INTERESTING times for the Lilywhites. Staff, fans and the general public were shocked to hear last month of the resignation from the Clach FC board of Peter Corbett, a stalwart of the club. Indeed, there were a few damp eyes in Wyvis Terrace the day he left.
Besides leaving the five-strong board, he is also resigning his post as general manager of the Clach Social Club, cutting all ties with the club he has served over 29 years as at one time or another player, coach, team manager and secretary. He will, however, remain a shareholder.
Mr Corbett said, I have increasingly felt that the other four directors want to take the club down a different route to me. In the circumstances there is no point in me being at loggerheads with the rest of them. It is fairer all round for me to step down and let them get on with it with no background of bitterness. I feel it is essential that a club of Clach's long heritage should not allow another club an element of control over our ground. But I am stepping down because of a number of matters, not one decision, and I don't want to cause boardroom disharmony. I wish the board all the best.
The following week there were further shockwaves at Grant Street when seven members of the Football Club's nine-strong committee followed suit and quit.
It is understood that the principal bone of contention is the future of the club's ground: the other four board members are said to be seeking an agreement with Caley Thistle to jointly fund the park's annual rent of £14,000 if the ground is sold to Highland Council. Talks were ongoing as we went to press.
MILLENNIUM year champions at Waterloo Bowling Club are as follows:
Gents champion J McAdam; Ladies champion AM Johnstone.
Jamieson Cup J McAdam; Cummings Cup L Murray; Noble Cup W Warren; Mackinnon Cup R Tucker.
George Rodgers Pairs L Murray & J Reid; Club Pairs D Ross & A Macdonald; Macdonald Pairs S Fraser & E McAdam.
John Lewis Triples M Boylan, A Newitt & F Fraser; Portland Club Triples J Anderson, S Fraser & E McAdam; Tom Mackenzie Triples M Barr, R Tucker & E McAdam.
Mellis Rinks M Mackenzie, A Newitt, A Shearer & J McAdam.
MacLaren Two-bowl Pairs D Fraser, A MacDonald. Robertson Cup (Juniors) C Warren. Spoon Cup H Macdonald & P Mackenzie.
DESPITE a reduction in the number of teams in the Inverness Darts League, the Singles played at the Clach Club on 2nd November had a record-breaking entry of 117 with all but one of the teams being represented.
Once again it was new winners in all four events.
The D League was won by Robert Anthony of Molloys beating Dougie Smith of McCallums in the final, losing semi-finalists being Chris Many of Portland D and Chris Mackay of Smithton.
The C League went to Bob Cooper, Clach, with Willie Erskine of Legion B runner-up. Semi-finalists were Willie Turner, Innes, and Rod Devine, Nip Inn.
Paul Douglas, Allarburn, beat Jim McNeil, Clachnaharry, in the B final, the losing semi-finalists being Fraser Gallagher, Allarburn and Alan Goddard, Legion A.
In the A final, Barry Maclean of Uncle Bob's beat Stevie Falconer of Portland A after they had toppled Robert Mackenzie, Portland C and Roy Younger Portland A in the semis.
An incredible 26 maximums and 11 ton-plus finishes were recorded on the night, comfortably beating last year's totals of 19 and six.
The 180s were scored by Gordy Redmond, Haugh; Evan Macdonald, Portland C; Richie Macleod, Legion A x2; Robert Mackenzie, Portland C x4; Willie Murray, Allarburn; Barry Mackay, Haugh; Barry Maclean, Uncle Bob's; Willie Harvey, Westerlea; Roy Younger, Portland A x3; Kevin Maclean, Uncle Bob's; Jim Newlands, Portland C; Willie Erskine, Legion B; Bob Cooper, Clach Club; Derek Maclean, Uncle Bob's; Doug Smith, McCallum's; Robert Anthony, Molloy's; Steve Falconer, Portland A; and Henry Macdonald, Haugh.
Top check-outs were: Stevie Falconer, Portland A 148, 138; Ian Stewart, Tarradale 137; Gordon Thomson, Clachnaharry 120; Derek Maclean 116; Tracy Steven, Molloys 114; Jim Newlands 112; Gordy Redmond 108; Barry Maclean 105; Mike Ward, Smithton and Barry Mackay both 100.