‘Duncan at the double at the Wheel of Fortune’
Corporal Ben Duncan of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards was a two-times winner at the 2017 Pipe Majors’ Wheel of Fortune competition, organised by the City of Edinburgh Pipe Band. As well as lifting the top prize in the Wheel medley event, Corporal Duncan won the MSR at what was a keenly contested and well-attended event. He was denied a hat trick of wins by Jenny Hazzard, who won the contest for best joke.
Corporal Duncan, who described the competition as ‘a great day and a unique experience’, performed the following tunes en route to victory:
March, strathspey and reel
The Glengarry Gathering, Dora MacLeod, Miss Proud
Wheel of Fortune medley: Pat Ewart (Hornpipe), John & Patricia Duncan’s 60th Wedding Anniversary (Own tune), Oh My Dearest Dear (Gaelic Air), Cat Lodge (Donald MacLeod tune), Johnny’s O’Sullivan’s Reel (Extra tune), Richard O’Dwyer’s Reel (Extra tune), Contradiction (Gordon Duncan tune).
Five of the seven tunes in his Wheel of Fortune medley were determined by spinning the golden chanter. Competitors are required to play five types of tune selected from the 12 options on the Wheel and can add up to three tunes of their own choice.
Sarah Muir of Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia wa runner-up in the Wheel of Fortune competition, while Lachie Dick, from the City of Edinburgh, and Jenny Hazzard, tied for third place.
Also competing were Gordon Bruce, Pipe Major of West Lothian Schools Pipe Band, and Jonathon Simpson of Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia. Allan Russell, from Kelty in Fife, had to withdraw from the competition because of car trouble on his way to Danderhall Miners Club.
Judges on the day were Ian Duncan, Alan Forbes and Allan MacDonald, while the Fear an Tighe was Pipe Major Angus Clarke of the Vale of Atholl.
Looking back on the competition, Mike Knott, Pipe Sergeant of the City of Edinburgh band, said:
‘We enjoyed some great music from the six pipers who made their Wheel of Fortune debuts and I’m sure our audience enjoyed their performances as much as I did.
‘On behalf of the band, I want to thank Ben, Gordon, Jenny, Jonathon, Lachie and Sarah for supporting our event and for providing us with such great entertainment. Thanks too to Gus Clarke, who did his usual brilliant job as our MC and to our judges, Alan, Allan and Ian.’
The Wheel of Fortune competition was the first event in the City of Edinburgh band’s 70th anniversary celebrations. A band re-union and ceilidh is planned for later in the year.