Country Scotland Founded 1996 Level on pyramid 1 | Confederation Camanachd Association Number of teams 10 Relegation to National Division One | |
The Premier Division (currently known as the Marine Harvest Premiership for sponsorship reasons) is the premier division in shinty. Based in Scotland and formed in 1996, the league is the top tier of the Shinty league system. Set-up in order to create a Scotland-wide league for the first time, it constitutes as one of the five trophies considered to be part of the Grand Slam of shinty.
Contents
The 2017 Marine Harvest Premiership began on 4 March 2017.
Sponsorship
From 2009 until 2011, the league was sponsored by Scottish Hydro Electric before the Orion Group took over for the 2012 season. That same year the league was rebranded under the current 'Premiership' branding with current sponsors Marine Harvest taking the helm at the beginning of the 2015 season.
Teams
The 2017 Marine Harvest Premiership will consist of the following teams:
History
1996: The then Premier Division had it's inaugural season. Prior to it's founding the winners of North Division One and South Division One played in a National Final.
1999: Promotion and Relegation between Premier Division and National Division One adopted
2003: An interim league system contested while the Shinty League system transitioned from being played during winter months to summer months.
2004: The Premier Division becomes a summer season league.
2006: National Division One folded at end of season ending Promotion and Relegation. Fort William break Kingussie's dominance dated back to 1986 by taking home the Premier Division title.
2007: Kingussie recapture the Premier Division.
2009: Title won on final weekend by Kingussie on goal difference. Newtonmore finishing 2nd.
2010: For the 2nd consecutive year league decided on final weekend through goal difference. A dramatic final round game between Fort William and Newtonmore saw Newtonmore victors after an 80th minute goal by Danny MacRae. A proposed reduction from 10 to 8 teams mooted by the Camanachd Association board in late 2010.
2011: Newtonmore become first team other than Kingussie to retain the Premier Division. Kyles Athletic title dreams dashed with final minute goal along with hopes of being first South team to win the league.
2014: National Division One reinstated along with the pyramid system (Promotion and Relegation).
2016: Newtonmore make it seven in a row having also won the Camanachd Cup and MacTavish Cup.
2017: Newtonmore lost their first league match in 2 years.