“What is Kingussie famous for?” asks Google in one of those generically-generated lists of questions that tend to appear below an online search nowadays.
There is stunning scenery, trails and walks, and an abundance of places to fish, golf and cycle. They filmed scenes for Monarch of the Glen here, and, perhaps more surprisingly, the movie Slumdog Millionaire. It is the perfect Highland rural idyll.
But the real answer is, of course, shinty. It has to be. Like all great teams, Kingussie Camanachd have endured dips and fallow periods most notably in the first half of the 20th century. Rivals have plundered trophies, enjoyed spells of dominance. But Kingussie’s overall supremacy endures. In 2005, the Guinness Book of Records declared them world sport’s most successful sporting team of all time. They are not known as The Kings for nothing.
Kingussie is a small town, its population is estimated at around 1500. And for most who live there, shinty is in the blood. That is certainly the case for Savio Genini. Don’t let the name fool you. Genini’s Italian heritage stems from his grandfather who left Domodossola near Lake Maggiore to move to Scotland where he eventually settled in the Highlands with his Glaswegian wife. Genini is proud to be quarter-Italian. But he is Kingussie born and bred, has never strayed too far from the region and doesn’t plan on doing so, either.
Genini’s dad, Martin, played for Kingussie and it was only a matter of time before he did too. Last he captained the team to a grand slam, lifting all of the amateur sport’s four major honours at the age of 25. It felt like something he was almost destined to do.
“My whole family is shinty daft,” he reveals. “My dad and my uncle both played and so it’s all I’ve ever known since I was a kid – shinty on a Saturday. I was lucky enough to grow up watching Kingussie winning everything there was to win and that whetted the appetite for me to do it myself.
“I’ve been playing for as far back as I can remember. I wouldn’t want to say I didn’t have a choice as there were other things to do like football. But growing up we never really looked towards anything else. Shinty always came first.
“You’re doing it for the town as much as for the team or yourself. It is slightly changed days now as there are people living in Kingussie that I don’t know, whereas you knew everyone when I was growing up. And there are obviously other attractions for people away from shinty these days. But most of the locals are people who have followed the team all their days.”
This afternoon it is all about the Camanachd Cup final against Oban Camanachd at Bught Park, Inverness. Oban came out on top in the recent Macaulay Cup final between the teams but this is the big one, with a large crowd expected for a match that will also be shown live on BBC Alba.
Hugh Dan MacLennan will provide commentary for the final time but “the voice of shinty” will not be the only thing retiring. Today will be the final time the 127 year-old Camanachd Cup trophy will be presented before it is whisked away to become a tourist attraction at Inverness Castle, sparing it from any more rigorous post-match celebrations. “If that trophy could speak, a lot of people would be in jail,” says Genini with a laugh. “It would have a lot of stories to tell.”
But what is it about the Camanachd Cup final that makes it so special? “It’s just the history to be honest,” he explains. “Every club in shinty wants to win the Camanachd Cup and those that have won it know how magical it was. It’s not just about the team; the whole village, the whole community, gets involved. It’s like the Champions League of shinty.
“I’m lucky to have won everything myself now but that feeling of wanting to win never goes away. It’s always a nerve-wracking day but if you don’t get nervous for the biggest day in your sport then there’s something wrong.”
Genini is a man for the great outdoors even when he’s not playing shinty. When we speak dusk is falling but the 26-year-old is still out fishing, making the most of the last few drops of daylight. That is less of a surprise when you learn his day job is working as a gamekeeper.
“I’m still working on the Coul Estate in Laggan,” he confirms. “I love my job and what I do – it’s a way of life to be honest. You do whatever’s required, like lambing in the spring, calving as well, pheasants at this time of year and shooting all through the winter. It’s a very mixed bag but I enjoy it all. I couldn’t think of anything worse than being stuck in an office. Or under a floor wiring a house like my dad does every day! That’s not for me.”
Victory for Kingussie this afternoon will spark the traditional celebrations but Genini, for once, knows he may have to ca canny, with an even bigger event on the horizon.
“My partner is expecting our first child on Monday,” he reveals. “I just hope she can hold out until then but I’ll go easy after the match just in case. The shinty and the hospital are both in Inverness so if the baby comes early we’re in the right place at least.”
