A great celebration at the 2024 Come Ashore Cup Weekend

An old boys' rugby match in Thurso was the centrepiece of a weekend series of events staged to benefit two mental health and wellbeing charities.

The annual challenge match on Saturday 1 June involving over-35s from Caithness and Orkney ended with the home side winning 40-14 to reclaim the Come Ashore Cup.

Photos: Rohallion Orkney

It was inaugurated two years ago in memory of former Green Alexander Mill who died suddenly on his farm at Achscrabster, near Westfield three years ago and has expanded this year to include a two day programme of diverse social, sporting and agricultural activities.

The two sides were piped from the changing rooms at Millbank to the strains of Flower of Scotland by Martin MacDonald, a neighbour and long-time friend of Alexander's.

On a glorious summer's day, a bumper crowd watched Caithness Evergreens finish the first 20 minutes 12-0 ahead. A searing break within the first minute by centre William Mill opened the way for Graeme Ross to cross. The winger then sprinted in from the 22 for his second, with Gary Mackay adding the extras.

Orkney Vikings countered soon after the restart with a well-worked try from Alan Monkman, with Alan Thomson converting.

Tries by lock Kevin Budge, hooker Sinclair Dunnett and winger Neil Smith extended their side's advantage to 33-7 before the second turnaround.
Budge's second touchdown, along with Mackay's fifth conversion, sealed the deal, with Scott Cooper dotting down for the Vikings and Thomson converting.

The match ended on a sour note when the visiting skipper Al Watson was injured in a tackle. It was later revealed he had broken a bone in his leg. The other casualty of the day was Caithness centre Norman Foubister, who broke a bone in a foot.

The Come Ashore trophy was presented to Evergreens co-captains Andy Morris and Derek Bain by members of the Mill family..

Russell Mill, the main organiser of the weekend, was pleased his side got their hands back on the trophy.
He said: "The game was probably a good bit closer than the score-line suggests. They were a very physical side and I think our boys will be nursing a lot of bumps and bruises."

Russell, a cousin of Alexander's, was delighted with how the weekend event had gone.

On Friday, there was a tour of four distilleries and a brewery and an evening buffet/dance when former Scottish prop forward Alan 'Chunk' Jacobsen was among the speakers.
Guests then went on a tour of Bilbster Mains Farm, by Watten on Saturday morning.

Visitors could take selfies in the Millbank clubhouse of the Calcutta Cup and the Doddie Weir Cup which were on display along with the national Plate, won recently by the Caithness Krakens women's side.

Throughout the day, there were tented displays of Caithness crafts and produce; Caithness Youth Farmers and tractor and vintage displays; and a Bucking Bronco challenge.

A grand auction, conducted by retired auctioneer Ian Macleay, raised £9500. The most valuable lot was the pledge of a day's agricultural labour put up by Murkle farmer Colin Mackay and his son Shane. That attracted a £1000 bid.

Russell Mill said: "It was great how it all came together. I think we fulfilled our plan to widen the programme to make it more inclusive. I reckon there must have been about 1000 people at Millbank over the course of the day. The cracking weather also helped create a real festival atmosphere."
He added: "We're really grateful to the tremendous support we got right across the board, from our volunteers and our sponsors to the people who turned up."

The club estimates that the total netted by the event would be between £14-15,000 which is being split between Farmstrong Scotland and Befriending Caithness.

Iain Grant