Shinty history captured in 100 portraits
A photographic exhibition that draws inspiration from the Camanachd Cup Centenary goes on display this weekend (23rd Feb - 22nd March) at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
“100 at the 100th“ is the title of Inverness-based professional photographer Ewen Weatherspoon’s exhibition which depicts 100 portraits of people who attended the Camanachd Cup Centenary Final at Inverness on the 22nd of September 2007.
Explaining his inspiration for the exhibition, Ewen said: “I’d had the date of the Camanachd Cup Centenary in my diary for months ahead. It was the 100th final of the Camanachd Cup, the premier trophy of the ancient celtic sport of shinty which can truly claim to be Scotland’s national sport. I knew I wanted to be there and to do something photographic to mark this unique event.
“I started playing shinty in my primary school days and throughout my teenage years I played for Inverness. I reckon I attended my first Camanachd Cup final in 1976 at the Bught Park, Inverness where the 100th final was also held. My next final was in 1981 in Glasgow and by this time I was also interested in photographing shinty. This particular final marked the start of a photographic shinty project while doing sixth year studies at Millburn Academy. This project included an image which has become part of shinty history itself that of Newtonmore captain David Ritchie (Tarzan) lifting the cup.
“Working on the “100 at the 100th“ provided a great opportunity for me to revisit a subject which stimulated my interest in a photographic career. The highlight of my all-day photographic session at the Bught Park was that Tarzan himself, one of the most famous players in the history of the game arrived at my makeshift studio twenty six years later and was photographed again - but in a completely different style!
“Also on the same day were junior finals - so the exhibition represents shinty past, present and pointing to the future. There are players and officials going back over fifty years, people who have given a lifetime service to the game, VIP guests, media representatives, members of the crowd, an Australian at his first ever game and players who took part in the 100th final including both team captains and managers.
“For me, these pictures show that shinty remains very much a family sport where wielding the caman is passed down the generations and a game supported by a friendly and down to earth community.
“My thanks got to HI-Arts in the production of this exhibition and also to Hugh Dan MacLennan who was very encouraging when I came up with this idea and who with his wife Kathleen directed many of the subjects to my “studio” and of course to the one hundred faces who allowed me to capture this moment in shinty history.”
Ewen Weatherspoon has been a professional photographer working in the Highlands for the past 20 years. He has twice won the Highlands and Islands Media Awards, Photographer of the Year Award.
The 100th final was played between Fort William and Inveraray and Fort
William won the match 3-1 to lift the Camanachd Cup for the third time in their history.
100 at the 100th is on show from Saturday 23rd Feb to Saturday 22nd March in the small gallery at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery which is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.