San Luis Obispo Shinty Club

These members wanted to represent our Society and participate in Scottish Games throughout California. We are located on the geographical midpoint between San Francisco and Los Angeles, which will be helpful to the spread south of this exciting game. Anyone is welcome to come and practice with us.

We pondered over various sports and for one reason or another it seemed to us that shinty, once everyone had a stick/caman and a shirt that there wouldnt be too much more expense. Also I noticed that the NCCC played mixed matches with females playing alongside men. The other attraction was that this is a game where often brothers play alongsides their fathers and uncles. This would attract whole families to the sport, and be able to participate in a game on the same field of play unlike many team Games. Also like to mention a fond memory at one of our first practices we put down our camans for a water break, then without warning all the kids took the camans on the field and started playing. We joined in with them and it was great fun.

In April 2004 we contacted the then only Shinty team in the USA.The Northern Californian Camanachd Club(NCCC). They were very friendly and encouraging. We had no camans/sticks balls or even goalposts. We had just 16 people/names who wanted to try and learn the game Shinty( or Camanachd as it is called in Gaelic). In April and May I took my two teenage sons went up to the regular Freemont and Santa Clara NCCC practices. Where I had a refresher workshop and scrimage game and also plenty of encouragement from Michael Bentley and Elheran Francis of the NCCC. Their portable goals and set up was aped by ourselves, the portable/truck packable home made goalposts are a tricky project.

It felt awkward, if not poor even, not having any equipment. Our first Shinty sticks arrived 2nd June from Scotland via the Sloggie family. On the 5th June we played a 6-a-side scrimage game with some NCCC players who came to our parent organizations Scottish Society Family day. We had no team uniform or shirts so we played in our kilts and brogues . My priority was get sticks balls and the rest would follow.

I sent out an appeal to the Scottish Shinty teams for any spare used camans, Graham D'Arcy at the Camanachd Association sent us 12 leather balls. George Hendrie of Lochcarron sent us a couple of camans and balls and a rulebook. As did Sergeant Major Robert Stoddart of the British Army's Highlander Regiment who were stationed in Germany return to Scotland for games. These donations were very encouraging to us as we were getting recognition and taken seriously. We had set up our infrastructure.

I began seeking a sponsor emailing distilleries in Scotland, and within a day the Glenfarclas Chairman/CEO kindly replied and put me on to his USA based Manager Kris Comstock. Kris wanted to get us our shirts first of all and witthin 4 weeks we had our snazzy red and white shirts with the Glenfarclas logo of the distillery embroidered on the front. The excitement rattled through the society as the news spread. Kris also agreed to put up money for "The Glenfarclas Cup" a trophy for an annual event to be played for by USA teams(looking at the furture). This trophy was commisisoned by our Society Clan Crested Shield contact, Jim Millar of House of Scotland. in Ottawa. Jim now is the only retailer/supplier of Shinty equipment in North America.

The Society had held a fund Raising Whisky Tasting Event in March and we agreed to do a Vertical Glenfarclas Whisky Tatsing Event. Which means we will promote the Glenfarclas Single Malt Scotch Whisky range. We have also discussed other activities which will also help promote Glenfarclas at scottish Games throughout the State which will soon develop along with our relationship.

The Society kindly donated $100 towards equipment and also another $50 in honor of the recently departed Chieftain Bill "Piper" Solomon. Our second order for camans from the Sloggie Family near Inverness in Scotland was sent off. that arrived back within 9 days. Big thanks to Matthew Sloggie for his assistance. We had enough camans now for a team of 12 players. We bought a gazebo, water/juice dispenser, table and chairs, very neccessary in this sweltering climate that see's us practice in over 100 degrees.

The Glenfarclas Cup brought media inteerst from the United Kingdom. First we had an article on us published in the Scottish Newspaper, The Oban & Highland Times underneath the mighty Newtownmore and Kingussie match report. Following the Glenfarclas Cup match, Kenneth Stephens a reporter from the national newspaper Scotland on Sunday made the following report.

The First Glenfarclas Cup match was a fiercly contested match in a temperature over 90 degrees.. The NCCC won 2-1, we did manage to pull back a goal in the second half through Jason Paterson. That game made history with the first competative shinty game in the USA having been played. that itself was exciting for the players of both teams.

Since the Monterey Games we have pratcised every 3 weeks, and brought in some new players, who have adapted well from other sports such as Ice Hockey. Our team to play the NCCC at the Dixon Games near Sacramento was missing most of the defense line up from Monterey games. however we played well despite losing both matches 3-0 an 5-1. Despite playing in goals I managed to run up for a corner in the lastmatch and score our consolation goal. The travel distance of 5 hours is considerable, but it was testimony to those who came to play. The main event and organizers were very friendly and appreciated our travelling a long way to participate. Elheran Francis arranged free Will-pay tickets for us at the gate.

George Hendrie of Lochcarron Camanachd is my Shinty guru in Scotland and am very much indebted for his advice, time and assistance to our fledgling club. I look very forward to meeting him. The parent society members continue to donate funds for Camans/sticks etc which we're very thankful for.But also send us your sons and daughers with them to play.chuckle. Also looking forward to meet John L.S Grant the Glenfarclas Chairman/CEO has taken an interest in our Shinty and is very supportive of what we are doing here. We are proud to be both helping Shinty and also the exports of Glenfarclas Whisky. We hope to be meeting his and Kris Comstocks aquaintance soon or even at the Distillery in Banffshire Scotland when we go on our tour.

The Morro Bay Albertsons Manager, Matt Petersen agreed to stock Glenfarclas 10 year old Malt Whisky on the shelves.Ryan Comerford proprietor of "The Fairways Restaurant" stocks the whole Glenfarclas Range of Whisky in his bar at Dairy Creek Golf Club, where the parent Scottish Society meet every 3rd thursday of the month.

To keep the impeteus going for our Shinty Club we are planning a Shinty tour of Scotland. At time of writing we have Lochcarron and Inverness Camanachd willing to play us. Also we are planning to do a demonstartion game at the Ventura Seaside Games, North of Los Angeles where we hope to see the game spread. Hope you will consider emailing us .

7th August 2004, Monterey Scottish Games at Salinas California
The First Glenfarclas Cup Match
San Luis Obispo Shinty Club v NCCC, lost 1-2

Goalkeeper - Greg Gilchrist(Atascadero)
Defence _ Alistair Paterson(Templeton)
Defence - Billy Morris(San Luis Obospo)
Defence - Alan Cameron(Captain Templeton)
Defence - Jim Howell(Nipomo)
Midfield - Brenda Boorman(LosOsos)
Midfield - Paul Dunn(San Miguel)
Midfield - Sammuel Boorman(LosOsos)
Midfield - Stuart McCosh(Los Osos)
Attack _ Andy Boorman(Vice Captain- LosOsos)
Attack - Ryan Paterson(Templeton)
Attack - Jimmy Payne(Orcutt)
Attack - Jason Paterson(Templeton)

Half Time 0-2
SLO scorer - Jason Paterson .
After a goalmouth scramble between several players from both teams, an Andy Boorman shot was saved by the NCCC goalkeeper Elheran Francis. Jason took the rebound off the goalkeeper and his shot scored from 5 yards. Also traveled - Sonny Smart & Jennifer Clark (Passo Robles) Brendon Allen(Santa Maria) John Fox(San Luis Obispo).

San Luis Obispo Shinty Club v NCCC, lost 0-3 and 1-5.

Goalkeeper - Alistair Paterson(Templeton)
Defence - Sonny Smart(Paso Robles)
Defence - Ryan Paterson(Tempelton)
Defence - Guy Wallace(LosOsos)
Midfield - Andy Boorman(Captain -Los Osos)
Midfield - Brenda Boorman(Los Osos)
Midfield - Sammuel Boorman(LosOsos)
Attack - Jason Paterson(Templeton)
Also traveled Brendon Allen (Santa Maria)

Half Time First match 0-2 , second match 0-3
SLO scorer - Alistair Paterson. Ran up from his goal line to line up for a corner on the 10 yard line in the last minutes of the game. Father and son teamwork, as Jason Paterson intercepted the ball in the air near the left hand side of the goal posts, knocking the ball down to 5 yards . Alistair put the ball into the net with a left handed shot.

For matches, Shirts and socks are provided, bring your own black shorts.

memebrs are invited to attend any NCCC practices in San Francisco Bay Area

February Santa Clara Joint workshop.(All SLO-Players invited to attend )

14th February, Queen Mary Highland Games Los Angeles. -Recce

May 5th Campbell Highland Games, Santa Clara (tbc)

Xth June , The Glenfarclas Whisky Games, San Luis Obispo.- DEMO

August 6th, Monterey Scottish Games "The 2nd Glenfarclas Cup "

10th October, Seaside Highland Games, Ventura California. - DEMO(tbc)

Future. All in all we've spent a $1000 to get the team equipped. We will have to work hard at practices and also fund raising for our intended trip to Scotland within the next two years. We need to expand the squad with plenty more players. Frequently we'll with our friends at the NCCC and also hope to spread the game south into the Los Angeles Area.

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