Tobermory Games: Full Results and Critique of the Ceol Mor

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A warm, sunny day and a high standard of play. Apart from the solo piping boards, the large crowd was entertained royally by Oban High School Pipe Band under P/M Angus MacColl Snr. and the Mull & Iona Pipe Band under P/M Neil MacCallum.

Angus is pictured above on his way to glory in the ceol mor.

Piobaireachd (three tunes asked for and given and selected tune given at the bench)
1 Angus MacColl Snr., Cabar Feidh Gu Bragh, £100
2 Andrew Hall, King’s Taxes
3 Stuart Liddell, Catherine’s Lament
4 Craig Martin, Massacre of Glencoe
5 Bobby Durning, Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg
Judges: R Wallace, J Wilson

This was a very good competition with an outstanding rendition of Donald MacLeod’s tune by Angus MacColl – superb finger and pipe and, of course, music oozing from the man’s pores. Maybe a little less on the taorluath theme notes in Variation 1 would improve delivery, but it was a pleasure to listen to a master at work ‘neath the Hebridean sun, gulls whirling overhead, Ardnamurchan’s Ben Hiant majestic to the north. Andrew Hall gave a good reading of the King’s Taxes though Var 1 doubling needed more flow. Sonorous bagpipe and classy finger. Stuart Liddell was asked to play Catherine’s Lament, and was a little stilted with it; the pipe didn’t quite hold. The maestro has had many better tunes. Craig Martin was very competent with the Campbell Canntaireachd Massacre of Glencoe but needs to work on the crunluath movement. Tight, tight, tight were the Ts & Cs of Massachusetts man Bobby Durning. Promising however, and with the correct guidance he will be a piper to be reckoned with.

Oban High School Pipe Band led by P/M Angus MacColl. The young pipers and drummers were greatly appreciated at today's games at Tobermory
Oban High School Pipe Band led by P/M Angus MacColl. The young pipers and drummers were greatly appreciated at today’s games at Tobermory

Not in the main list but impressing nevertheless were: Local Calum MacLean who gave us a well set out MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart only to come a cropper in the crunluath. Young Angus MacColl must get back to the drawing board. I have heard him play MacLeod of Raasay much better than this; too much talent for it to be allowed to go to waste. Ross Miller needs to have a thoroughly fresh look at the Duke of Atholl’s Salute. Jan Belak, on holiday from Germany, was a bit restrained with Hector MacLean’s Warning and would better impress with tighter E gracenotes in the dithis. A good idea of the tune.

Local Piob: 1 Angus MacColl Snr. 2 Stuart Liddell 3 Angus MacColl Jnr. 4 Calum MacLean

March:
1 Stuart Liddell, Arthur Bignold of Lochrosque, £65
2 Angus MacColl, Argyllshire Gathering, £40
3 Rory Grossart, Glenfinnan Highland Gathering, £25
4 Ross Miller, Leaving Glenurquhart, £15
5 Bobby Durning, Arthur Bignold of Lochrosque, £5

S&R
1 Angus MacColl, Maggie Cameron/ Alick C. MacGregor
2 Stuart Liddell, John Roy Stewart/ Smith of Chilliechassie
3 Ross Miller, Caber Feidh/ Broadford Bay
4 Andrew Hall, Lady Loudon/Drumlithie
5 Rory Grossart, Cameroonian Rant/ Lt. Col. DJS Murray
Judge for senior light music: P/M Ian Duncan

Local March: 1 S Liddell 2 A MacColl Snr. 3 A MacColl Jnr. 4 S MacLean
Local S&R: 1 A MacColl Snr. 2  S Liddell 3 A MacColl Jnr. 4 S MacLean

Junior Piob.
1 Gregor MacDonald 2 Katie MacPherson 3 Lewis Dillon 4 Jenny MacLean 5 Emma Hill
Judge: Andrew Frater

Junior March
1 Gregor MacDonald 2 Alexander Anderson 3 Katie MacPherson 4 Stuart Campbell 5 Innes Muir
Junior S&R
1 Alasdair MacLean 2 Alexander Anderson 3 Katie MacPherson 4 Emma Hill 5  Lewis Dillon
Judge  for Junior ceol beag: P/M Barry Donaldson

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