THE ONGOING development of shinty in Cornwall has led to the Duchy’s team being the most feared going into this year’s Challenge Cup – according to their captain.

Matt Mossop will lead out the side when they travel to Bristol this weekend for the competition which will see them pit their wits against teams across the country, including London and Oxford.

Over the last three years, shinty has been seeing a renaissance around Cornwall as the county side sought out to increase participation with a big focus on university students at Falmouth, Exeter and Camborne School of Mines.

Now the South West League has five teams contesting it and a youth development programme is in the pipeline for primary and secondary school pupils.

With the successes locally, Mossop believes it has led to the county side’s reputation building.

Mossop said: “It is a very exciting time for us.

“I think it has got to the stage where we are heading into the Challenge Cup as the team everyone is looking at for the first time since the 1920s.

“To come from where we were three years ago to now where we are serious contenders for the title is a wonderful achievement and I’m so proud of it.

“There is a real buzz around the team and we have managed to build a great community up which has really made the whole thing blossom.”

Another new aspect coming for the county is a Ladies side representing the Duchy.

On Sunday, they played their first fixture at Falmouth School.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the ladies team getting started,” Mossop said.

“In the South West League, we’ve been playing mixed sex shinty, but we always knew the best way for the female players to improve further was to have their own team.

“It is a bold step we are taking, but we are looking to follow the same three year pattern as we have done with the other teams and hopefully it will work.

“I went to St Andrews University and whilst there the shinty club launched their women’s team and since then it has gone crackers and actually overtaken the men in terms of player numbers, which shows how much interest it can get.”

If you are interested in giving shinty a go, either visit the Cornwall Shinty Club’s Facebook page or log onto their website, www.cornwallshintyclub.tk.