Club History

Whilst Strathglass Shinty Club was a key player in establishing shinty as a codified sport, it had very little success in the early years of the organised game. The club won its first silverware, the Strathdearn Cup at the Bught Park in 1928/29. The players travelled home on the Erchless estate lorry, as was recalled by the late Margaret Gordon of Struy. The club entered teams under the name “Kilmorack” in the 1930s (Kilmorack is the name of the civil parish and area to the north of Struy that borders Beauly). After the Second World War the club was revived.

It was at this time the Macdonald Cup, was donated by James Macdonald, the last surviving “Glasach” player from the 1887 game. This was donated in order to encourage competition between Strathglass and Glen Urquhart. Unlike the fateful games 60 years previously, it was the Strath that won the initial fixtures for this fine trophy. Whilst the Strath has not always kept up this run of form, the Macdonald Cup (and its reserve and women’s equivalents – The Ali Bàn Cup and MacLennan Quaich) continues to be a highlight of the shinty year for both clubs.

Around this time the club began to grow in strength as a combination of locals and the children of those attracted to the area through work on the hydro schemes and forestry. The club celebrated its centenary in 1979-80 with a game featuring a Strath/Glen combination against the legendary Newtonmore side of the 1970s. This season was also notable for the advent of the finest player to ever emerge from Strathglass, Robert Geddes.

Robert would go on to become one of the most feared goalscorers in the sport, whose skill would be acknowledged across the game of the Gael. It is believed he is third in the alltime shinty scoring charts, behind only the legendary Ronald Ross and Kevin Thain of Kingussie. Robert would play full-time into his 50s, and even made a medal-winning cameo appearance in 2024 at the age of 60 as Strathglass won North Division One and lifted the MacGillvray League trophy. He was also captain of the club as they won the Balliemore Cup for the first time in 1986. This victory was very sweet for Murdo Mackenzie as his two sons, Roy and Colin, were in the side. Sadly Murdo passed away soon after, but his legacy continued to grow in the years to follow.

The Strath developed apace in the 1990s, winning North Division Two three times. They also reclaimed the Macdonald Cup after over a decade, as well as winning the Aviemore Trophy at the Royal National Mòd in Inverness in 1997.

However, the first decade of the new millennium was the club’s greatest era without doubt. The emergence of talents such as Donald Fraser, Darren Reid, George Phimister Jnr and Barry John Phimister, saw Strathglass become a true force in the game. In 2003, they upset National Division Skye to win a second Balliemore Cup in 2003 in dramatic fashion, then in successive years won North Division One and the National Division without defeat. They held their own in the Premier Division and reached the semi-finals of the Camanachd Cup for the first time. A third Balliemore Cup followed in 2009. After a more challenging 2010s, the club celebrated a famous Macdonald Cup wins in 2021 and 2025 and won North Division One in 2024.

The club continues to innovate. It was an early pioneer of women’s shinty, and has won the Challenge Cup on three occasions to date. At youth level, the club must be enterprising to ensure that as many youngsters from the sparsely populated local area play the native sport. The George J Phimister Memorial Trophy and Medal is a highlight of the youth season for local teams left as a legacy by late club stalwart, George Phimister Snr.