THE call has gone out to all those with an interest in football with a view to forming an over-16s Amateur League team in the Merkinch area. Councillor Peter Corbett along with mp33's Ivor and Gill and other interested parties met on 18th January to discuss the possibility of setting up a Merkinch team following considerable interest being shown in various quarters for such a development. It is not yet decided where the team will play: It's early days yet, says Mr Corbett, who has had a long association with the sport in Merkinch. But anyone interested should contact mp33 we want to involve as many as possible.
TWO P6 pupils from Merkinch Primary Mark Ridgers and Michael Finnis were selected to play in the Inverness team which took part in the annual Indoor First Shinty Festival at the Inverness Sports Centre last month.
The two boys had a great day and though Inverness didn't make it to the semi-finals they did not disgrace themselves either, winning two games and losing two in the early rounds. Coach David Glass spoke very well of the boys' effort: They really did themselves proud.
Event winners were once again Tomnacross, but there they say, even the mice play shinty!
Merkinch only began to play First Shinty in the autumn well-organised and fast-paced sessions in the school hall have been much enjoyed by the P6 youngsters who are resuming after the mid-term break.
Once the clock goes forward it is hoped to move outdoors as an after-school club then there is a possibility that another class can start in the hall with the First Shinty.
SUNDAY 4th February sees the start of the Inverness & District Association of Youth Club sports competitions at the city's Sports Centre. The contest, which run over four consecutive Sundays, includes such sports as uni-hoc, badminton and basketball as well as pool, darts, dominoes, chess and draughts.
Last year in these District competitions Merkinch Youth Club virtually swept the board. Winners from the District events go forward to the Scottish finals in Perth in June.
MERKINCH athlete Alexina Macarthur started the new year in good form. On Saturday 13th January Alexina, a member of Inverness Harriers, won the Under-15 section of the North Cross Country League match at Torvean Quarry. The following week she came second in the League event in Elgin.
CLACH have re-signed six of their young players whose contracts were due to end in April. Defender David Matheson (23), keeper Martin Rae and defender Neil McCuish (both 21) and teenagers Brian MacLeod and Martin Sanderson (both midfielders) and striker Mark Huband will all now remain at Grant Street Park until April 2003.
RESULTS of matches in the Inverness Darts Association's four leagues over recent weeks are as follows:
7th December: Supreme Cup Portland A 5, Portland C 7.
14th December: A League Haugh 2, Portland A 10; Portland B 7, Tarradale 5; Portland C 5, Uncle Bobs 7. B League Allarburn 4, Legion A 8; Fluke 9, Clachnaharry 3; Westerlea 6, Gun Lodge 6.
C League Legion B 9, Portland E 3; Thistle Inn 7, Nip Inn 5; Innes Bar 6, Clach Club 6. D League Portland D 5, Brockies 7; Smithton 10, Molloys 2.
4th January: A League Portland A 10, Uncle Bobs 2; Tarradale 8, Dows 4; Haugh 5, Portland B 7. B League Legion A 6, Westerlea 6; Gun Lodge 3, Fluke 9; Clachnaharry 12, Allarburn 0.
C League Portland E 10, Thistle Inn 2; Nip Inn 8, Innes 4; Clach Club 5, Legion B 7. D League Brockies 5, Smithton 7; Molloys 9, McCallums 3; Portland D, no game.
8th January: Ladies League Portland A 8, Molloys 2; Caley Club 3, Portland B 6. 180s Lynn Woolley and Sylvia MacEwan (both Clach Club).
9th January: Supreme Cup Fluke 4, Portland B 7; Uncle Bobs 7, Portland E 5. Consolation Shield Legion B 3, Tarradale 9; Westerlea 7, Clachnaharry 5.
18th January: Ladies Triples Caley Club I 4, Portland AI 8; Molloys I 4, Caley Club 2 8; Portland B2 5, Portland B1 7; Portland A2 8, Molloys 2 4.
19th January: A League Portland B 1, Portland A 11; Haugh 9, Dows 3; Tarradale 4, Portl;and C 8. B League Clachnaharry 8, Legion A 4; Allarburn 7, Gun Lodge 5; Fluke 9, Westerlea 3.
C League Clach Club 5, Portland E 7; Legion B 4, Nip Inn 8; Innes Bar 12, Thistle Inn 0. D League Portland D 6, Molloys 6; McCallums 5, Smithton 7.