The magnificent Camanachd Cup, pinnacle of achievement on the shinty field, and due to celebrate its centenary in the Highland Year of Culture in 2007, was transported to Manhattan, where it was on show during the grand parade along Sixth Avenue. The Gaelic game of ‘camanachd’ (shinty) was also catapulted into the international spotlight with a six-a-side exhibition match in none other than Central Park, New York.

As the solid silver trophy, crafted and recently refurbished by Edinburgh jewellers Hamilton and Inches, was being packed up ready to leave Scottish shores for the first time ever in its 99-year-old life, Camanachd Cup communications director Hugh Dan MacLennan explained, ‘The idea is to boost the profile of shinty in America, with Highland Year of Culture 2007 in mind, but also to help the growth of the American game.’

Three years ago, the Northern California Clamanachd Club (NCCC) and San Luis Obispo played the first-ever All American Shinty Cup Final in California. Since then the sport has grown and the two teams will travel to Inverness for the Highland Year of Culture in 2007. The NCCC, the first club to be set up in the US five years ago, is to start shinty classes in Californian schools and the game’s appearance during Tartan Week will surely help to spread the word and revive a pursuit that has been around since such established Scottish stereotypes as kilts and the language of Gaelic itself.

At home, there are currently 33 senior men’s teams competing and another five teams have joined this season. There is also a University league with 10 male teams and eight female teams. The cup of the University league was bestowed upon Aberdeen University in 1905 as a gift from stockbroker, Alexander Littlejohn, whose only wish was that

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