The Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup also known as the Valerie Fraser Trophy or the Women's Camanachd Cup is the premier trophy in Women's shinty and is currently sponsored by Mowi. It is played on a knock-out basis by the teams in the National Division 1 League and is administered by the Women's Camanachd Association. The current holders are Lochaber Camanachd.
History The trophy was originally donated to the Camanachd Association in memory of Valerie Fraser. It was originally a trophy for male teams and it was won by Glenurquhart in 1991. Some years later, after the competition fell into abeyance, it was donated to the Women's Camanachd Association and was first played for on 28 July 2002.
In 2009, the WCA held the semi-finals on one day at University of Stirling. Glengarry defeated Tir Conaill Harps 2–1 to win the 2009 Cup. There is also a national trophy for Division Two teams, the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup.
2013 saw an epic final at The Eilan, where Badenoch and Stathspey's Jane Nicol, in her final game before retirement, secured the victory over a heavily fancied Glasgow Mid-Argyll. GMA would however overcome Skye in 2014 and Badenoch in 2015 to secure League and Cup doubles.
The 2016 cup final was contested on 28 August at An Aird in Fort William between Skye Camanachd and Lochaber which meant a new name would be added to the list of winners as neither side had won the cup before. League Champions Skye were slight favourites but Lochaber won the day 4- 2, with all four of their goals coming from full-back turned forward Kirsty Delaney (6, 32, 67 and 76 mins). Lorna MacRae scored both the Skye goals (27, 74 mins). Player of the match went to Lochaber goalkeeper Aeleen Campbell for a fantastic display which prevented the Skye ladies from achieving the league and cup double.
Skye finally broke their Valerie Fraser hoodoo with a comprehensive 6–1 thumping of Lochaber at the same location, An Aird in 2017.
The sensational 2019 final between Skye and Badenoch was broadcast live on BBC Alba the Scottish Gaelic television channel.
Previous winners 2026 - Badenoch 5 v 3 Kinlochsheil After Extra Time (FT 2v2), at The Eilan, Newtonmore 2025 - Badenoch 2 v 0 Lochaber, at The Eilan, Newtonmore 2024 - Lochaber 1 v 0 Badenoch, at The Eilan, Newtonmore 2023 - Skye Camanachd 3 v 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll, at The Eilan, Newtonmore 2022 - Badenoch Ladies 6 v 3 Skye Camanachd, at The Eilan, Newtonmore 2021 - No competition owing to COVID 2020 - No competition owing to COVID 2019 – Skye Camanachd 8 v 6 Badenoch, at The Dell, Kingussie 2018 – Badenoch & Strathspey 4 v 1 Skye Camanachd, at The Dell, Kingussie 2017 – Skye Camanachd 6 v 1 Lochaber, at An Aird, Fort William 2016 – Lochaber 4 v 2 Skye Camanachd, at An Aird, Fort William70816 2015 – Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 v 0 Badenoch & Strathspey, at The Bught Park, Inverness 2014 – Glasgow Mid Argyll 3 v 2 Skye Camanachd, at Strachurmore, Strachur 2013 – Badenoch & Strathspey 3 v 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll, at The Eilan, Newtownmore 2012 – Aberdour 4 v 3 Glengarry, at Strachurmore, Strachur 2011 – Glengarry 4 v 0 Aberdour, at The Eilan, Newtownmore 2010 – Glengarry 5 v 0 Tir Conaill Harps, at Mossfield, Oban 2009 – Glengarry 2 v 1 Tir Conaill Harps, at Spean Bridge 2008 – Tir Conaill Harps 2 v 1 Glengarry, at Jubilee Park, Ballahullish 2007 – Forth Camanachd 1 v 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll, at Jubilee Park, Ballahullish 2006 – Glasgow Mid Argyll (Runners up – Glengarry), at The Eilan, Newtonmore 2005 – Glengarry (Runners up – Edinburgh), at The Eilan, Newtonmore 2004 – Glengarry 7 v 1 Kingussie, at Spean Bridge 2003 – Glasgow Mid Argyll 5 v 2 Glengarry B, at Spean Bridge 2002 – Glengarry 7 v 0 Kingussie, at Jubilee Park, Ballahullish
Winners of Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup for Women
Club Total Years Glengarry 6 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011 Glasgow Mid Argyll 4 2003, 2006, 2014, 2015 Badenoch & Strathspey 5 2013, 2018, 2022, 2025, 2026 Skye Camanachd 3 2017, 2019, 2023 Lochaber 2 2016, 2024 Forth 1 2006 Tir Conaill Harps 1 2008 Aberdour 1 2012
Runners-up of Valerie Fraser Camanchd Cup for Women
Club Total Years Skye Camanachd 4 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022 Glengarry 3 2006, 2008, 2012 Glasgow Mid Argyll 3 2007, 2013, 2023 Badenoch 3 2015, 2019, 2024 (2015 as Badenoch & Strathspey) Kingussie 2 2002, 2004 Tir Conaill Harps 2 2009, 2010 Lochaber 2 2017, 2025 Glengarry B 1 2003 Edinburgh 1 2005 Aberdour 1 2011 Kinlochsheil 1 2026
Winners of the Player of the Match Award 2026 - Elizabeth McGregor (Badenoch) 2025 - Rona Stewart (Badenoch) 2024 - Hannah MacDonald (Lochaber) 2023 - Caitlin Maclean (Skye Camanachd) 2022 - Sarah Jane Ferguson (Skye Camanachd) 2021 - No competition owing to COVID 2020 - No competition owing to COVID 2019 - Lorna MacRae (Skye Camanachd) 2018 – Kristy Deans (Badenoch & Strathspey) 2017 – Lorna MacRae (Skye Camanachd) 2016 – Aeleen Campbell (Lochaber) 2015 – Kristy Deans (Badenoch & Strathspey) 2014 – Sarah Corrigall (Skye Camanachd) 2013 – Rachel McCafferty (Glasgow Mid Argyll) 2012 – Katy Smith (Aberdour) 2011 – Laura Gallacher (Glengarry) 2010 – Elaine Wink (Glengarry) 2009 – Beth MacDonald (Glengarry) 2008 – Sarah Corrigall (Glengarry) 2007 – Katy Smith (Forth) 2006 – Kirsten Munro (Glasgow Mid Argyll) 2005 – Jane Nicol (Glengarry) 2004 – Sarah Corrigall (Glengarry) 2003 – Katie Drain (Glasgow Mid Argyll) 2002 – Cara Dallas (Kingussie)
Previous winners of men's competition 1995 Beauly 2 v 0 Strathglass 1994 ? bt Strathglass 1993 ? 1992 Kinlochshiel 1991 Glenurquhart bt Glengarry 1990 Glenurquhart bt Glengarry 1989 ? bt Strathglass 1988 Caberfeidh 1987 Caberfeidh
References
External links History of the tournament 2015 Valerie Fraser Final on YouTube 2013 Valerie Fraser Final on YouTube 2011 Valerie Fraser Final on YouTube