Those who have not entered for Lochaber should remember that one of the classic Highland games takes place up in the north-east on Saturday. Buried away in deepest Strathdon, Lonach Gathering has a tradition stretching back well into the 19th century.
That tradition is reflected in the customs such as the March of the Lonach Men (below) that precedes the games and is upheld with vigour and interest to this day.
The piping competitions are of the highest calibre too with top line judges in attendance. There are competitions for Open Piob, MSR, Junior Piob, and a start time of 1030. Entries are taken on the field. For more information contact Dr Jack Taylor, President of the Piobaireachd Society, on jackandmarytaylor@gmail.com.
This year Lonach marks the 300th Anniversary of the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion with a special tribute. The Lonach Highland and Friendly Society was founded in 1823 by Sir Charles Forbes, 1st Baronet of Newe and Edinglassie (1773-1849). Membership is drawn from the inhabitants of Strathdon, who continue to fulfil the society’s original mission of preserving Highland dress and ‘supporting loyal, peaceful, and manly conduct; and the promotion of social and benevolent feelings among the inhabitants of the district.’
There will certainly be a lot of manly (and womanly) conduct to the fore at Lochaber Gathering on Saturday where more top quality piping can be heard at the Nevis Centre in Fort William. For those who can’t manage, stay tuned to Piping Press for first results. For those entered or going along to listen, here is the order of play:
Hall A: 08:30 P/A Grade Piobaireachd
- William Geddes
- J Decker Forrest
- Cameron Drummond
- Jonathan Greenlees
- Andrew Lee
- Derek Midgley
- Sandy Cameron
- Jamie Forrester
- Callum Beaumont
- Edward MacIlwaine
- Innes Smith
- William McCallum
- Michael Fitzhenry
- Finlay Johnston
- Jenny Hazzard
- John Angus Smith
- Euan MacCrimmon
Hall B: 08:30 B/C Grade Piobaireachd (Group 1)
- Dan Lyden
- Ronald Telfer
- John Cameron
- William Rowe
- Greig Canning
- Andrew Hall
- Calum MacLean
- Amber Sinclair
- Peter Hunt
- Bruce MacDonald
- Nick Hudson
- Cameron MacDougall
- Colin Campbell
- John Lee
Hall C: 08:30 B/C Grade Piobaireachd (Group 2)
- J Ross Cowan
- Robert Gray
- Ursa Beckford
- Liam Kernaghan
- Charles MacDonald
- Andrew Wright
- Connor Sinclair
- Jamie Elder
- Graham Mulholland
- Jonathon Simpson
- Finlay Clark
- James MacPhee
- Matthew Fraser
- Matt Pantaleoni
The first three placed in each group of the B/C Piobaireachd will play again in a final competition to be judged by both adjudicators.
Hall A: 15:00 P/A Grade March, Strathspey and Reel
- Euan MacCrimmon
- John Angus Smith
- Jenny Hazzard
- Finlay Johnston
- Michael Fitzhenry
- William McCallum
- Innes Smith
- Callum Beaumont
- Jamie Forrester
- Derek Midgley
- Peter Hunt
- Andrew Lee
- Jonathan Greenlees
- Cameron Drummond
- William Geddes
- Colin Campbell
- John Lee
Hall B: 15:00 B/C March, Strathspey and Reel
- Matt Pantaleoni
- Matthew Fraser
- J Decker Forrest
- James MacPhee
- Finlay Clark
- Jonathon Simpson
- Graham Mulholland
- Jamie Elder
- Connor Sinclair
- Andrew Wright
- Charles MacDonald
- Liam Kernaghan
- Ursa Beckford
- Robert Gray
- J Ross Cowan
- Cameron MacDougall
- Edward MacIlwaine
- Nick Hudson
- Bruce MacDonald
- Amber Sinclair
- Calum MacLean
- Andrew Hall
- Greig Canning
- Sandy Cameron
- William Rowe
- John Cameron
- Ronald Telfer
- Dan Lyden
Hall C: 15:00 Open Hornpipe and Jig
- Andrew Lee
- J Ross Cowan
- Jonathan Greenlees
- John Lee
- Cameron Drummond
- Ursa Beckford
- Liam Kernaghan
- Charles MacDonald
- Connor Sinclair
- Jamie Elder
- Graham Mulholland
- Jonathon Simpson
- Finlay Clark
- James MacPhee
- J Decker Forrest
- Matthew Fraser
- Peter Hunt
- William Geddes
- Euan MacCrimmon
- Matt Pantaleoni
- Robert Gray
- William McCallum
- Dan Lyden
- Ronald Telfer
- John Angus Smith
- Jenny Hazzard
- John Cameron
- Finlay Johnston
- William Rowe
- Michael Fitzhenry
- Greig Canning
- Andrew Hall
- Calum MacLean
- Amber Sinclair
- Bruce MacDonald
- Nick Hudson
- Cameron MacDougall
- Callum Beaumont
- Colin Campbell
- Jamie Forrester
- Sandy Cameron
- Derek Midgley
- Innes Smith
- Andrew Wright
Junior Competitions
Hall C: 11:30 15 & Under Piobaireachd
1. Hamish Drennan
2. Eòsaph Caimbeul
3. Martin MacRae
4. Angus F MacPhee
5. Finlay Cameron
6. Andrew Ferguson
7. Calum Craib
8. Matthew McSherffrey
18 & Under Piobaireachd
1. Donald Stewart
2. Harris MacLennan
3. Connor Jardine
4. Brìghde Chaimbeul
5. Ally Weir
6. Archie Drennan
15 & Under March, Strathspey & Reel
1. Alexander M Anderson
2. Calum Craib
3. Andrew Ferguson
4. Finlay Cameron
5. Angus F MacPhee
6. Martin MacRae
7. Eòsaph Caimbeul
8. Hamish Drennan
9. Matthew McSherffrey
18 & Under March, Strathspey & Reel
1. Archie Drennan
2. Ally Weir
3. Brìghde Chaimbeul
4. Connor Jardine
5. Harris MacLennan
6. Donald Stewart
15 & Under Hornpipe & Jig
1. Finlay Cameron
2. Andrew Ferguson
3. Angus F MacPhee
4. Martin MacRae
5. Eòsaph Caimbeul
6. Hamish Drennan
7. Calum Craib
8. Alexander M Anderson
9. Matthew McSherffrey
18 & Under Hornpipe & Jig
1. Connor Jardine
2. Harris MacLennan
3. Donald Stewart
4. Archie Drennan
5. Ally Weir
6. Brìghde Chaimbeul
Meanwhile if there’s anyone left there’s also games at Invergordon and Glenurquhart
What does the blue flag in the photograph at the beginning of the article represent. It looks like the Red Hand of Ulster in the middle.
The blue flag has the arms of Clan Forbes, with the red hand emblem of a baronet in the middle so I would assume it’s the crest of the chap who founded the Lonach Highlanders and the Gathering (Sir Charles Forbes, Baronet Newe).
thank you.