SHINTY starlet and volunteer, Hunter Black, has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to the community sport at the recent Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface Volunteer of the Year awards.
The youngster won Argyll and Butes young sports coach of the year, having given four years to Active Schools and provided coaching for primary four to seven pupils in Dunoon on a regular basis.
Hunter continues his coaching while playing for ColGlen and Strachur-Dunoon on the weekends as he continues his own shinty development.
On his award, hunter said: I am really proud and surprised at winning the award, I dont think I do anything special.
I was asked by Doreen MacDonald to help out with the shinty coaching and I realised I could bring on kids within shinty as I feel that they can relate to me being close to their age. As I play for ColGlen and the second team Strachur-Dunoon, I have come through the ranks myself and without volunteers there will be no kids coming through to play for these teams. Hopefully as a role model the kids have something to aspire to.
But it doesnt only benefit the kids, as Hunter believes the coaching has as many positives for himself.
He said: Volunteering in shinty has helped me greater understand tactics of the game.
It has helped my confidence in speaking and helped me understand the differences in approaches when dealing with kids who are maybe not as able, they all improve and learn at different rates.
Moving forward I am going to college in Glasgow to study sports therapy, but plan to continue to coach kids shinty in my free time and play senior shinty.
Reacting to the news on social media, a spokesperson for ColGlen said: Hunter is reliable, consistent and brings invaluable experience to training sessions and strives to help these younger players develop their shinty skills. Well done Hunter.
