC will hold a two-day, four-team competition during the Livermore Games, as well a a Rugby demo match on Saturday. Come see these exciting games as seen on the schedule below. There is no additional charge to view this or any other event in the Games.
| Saturday | |
| 10:00 | Shinty - Skills demonstration/warm-up |
| 11:00 | Shinty - Northern California Camanachd Cup - Match #1 |
| 12:00 | Break for Opening Ceremonies |
| 1:00 | Rugby - Demonstration Match |
| 2:30 | Shinty - Northern California Camanachd Cup - Match #2 |
| 3:30 | Shinty - Northern California Camanachd Cup - Match #3 |
| Sunday | |
| 10:00 | Shinty - Skills demonstration/warm-up |
| 11:00 | Shinty - Northern California Camanachd Cup - Consolation Match |
| 12:00 | Break for Opening Ceremonies |
| 1:00 | Rugby - Demonstration Match |
| 2:30 | Shinty - Northern California Camanachd Cup – FINAL Match |
| ONGOING: Information table, skills games and demonstrations, audience participation |
|
Northern California
Camanachd Club
http://www.norcalshinty.com/
US Camanachd
http://www.uscamanachd.org/
Ladies Shinty - a division of Camanachd Association, Scotland