Archie Kenneth Draw and Tunes/ RSPBA Summer School/ NPC Juniors

The Piobaireachd Society have announced the draw for the Archie Kenneth Quaich, their annual amateur ceol mor contest to be held next Saturday 3rd March. Start time is 9.30am in the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society rooms at 127 Rose Street Lane South, Edinburgh.
Two tunes are asked for. Pipers will be informed in the final tuning room which tune has been selected for them to play.
The draw:
1 Helen Thompson, Tulloch Ard/ Caber Feidh gu Brath
2 Allan Harper, Donald of Laggan/ Struan Robertson’s Sal.
3 John Forbes, Viscount of Dundee/ Too Long in this Condition
4 George Gordon, Corrienessan’s Sal./ Donald of Laggan
5 Stewart Gaudin, Gath. of MacDonald’s (DMcD)/ The Groat
6 Aaron Yeung, Donald of Laggan/ Gordon’s Sal.
7 David Hester, Finlay’s Lament/ Slanfuive (both CC)
8 Andrew Park, Isabel MacKay/ MacLeod’s Sal.
9 Gregor McCulloch, Mary MacLeod/ MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart
10 Robert Wilson, MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart/ Donald of Laggan
11 Evan Wraga, Catherine’s Lament/ Glengarry’s March

Tom Peterkin, 2015 winner of the Archie Kenneth Quaich. To Tom’s right is another former winner, John Frater

12 Leslie Barrett, C. Campbell’s Gath./ MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart
13 Graham Farr, Capt. MacDougall/ Lament for the Iolaire
14 Tom Peterkin, Flame of Wrath/ Bealach nam Brog
15 Con Houlihan, Viscount of Dundee/ Capt. MacDougall
Defending champion Bob Frater receives the AKQ from Mr James Burnet of the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society

16 Ian Forbes, Donald Duaghal MacKay/ Lament for John Morrison
17 Robert Frater, Earl of Antrim/ Lord Lovat’s Lament
18 Janette Greenwood, Mary MacLeod/ Captain MacDougall
19 Stephen Anderson, Donald of Laggan/ His Father’s Lament
20 Ian Kirkwood, MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart/ Queen Elizabeth Sal.
Kirsteen MacDonald from Lincolnshire receives the Quaich in 2016 from Mrs Patricia Morrison, wife of judge Willie

21 Gordon Hislop, MacDougall’s Gathering./ MacLeod of Raasay
22 Dagmar Pesta, MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart/ Sir James
23 Walter Gray, Massacre of Glencoe/ Blue Ribbon
24 Marc Stoop, Big Spree/ Lord Lovat’s Lament
25 Andrea Jones, Captain MacDougall/ Massacre of Glencoe


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The RSPBA’s annual summer school will be held in Glasgow Gaelic School from Monday 30th July until Friday 3rd August. The school is aimed at encouraging young pipers, snare and tenor drummers and drum majors to fulfil their potential in  pipe bands. Cost: £180 (pipes and snares). School for Tenor Drummers and Drum Majors takes place from Wednesday 1st August until Friday 3rd August at a cost of £120.
Pat Whelan, RSPBA Education Officer, said: ‘Our tutors look at the competition grades in which students are currently competing or would be competing, and identify the support required to raise competition standards. We encourage students to challenge themselves in their knowledge and in their performance.
‘We have a new element in the programme for this year. We are looking to attract adult pipers and snare drummers who, if competing, would be at Grade 4 competition level. However, if not competing, they would also be welcome. The adults will form a dedicated group or groups depending on numbers. The focus would be on improving piping and drumming skills and knowledge, with a view to playing or competing at a higher level.’
Participants can now register online. More information at pat.whelan@rspba.org


The National Piping Centre hold their annual junior competition tomorrow. There’s a Junior Championship, a Novice Championship and a Chanter contest. All events start at 9am in the Piping Centre or in the nearby Holiday Inn (chanter).


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