Shinty star opens Tomatin sports centre

YOUNG people at Tomatin will have access to free sports facilities at a new £185,000 centre which opened at the weekend.

The indoor community sports centre was officially opened by shinty star Kevin Thain, of Kingussie, on Saturday.

The veteran forward has won 18 championships with Kingussie.

Locals aged 17 and under will have free use of the sports pitch, through time coupons obtainable from the village shop.

The large indoor pitch can be used for a variety of sports including shinty, tennis, netball and football. The development was spearheaded by retired engineer Alistair Wallace, who worked with local sports clubs and Strathdearn Hall to get the project off the ground.

Mr Wallace, 82, of Carding Mill, Old Mill Road, Tomatin, credited the local youth for their fundraising efforts.

He said: “The youngsters of Strathdearn were the first ones to come up with some money. They made over £1,000 running stalls at a vintage tractor rally. The sports centre is for the whole community and anyone else who wants to participate. It’s being well used already by the young folk.”

Grants for the centre came from sportscotland, Strathdearn Community Charitable Trust, the National Lottery, Gannochy Trust and the EU Highland Leader programme.