Johnny Cattanach, Prince of Shinty
Have you ever heard of John or Johnny Cattanach? Some people say he was the
best shinty player ever. He belonged to Badenoch. He was born in 1885. His
father was a merchant in Newtonmore. Iain was educated in Newtonmore School
and Kingussie School before he went on to George Watsonʼs College and
Edinburgh University. He did a degree in Medicine. He was working as a
doctor in England and Wales.
He was an exceptional athlete. In 1909/10 he won the long jump at the
University of Edinburgh championships. He was also excellent at hockey. He
played for the Scottish national hockey team.
But the first stick he picked up was the shinty stick. His shinty skills
were exceptional. When he was on the way to the Eilan, the shinty field in
Newtonmore, he would run for half a mile, keeping the ball in the air with
his caman.
Newtonmore were successful when John Cattanach played for them. In 1909,
they played Furnace in the Camanachd Cup Final. They won by eleven goals to
three. And John Cattanach scored eight goals! Some people think that will
stand forever as the greatest number of goals that one player scored in the
Final.
Tragically, John Cattanach lost his life in the First World War. He was in
the Royal Armny Medical Corps. He was wounded in the Dardanelles in 1915.
He never recovered, and he died.
He was inducted into the Scottish Sporting Hall of Fame – the only shinty
player that has been granted that accolade. A lecture and prize named for
him are given by the University of Edinburgh every year. People still
remember him as the ‘Prince of Shinty’.
Iain Catanach, ‘Prionnsa’ na Camanachd
An cuala sibh riamh air Iain no Seonaidh Catanach? Tha cuid ag ràdh gum b’
e an cluicheadair iomain a b’ fheàrr a bha ann riamh. Bhuineadh e do
Bhàideanach. Rugadh e ann an ochd ceud deug, ochdad ʼs a còig (1885). Bha
athair na mharsanta ann am Bail’ Ùr an t-Slèibh. Fhuair Iain foghlam ann an
Sgoil Bhail’ Ùr an t-Slèibh agus Sgoil Cheann a’ Ghiùthsaich, mus deach e
gu Colaiste Sheòrais Watson agus Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann. Rinn e ceum ann an
Eòlas-leigheis. Bha e ag obair mar dhotair ann an Sasainn agus sa
Chuimrigh.
Bha e na lùth-chleasaiche air leth. Ann an naoi ceud deug ʼs a naoi agus a
deich (1909/1910) bhuannaich e an leumfhada ann am farpaisean Oilthigh Dhùn
Èideann. Bha e cuideachd sònraichte math air hocaidh. Chluich e airson
sgioba hocaidh na h-Alba.
Ach ʼs e a’ chiad chaman a thog e fear na h-iomain. Bha na sgilean
camanachd aige air leth. Nuair a bha e air an rathad chun an Eilein, pàirc
na h-iomain ann am Bail’ Ùr an t-Slèibh, bhiodh e a’ ruith airson
leth-mhìle a’ cumail a’ bhuill san adhar le a chaman.
Bha sgioba a’ Bhail’ Ùir soirbheachail nuair a bha Iain Catanach a’ cluich
dhaibh. Ann an naoi ceud deug ʼs a naoi (1909), chluich iad an Fhùirneis
ann an Cuairt Dheireannach Chupa na Camanachd. Bhuannaich iad aon tadhal
deug gu trì. Agus chuir Iain Catanach ochd tadhail! Tha cuid dhen bheachd
gun seas sin gu sìorraidh mar an uiread as motha de thadhail a chuir aon
chluicheadair anns a’ Chuairt Dheireannach.
Gu mì mì-fhortanach, chaill Iain Catanach a bheatha anns a’ Chiad Chogadh.
Bha e ann an Corps Meidigeach Rìoghail an Airm. Chaidh a leòn anns na
Dardanelles ann an naoi ceud deug is còig-deug (1915). Cha d’ fhuair e
seachad air sin, agus chaochail e.
Chaidh ainmeachadh ann an Talla nàiseanta an Sàr-luchd-spòrs – an aon
chluicheadair iomain a fhuair an inbhe sin. Bidh òraid agus duais ainmichte
air a shon air an toirt le Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann gach bliadhna. Tha daoine
ga chuimhneachadh mar ‘Prionnsa na Camanachd’ fhathast.
