Shinting or Hurtly? New hybrid game starts

Friday 25 OctOber 2013 A NEW chapter is being written in sporting history with the launch of a fresh hybrid game of Scottish shinty and Irish hurling, called Iomain.

For 120 years, Scotland and Ireland have competed in challenge matches involving a mix of shinty and hurling.

Now the new game, which could rewrite the rules, is to be piloted after the televised Marine Harvest Shinty/Hurling International Series match at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday night.

Officials have returned to the origins of both sports to develop the concept with the word “Iomain” being one of the Gaelic words for both shinty and hurling.

However, in a major break from a tradition which has lasted more than a century, players will use a universal stick that is neither a Scottish caman nor Irish hurley.

Presently, the hickory caman, is a thinner, wedged club evolved for ground play, while the ash hurley is a flatter-bladed stick designed for aerial hitting.

The stick which will be used in Saturday’s demonstration has been developed by Highland caman producer, Alan MacPherson, in conjunction with Irish hurley maker, Michael Barron.

The bottom third of the stick will be the same dimensions and design for both teams with

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scOring: Both shinty and hurling are derived from the ancient Gaels of Ireland and are thought to pre-date Christianity but there are a number of key differences between the games. the style optional.

In a further shift from modern composite rules, only goals will count rather than hits over the crossbar; a significant departure for the Irish.

The idea has been developed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Ireland in conjunction with the Camanachd Association in Scotland, with the Irish seeking to reintroduce the forgotten art of ground hurling.

And although Iomain may not immediately suit all the purists, officials on both sides of the Irish Sea believe it could spread beyond traditional country boundaries.

Donald Stewart of the Camanachd Association said: “The tenminute demonstration game on Saturday could represent the first step towards an exciting progression for shinty outside of Scotland, where it is an aim that it is played among the diaspora.

“The GAA wishes to introduce a game of ground hurling around the world to increase participation, particularly at youth level, and the Camanachd Association similarly wishes to promote shinty with the GAA’s support.” He added: “We’d like one day to play other internationals against other nations.”

Shinty historian Hugh Dan MacLennan felt it was right to look at the development of the cross-codes game.

“It is certainly worth assessing and has value as a trial,” he said.

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