The annual competitions were held (August 2) in Portree, Isle of Skye. In the piobaireachd pipers are asked to play pieces from the MacCrimmon tradition. The winner of both the Dunvegan Medal and the Col. Jock MacDonald Clasp are invited to play for the prestigious Silver Chanter in 2017. Excepting Oban and Inverness, Skye is considered the most important open solo piping competition in the calendar.
The piper with the highest points in competitions wins the Dr Allan MacDonald Cup + £200. The piper with the highest points in the Clasp and/or Dunvegan Medal + Ceòl Beag competitions wins the Highland Society of London award of £250.
Points for placings in the Ceòl Mòr competitions are as follows: 1st – 10, 2nd – 8, 3rd – 6, 4th – 4, 5th – 2. Note that the last two placings do not apply in the Clasp competition. Points for placings in the Ceòl Beag: 1st – 5, 2nd – 4, 3rd – 3, 4th – 2, 5th – 1.
The winner of the Dunvegan Medal was Derek Midgley who is pictured above after receiving his medal. Photo courtesy Cailean Maclean of Skye Media and the retiring Piping Convenor of the Gathering.
The evening after the Gathering sees the Silver Chanter competition in Dunvegan Castle. The winner was Roderick MacLeod, Glasgow, playing the Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon.
Iain MacFadyen, Kyle, judged. It was Iain’s 50th consecutive Silver Chanter, having played at the very first event (placing second with Kiss of the King’s Hand) and attending every year since.
Dunvegan Medal (four tunes asked for)
1 Derek Midgley, New Jersey – pictured (£140), Battle of Waternish
2 Sandy Cameron (£100), MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute
3 Brighde Chaimbeul (£70), The Groat
4 Jamie Elder (£40), Flame of Wrath
5 Nick Hudson (£20), MacLeod of Colbeck’s Lament
Judges: A Forbes, D McNeil, M McRae
Col. Jock MacDonald Clasp (four tunes from prescribed list)
1 Cameron Drummond (£200)
2 Anne Gray (£120)
3 Euan MacCrimmon (£100)
6/8 March (own choice)
1 Stuart Liddell (£60)
2 Gordon Walker (£40)
3 Alasdair Henderson (£30)
4 Cameron Drummond (£15)
5 Greig Canning (£10)
Jigs (two tunes, own choice, to be played)
1 Stuart Liddell (£60)
2 Gordon Walker (£40)
3 Alasdair Henderson (£30)
4 Cameron Drummond (£15)
5 Ann Gray (£10)
Ceol beag judges day 1:
Ian MacFadyen, Archie MacLean, Iain Morrison
Kemble Star March (Aug 3) – three tunes, once through
1 Stuart Liddell (£70)
2 Cameron Drummond (£50)
3 John Angus Smith (£30)
4 Jamie Elder (£20)
5 Euan MacCrimmon (£10)
Entries close tomorrow August 5[wds id=”17″]
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