Kirkibost Fitness Hub, based at the Claddach Kirkibost Centre, has just opened its doors and is proving a big hit with the North Uist community.

50 members have signed up in the first few weeks, clearly delighted that they now have fitness facilities right on their doorstep, and no longer have to travel all the way to Sgoil Lionacleit.

Kirkibost Fitness Hub has a variety of equipment, including running machines, cross-trainers and exercise bikes. Over the coming weeks more strength-building machines will be brought in, including weights machines and free weights.

Level-3 Fitness Instructor Tom Rossi has been providing safety inductions in the correct use of the machines to each new member, who then have access to the gym whenever they like.

North Uist Development Company (NUDC) developed the idea for the fitness hub.  Equipment for the gym was acquired from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar after the fitness facilities at Liniclate and Castlebay were upgraded.

NUDC is currently assisting Urachadh Uibhist (UU), which runs the Claddach Kirkibost Centre and Saoghal Beag Nursery, to develop the space left vacant by the nursery’s move to Sgoil Uibhist a’ Tuath in August 2016.

Adjacent to the fitness hub, the Kirkibost Craft Hub has recently opened, which provides craft materials and regular workshops, and is also proving popular.

A well as providing a valuable local service for North Uist, the fitness hub hopes to generate a healthy revenue for the Claddach Kirkibost Centre, home of the popular Kirkibost Cafe and Hebridean Kitchen, and a popular meeting venue for local groups.

NUDC and UU next hope to open a dedicated space for hairdressing and beauty therapy, as well as to attract tenants to use some of the available office space.

Ada Campbell, Chair of UU commented: “Kirkibost Fitness Hub is a fantastic addition to the centre and we are thrilled that it is proving so popular. It fits in perfectly with our plans to develop the Claddach Kirkibost Centre into North Uist’s most vibrant and accessible community hub.”

After fourteen rounds of matches, 240 goals, and an unexpected three-horse race for much of the campaign, this year’s Uist and Barra Football League season comes to a conclusion this weekend. In what should be an enthralling finale, the current holders Barra, host Iochdar Saints in a winner-takes-all clash.

42 matches played so far have produced an incredible average of 5.7 goals a game, in a season that has seen a reduction in the number of fixtures — down from 20 rounds of matches to 15 — but has been no less entertaining. With one game remaining you could be forgiven for thinking the league has effectively been two divisions within in one this year — with Barra, Saints and Southend competing for the title, while Benbecula, Eriskay and North Uist United vie for fourth spot.

Although this has been true for long periods throughout the campaign, it says nothing of Benbecula’s four-game unbeaten run, which included a hugely impressive 5-3 victory over Saints, followed closely by an emphatic 4-0 win over North Uist United. It also doesn’t tell the full story of Eriskay’s season, which has also included a 3-2 win against the champions-elect, Saints, as well as a 4-4 draw against their local rivals Barra. Those results enabled the club to make marked improvements on their points and goals tallies from the previous season.

Meanwhile, North Uist United approach their final match of the season as favourites for fourth position with a two-point lead over both of those sides. Indeed, they showcased their potential, as well as great character, in bouncing back from losing their first three games of the league season to record back-to-back victories over Benbecula and Eriskay, respectively. Those wins could prove pivotal in what has been another closely contested season, where each team has been capable of beating one another on their day.

The aforementioned sides have of course endured difficult times as well as enjoying some highs along the way. However, they can take great inspiration from this season’s surprise package, Southend. Although the 2015 campaign brought little in the way of cheer, let alone trophies, for the South Uist side, this year has been one to remember. Even-though their title hopes were vanquished after a recent defeat to Saints a few weeks ago, they had, for long periods this season, threatened to become something of a Hebridean Leicester as they sought to overthrow the might of Barra and Saints in the fight for the title.

While DA Lindsay might not be dilly-donging his way around Daliburgh come the season’s end, he should at least be quietly content by the vast improvement his team has shown in what has been a memorable campaign. Flashes of title-winning form, such as winning four of their first five league matches, including a famous victory away to reigning champions Barra, will give Southend much confidence that they can a mount an even greater challenge next season.

With one game to go, however, only two teams remain standing as the battle for the title comes to a crescendo. Although the two sides’ form this season comes as no surprise, such has been their pedigree in the league in recent years, it is still hard not to be impressed by the exploits of both Barra and Saints during this campaign.

With one match left to play, and positioned just a point off of top spot, any fears of Barra ‘doing’ a Chelsea have not come to pass as Martin MacPhee’s side are just one win away from retaining the title. The sheer relentlessness of their championship rivals Saints should not obscure just how impressive Barra has been this year in their defence of the title. With only two defeats in the league — against Saints and Southend, which is less than any other team – Barra is currently on a run of ten games without defeat, and have taken 26 points from a possible 30 in the process.

That kind of form would be enough in many leagues to have already secured the title, unfortunately for Barra, Iochdar Saints still stand in their way, and the 2014 champions are now in pole position in the race for the title.

With the league’s best attack and its meanest defence – 68 goals scored and just 21 conceded from their 14 games played – Iochdar Saints has proven they are as hunger as ever to regain the title Barra usurped from them last season. Despite Stephen MacAulay’s team having lost one game more than their opponents, they are yet to draw match, a result which, incidentally, would prove sufficient for them to win the title if they were to hold Barra on Saturday.

Having trailed the champions by a point with just two games left to play, Saints took full advantage of the Barrachs 3-3 draw against Southend last week, with a 7-0 win against Eriskay to take the lead ahead of Saturday’s match-up between the teams.

For Saints, the prospect of winning the title at Barra will no doubt have them licking their lips in anticipation. The 3-1 defeat to their rivals at Liniclate last season, arguably the turning point in the title heading south-west, should provide further motivation if required for the Iochdar side.

Whatever the outcome, the season is sure to get a fitting finale as the league’s top two teams go all out for victory in what should be a fantastic encounter. While predicting a winner is perhaps a mug’s game, it would take a foolish man, or woman to bet against the sides adding to the mere tally of 125 goals they have scored between them so far. A nil-nil anyone?

Save

Iochdar Saints and Barra comfortably swept aside their opponents last weekend, as both teams recorded wins in imperious attacking performances.

With just a point separating the sides at the top of the table – and with their fellow title contenders Southend not in action – both teams knew that a win could be pivotal to their hopes of silverware with just four games left.

Saints welcomed Benbecula to Liniclate, looking to avenge their 5-3 loss in the last match between the teams. Barra, meanwhile, travelled to beleaguered Eriskay, who had held them to a drew in their previous encounter.

Benbecula’s win in their clash with Saints last month was their first of the campaign and had arrested a run of five defeats in a row. That victory had also kick-started their best period of the season so far, as Iain MacDonald’s team went on to record 10 points from a possible 12, scoring 14 goals in the process.

The visitors hopes of repeating such a result were to be crushed, however, as Saints went on to record their most emphatic victory of the season. Four goals from Joseph MacInnes, a hat-trick from Archie MacDonald, a brace from Angus Campbell, a goal apiece from Harry Luney, Taylor Linch, and Richard Johnson, and an own goal contributed to an incredible 13-2 scoreline in Saints’ favour.

Joseph MacInnes’ double brace moved him to the top of the league goalscoring chart with 14 goals, while Saints’ own tally now stands at 55 goals from 12 games played.

Although Barra could not equal their rivals’ goalscoring exploits, they did manage to retain top spot by racking up an impressive tally of their own in the local derby at Eriskay. Back in July, Martin MacPhee’s team had to settle for a share of the points and the goals, as the teams drew 4-4. This time, however, it was a case of one-way traffic as Eriskay were routed 8-0.

Neil Sinclair, one of the outstanding performers in the league this season, led the way with a hat-trick, while Craig Ferguson helped himself to a brace. Barra captain, James Davidson, strengthened his own quest to finish as the league’s top marksmen with another goal, while an own goal added further to Eriskay’s woes.

Those victories mean that Barra leads Saints by one point going into the third last round of games, while Southend is five points behind the Iochdar side in third-place, albeit having played one game fewer.

In this weekend’s fixtures, Benbecula travels to Eriskay, with both teams looking to restore some pride after heavy defeats, while leaders Barra host North Uist United. In the game of the weekend, second play third as surprise package Southend host Iochdar Saints.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Saints captain Angus Campbell said a win would be important for his side’s own title chances, and also paid credit to Southend for their level of improvement this season: “Southend have shown a lot of improvement which is why they are challenging for the title once again. It’s all very close at the top, but we know we need a win to keep ourselves in the title race. It won’t be easy as Southend themselves are still in with a shot of the title, but hopefully, we will have enough in our locker to get the three points.”

Team performance of the season

To honour the outstanding team performance of the 2015 season

There have been many exciting and memorable matches this season, here are the Am Paipear nominations for the team performance of the season.

Saints 4 – 4 Wick Groats
(Highland Amateur Cup, Quarter-final)
Portree, June 20th, 2015

Saints were unlucky not to progress through to the semi-finals of the HAC after a fantastic performance against Wick Groats. The South Uist side led the eventual winners twice, 3-1, and then 4-3, before losing out on penalties.

Benbecula 3 Saints 2
(League)
Liniclate, June 16th, 2015

Benbecula recorded a fantastic result by inflicting Saints’ first league defeat since the 2013 season with goals from Mark MacRury, Andrew MacSween and Hector MacPhee.

Southend 1 Barra 7
(League)
Daliburgh, June 4th, 2015

Barra displayed great attacking prowess as they took apart Southend in a ruthless performance. A hat-trick each from Craig Ferguson and James Davidson, and a goal from Ally MacInnes was Barra at their best

Barra 3 Southend 2
(Summer Cup, Semi-final)
Castlebay, July 6th, 2015

Southend went very close to causing an upset with an excellent team performance against Barra. Goals from Kevin Morrison and Andrew MacIssac took the game to extra-time, where they eventually lost, however, DA Lindsay’s team played a great game and went close to defeating a strong Barra team on their own ground.

North Uist 5 Barra 4 
(Billy MacNeil Cup, Semi-final)
Paible, September 19th, 2015

North Uist caused a major upset by defeating the newly-crowned league champions in a incredible match. They came from 2-1 down to take a 4-2 lead, before Barra came back to take the match into extra-time. North Uist showed great character to score once more to win a high scoring encounter and give themselves a chance of silverware.

To choose your choice for team performance of the season click here

Voting closes on Saturday 24th October at 8pm

The winner will be announced in Am Pàipear on 29th October

Goal of the season

This season has seen many great games contested and many great goals scored, here are the Am Paipear nominations for the goal of the season.

Andrew MacIssac  for Southend v Iochdar Saints – League

Andrew MacIssac scored the pick of the bunch in a 12-goal encounter between Southend and Saints. MacIssac caught the Saints goalkeeper off guard to score from the half-way line with a great piece of skill and speed of thought.

Kevin Morrison for Southend v Barra – Summer Cup Semi-final

The defender received the ball at the edge of the box and then shimmied past his marker to fire an unstoppable drive beyond the helpless MacArthur into the bottom corner. The goal drew Southend level in the match just before halt-time.

Keith MacDonald for North Uist v Southend – League

The North Uist talisman scored an excellent goal to round off a great team performance. The midfielder flicked the ball up with his back to goal, inside the box, before turning and hitting a fine volley past Innes MacDonald in the Southend goal.

James Davidson for Barra v Southend – League

Davidson scored a fantastic goal as Barra put in one of their best performances of the season. The Barra striker rounded the Southend goalkeeper to score after being played in on goal by a fantastic pass by Craig Ferguson. Ferguson’s inch-perfect ball from the left curled into path of his teammate, who did the rest.

To choose your goal of the season click here

Voting closes Saturday 24th October at 8pm

The winner will be announced in Am Pàipear on 29th October

The 2015 season has been one of high drama, great games, fantastic goals, and some shock results. For the fans it has made for great entertainment, for the men on the touchline, however, it has proved to be an altogether more nervous, stressful and emotional few months.

So from league triumph to cup success, Am Pàipear is celebrating the best managerial efforts this season. Here are the nominations.

Nominations

Martin MacPhee

The Barra manager led his team to the league championship, the Co-op Cup and the Calmac Cup in a hugely successful season for the club

Stephen MacAulay

The Saints manager took his side close to a fifth successive league title, the quarter-finals of the Highland Amateur Cup, and led his team to glory in the Summer Cup

Iain MacDonald

The Benbecula manager guided his team to an impressive third place finish in the league, and was alone among his peers in taking points off both Saints, with a victory, and Barra, with a draw, in the league this season.

John Docherty

The North Uist manager galvanised his team towards the end of the season, pushing them close towards a third place finish. He also oversaw a fantastic victory in the Billy McNeil Cup, guiding his team to victory over the champions Barra, and then Saints to claim a famous cup success.

The winner will be announced in Am Pàipear on 29th October