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Boleskine 1932

Boleskine Camanachd 1932 taken at Bught Park Inverness

Back Row L to R; George Matheson (Referee from  Kirkhill), Roddy Macintosh (Baker), Wattie Dunbar, Finlay Maclaren (Phiep), Roddy Macpherson (Killiechoilum), Duncan Fraser (Balochan),  Bob MacDonald (Bob the Shop), Kenny J Macpherson .
Front Row L to R; Johnny Cameron (The Glebe), Willie Mackay (Willie Inch), Hugh Gray (Horner) Jock Kennedy, Willie Ross, Angus Macpherson (Killiechoilum)

This is possibly the last photograph taken of Boleskine before they disbanded in 1934. It was taken on 9th Jan 1932 at the Mactavish District Final against Inverness on their ground, the Bught Park which Boleskine won by two goals to one, scorers Hugh Gray and Bob Macdonald.  

Following the success of their inaugural year achievement which cumulated in reaching the final of the Camanachd cup, Boleskine never attained these heights again, only making the Northern District final on one occasion nineteen thirty against Caberfeidh, during the following six seasons of their existence.

Success was hard to achieve in the Mactavish Cup also, only the semi final was reached on three occasions each time against Caberfeidh, nineteen twenty nine losing by two goals to one, thirty two by five goals to nil and thirty three by five goals to two.

However in the Macgillivray league there was limited success, reaching the final on three occasion against Caberfeidh only to lose in nineteen thirty by four  goals to one . Nineteen thirty one final saw Boleskine lose again to Caberfeidh by three goals to one and the following year by three goals to two.

Caberfeidh had a strong team at this period and this lack of success lead to unrest within the club, resulting in a breakaway team called Foyers entering the Strathdearn cup and winning it in 1934.

The team pictured featured some of the successful Stratherrick players of the twenties,  Roddy Macintosh, Bob Macdonald Jock Cameron and Jock Kennedy, along with some younger players from that area Duncan Fraser and the two Macpherson brothers Roddy and Angus from Killiechoilum.

Duncan Fraser though a Stratherrick man had never played for his home team, due to being too young prior to them being amalgamated with Foyers found it hard to get into the Boleskine team so for a few years he played for Inverness . Duncan returned to play for Boleskine in early nineteen thirty and   in season 1931-32 was elected captain of the team that year.  Dunc continued to be active in local shinty and along with old team mates Jock Kennedy, Roddy Macintosh & Jock Cameron turned out in the league for Straths Athletic in their first season 1947-48 after the second world war .

The two Macpherson brothers from Killiechoilum Roddy did not seem to play for the club after 31-32 season, possibly left the area to follow a career in the police in Edinburgh .Angus played for teams around the area until the outbreak of war in 1939 and was unfortunately killed during the hostilities .  

 From the Foyers area were Hugh Gray, Willie Ross, Wattie Dunbar, Finlay Maclaren and Willie Mackay .Hugh Gray (Horner) played in the Foyers Strathdearn cup winning teams of the mid twenties, but was only one of the subs in the controversial team selection of Boleskine's Camanachd final team. Hugh in November 1933 gained world wide acclaim when he managed to capture the Loch Ness Monster on film. Willie Ross (Rosstick) played along side Hugh in the Strathdean cup triumphs, continued  playing for a few years after this photo was taken  . Wattie Dunbar played for Boleskine and Foyers, generally in defence from the early thirties till the late forties .  Finlay Maclaren was the father of Cally Maclaren who won two Sutherland cup medals with Boleskine in the sixties, his older son Angus helped form and played for Dounreay Athletic Shinty club in the  mid sixties . Willie Mackay was the younger brother of A J Mackay who played in Boleskine Camanachd cup final  team.

Kenny J Macpherson who worked with the British Aluminium as the Casher, was the Vice President of the club around this period. Kenny who was an excellent swimmer was a member of the Inverness ASC water polo team that won the Scottish Championship in 1909, the first time a national championship for any sport came to Inverness. In 1915 Kenny received the Diploma of the Royal Humane Society (Medal) and also the Diploma and award of the Carnagie Fund  for bravery when he rescued the local postman who fell into loch Ness between the steamer and Foyers pier. Kenny Ross a player in the successful  sixties teams was his grandson.

Finlay Maclaren and Jock Cameron played in the Foyers breakaway team that won the Strathdearn cup in 1934, if anyone has any knowledge of any photo's that were taken of that team, could they contact us by E Mail 

 George Matheson from Kirkhill a Scottish hockey internationalist was a well known and respected Shinty referee around this era, any supposed problematic matches were generally given to him to officiate . George refereed the Camanachd cup final on three occasions and the Mactavish cup final five times.

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