Salmon farmer’s gift gives a head start to shinty safety initiative

Long-standing shinty supporter Mowi Scotland is helping to make the game safer by subsidising helmets for young players.

The Camanachd Association, which runs the sport, passed a rule last year that all players under 21 should wear helmets. Now, thanks to a five-figure investment by salmon farmer Mowi, the newly approved Bauer IMS 5.0 helmet will be available at a discounted rate for under 21s.

Derek Keir, chief executive of the Camanachd Association, said: “Mowi’s innovation comes at a crucial time for Scottish communities with the continued cost of living and travel adding barriers to participation in any sport.

“We are delighted to partner with Mowi to make important protective equipment more affordable for shinty players. Safety is our top priority, and this investment will help ensure that even more players have access to the best equipment available.”

The helmets are available to members of the Camanachd Association from Highland Industrial Supplies for £42, which is around half the price players would normally have to pay for the headgear.

Enhanced safety

“We are proud to continue our support of shinty and to enhance the safety measures in place,” Mowi communications director Ian Roberts said in the company’s monthly newsletter, The Scoop.

“This project and the wider governance solidifies our impression that the Camanachd Association works to provide a safe and inclusive space for children and adults, to which Mowi is proud to partner. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in shinty, and this investment in helmets will reduce additional barriers to participation and is an important step towards achieving that goal.”

Mowi is in its fourth decade of backing shinty, a sport synonymous with the Highland areas where it farms its fish. In 2020 it signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with the Camanachd Association that extended its support to 37 years.