PP Editor’s Blog: PB Mag Preview/ Results from the Antipodes/ SPA KO/ Midwest Solo Championship

The April edition of Pipe Band magazine will be available from Thursday on the RSPBA website and from the Piping Press shop. The magazine has features on:

  • AD Hamilton, the father of modern pipe band ensemble
  • Pipe band competition performance set up – the circle must go
  • Reid Maxwell’s new sticks – a review
  • Live in Ireland – 1987 remembered
  • Consultative judging pilot scheme explained
  • AGM wrap up
  • National Juvenile Pipe Band Fund pay outs

All this plus full news from RSPBA branches and a comprehensive  contest diary for the forthcoming season. The magazine is a free digital download made available to the pipe band world courtesy the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.


Congratulations to Jason Craig and Katherine Belcher on their success at the MacLean Gathering held in Australia last weekend, and also to John Decker, South Africa, for his win in the NZ Gold Medal competition. All three are well known to the piping community here in Scotland.

Jason and Katherine with their medals
Jason and Katherine with their medals

112th Maclean Highland Gathering held
25-26th March 2016

Open Piobaireachd (J.K. McKinnon Memorial)
1 Jason Craig
2 Katherine Belcher
3 Dennis Browning
Judges: Callum Beaumont, Sam Young



Open March/Strathspey/Reel (Norman Finlayson MacSwan Memorial)
1 Jason Craig
2 Katherine Belcher
3 Sam Hemer
Judge: Malcolm McRae

Piobaireachd Society of New Zealand, Hastings

Clasp Piobaireachd
1st Greg Wilson
2nd Stuart Easton
3rd Jamie Hawke
4th Marion Horsburgh

Gold Medal Piobaireachd
1st John Decker
2nd Elizabeth Drury
3rd Robert Gibb

More results here.


SPA President Tom Johnstone: ‘The second semi-final of the Knock-Out competition will be held on Saturday 2nd April featuring Stuart Liddell  and Steven Leask. The event will be held in the College of Piping 7 for 7.30pm. Not to be missed! There is a full bar service available so please come early for a drink and a chat and to get a good seat. The winner of this will face John Patrick in the final on 7th May. We are also hoping to once again transmit the contest via Livestream for our members and friends who are further afield. Donations via our website would be welcome. www.scottishpipersassociation.co.uk . Hope to see you there!’


Jim Sim, President of the Midwest Pipe Band Association has sent this: ‘The MWPBA here in the United States will be holding our Inaugural Professional Solo Piping Event on May 14 in Palatine, Illinois.  I have attached a flyer for you as well.  Let me know if you have any questions or need anything else. Thanks.’INAUGURAL-PIPING-FLYER-2