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An cuala sibh riamh air Iain no Seonaidh Catanach? Tha cuid ag ràdh gum b’ e an cluicheadair iomain a b’ fheàrr a bha ann riamh. Bhuineadh e do Bhàideanach. Rugadh e ann an ochd ceud deug, ochdad ʼs a còig (1885). Bha athair na mharsanta ann am Bail’ Ùr an t-Slèibh. Fhuair Iain foghlam ann an Sgoil Bhail’ Ùr an t-Slèibh agus Sgoil Cheann a’ Ghiùthsaich, mus deach e gu Colaiste Sheòrais Watson agus Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann. Rinn e ceum ann an Eòlas-leigheis. Bha e ag obair mar dhotair ann an Sasainn agus sa Chuimrigh.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Bha e na lùth-chleasaiche air leth. Ann an naoi ceud deug ʼs a naoi agus a deich (1909/1910) bhuannaich e an leum-fhada ann am farpaisean Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann. Bha e cuideachd sònraichte math air hocaidh. Chluich e airson sgioba hocaidh na h-Alba.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Ach ʼs e a’ chiad chaman a thog e fear na h-iomain. Bha na sgilean camanachd aige air leth. Nuair a bha e air an rathad chun an Eilein, pàirc na h-iomain ann am Bail’ Ùr an t-Slèibh, bhiodh e a’ ruith airson leth-mhìle a’ cumail a’ bhuill san adhar le a chaman.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Bha sgioba a’ Bhail’ Ùir soirbheachail nuair a bha Iain Catanach a’ cluich dhaibh. Ann an naoi ceud deug ʼs a naoi (1909), chluich iad an Fhùirneis ann an Cuairt Dheireannach Chupa na Camanachd. Bhuannaich iad aon tadhal deug gu trì. Agus chuir Iain Catanach ochd tadhail! Tha cuid dhen bheachd gun seas sin gu sìorraidh mar an uiread as motha de thadhail a chuir aon chluicheadair anns a’ Chuairt Dheireannach.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Gu mì mì-fhortanach, chaill Iain Catanach a bheatha anns a’ Chiad Chogadh. Bha e ann an Corps Meidigeach Rìoghail an Airm. Chaidh a leòn anns na Dardanelles ann an naoi ceud deug is còig-deug (1915). Cha d’ fhuair e seachad air sin, agus chaochail e.

Have you ever heard of John or Johnny Cattanach? Some people say he was the best shinty player ever. He belonged to Badenoch. He was born in 1885. His father was a merchant in Newtonmore. Iain was educated in Newtonmore School and Kingussie School before he went on to George Watsonʼs College and Edinburgh University. He did a degree in Medicine. He was working as a doctor in England and Wales.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý He was an exceptional athlete. In 1909/10 he won the long jump at the University of Edinburgh championships. He was also excellent at hockey. He played for the Scottish national hockey team.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý But the first stick he picked up was the shinty stick. His shinty skills were exceptional. When he was on the way to the Eilan, the shinty field in Newtonmore, he would run for half a mile, keeping the ball in the air with his caman.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Newtonmore were successful when John Cattanach played for them. In 1909, they played Furnace in the Camanachd Cup Final. They won by eleven goals to three. And John Cattanach scored eight goals! Some people think that will stand forever as the greatest number of goals that one player scored in the Final.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Tragically, John Cattanach lost his life in the First DWorld War. He was in the Royal Armny Medical Corps. He was wounded in the Dardanelles in 1915. He never recovered, and he died.

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