Sons step on to fathers’ road to glory

Teenagers Thomas Borthwick and Martin Dallas of Kingussie are bidding to win their first Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup medals today, but can already lay claim to a familial attachment to the trophy none can rival.

Kingussie’s opponents in Inverness, Newtonmore, may have lifted the sport’s major honour more times than any other club – on 28 occasions to be precise.

However, in today’s 104th final, Borthwick and Dallas can pick up the threads of a remarkable Cup tale woven over two decades by their fathers.

Thomas’ father Davie and Martin’s dad, Ali, will both be at today’s showcase, which will be broadcast live from Bught Park on BBC2.

Until 2006, the Kingussie duo shared the honour of having the most Camanachd Cup winners’ medals between them, at 14 apiece.

When Ali was given a four-minute run as a sub in the win over Fort William in Dunoon that year, he picked up a 15th medal. Such is the sportsmanship in shinty, however, that most still regard the honour as one that both players share and, for sons, Thomas and Martin, the Shinty boots they are filling are, clearly, caman-sized.

Nevertheless, both players are keen to pen their own chapter in the history of a famous amateur competition that has never waned in its national appeal. Should they do so, the first people on the field to congratulate them are likely to be their old men.

“I suppose when your dad won so many medals, there is a bit of an expectation and something to live up to, but everyone wants you to do well, just for yourself,” says Thomas, who experienced the heartache of losing last year’s final to Fort William in the dying seconds.

“I have seen all my dad’s medals. He keeps them upstairs somewhere, although I was too young to remember any of his finals, really.

“Obviously, it will be hard to emulate that number of wins but you never know. We have a young team at Kingussie and, if we can stick together and work really hard, maybe we can achieve big goals like that.”

Borthwick is as eloquent off the field as he is on it. Having just finished High School with qualifications to further his study, he is considering taking some time out to travel.

Despite his age (he has just turned 18), he has already won a championship, two MacTavish medals and a Macaulay Cup winners’ gong.

Like the other youths at the Dell, he is being assisted in his learning by tutors money can’t buy. “I think having someone like my dad around has been fantastic for me. I played alongside him in the second team for a while and I think the young players feel privileged because the older guys are some of the best that have played the sport. I mean, it is not as if you are going to turn around and question them, is it?” he laughs.

For team mate Dallas, the feelings are similar.

Today will be his first appearance in a Camanachd Cup final but he won’t feel that he is going into the occasion alone. In fact, finals day was a part of his life, even as a toddler.

“My dad is really good at watching me and telling me what I am doing right or wrong,” said the player, who scored in this year’s MacTavish Cup victory over Fort William at the same venue.

“I used to go to all his finals when I was younger but I think, if I won a medal, he would feel really proud. I think he would see it as a great honour, even if he did tell me I’d have 14 to go to catch him. I don’t feel any added pressure with what he has done. He has taught me a lot.

“I think all the young players in the Kingussie team feel a lot of responsibility, anyway. Newtonmore will be feeling the same nerves as we will, though.”

Newtonmore may hold the record for number of wins but recent years has not been so productive.

It is 25 years since they last draped blue and white ribbons round the trophy which, rightly, dwarves any other cup when it comes to size.

As a piece of sculpted silver, it is a priceless object, and its glister has been sorely missed at the Eilan. “This is the biggest game for Newtonmore in the past quarter of a century,” said manager, Norman ‘Brick’ Macarthur.

“Realistically, although we have been in finals in that time, we probably didn’t have the team to do it. We do have the team now but it will all be down to what happens on the day.”

For the record, the last Badenoch derby final ended 12-1 for Kingussie.

Don’t be surprised if a single goal wins the trophy today.