The annual Skye Gathering Piping Competitions were held today and yesterday in Portree. The picture above is of Jamie Forrester, the winner of the Dunvegan Medal. The picture and the one below of Finlay Cameron courtesy Cailean Maclean of Skye Media. Dunvegn Medal 1 Jamie Forrester, Earl of Ross’s March 2 Nick Hudson, MacLeod of Colbeck’s Lament 3 Cameron MacDougall, Lament for the Duke of Hamilton 4 Finlay Cameron, MacLeod’s Salute…

Since my last posting on Piping Press, in addition to a number of local competitions across the country, there have been two RSPBA Major Championships – the European Championships at Forres on 30 June and the Scottish Championships at Dumbarton on 28 July. The European Pipe Band Championships have had a history of travelling around the country as well as beyond the UK.  This Championship was introduced by the then…

Whilst there was a disappointing entry in the P/A grade and under 18s, last Saturday’s Lochaber Gathering Festival of Piping should be viewed as a success, writes the Editor. The change in date has obviously had a detrimental effect on some grades of competitor – there were rival events at Newtonmore and at Aboyne to contend with. In 2017 the Saturday before Oban meant that 58 pipers signed up at…

Heading to Dumbarton to listen to the Grade 1 MSR contest, I arrived in time to take in the Juvenile contest which preceded it – and what an unexpected pleasure it was, writes our Special Correspondent. Aside from a few observations below, I will resist the temptation to dwell on the weather other than it had its moments for the juvenile competitors also. First on in the medley contest were Dollar…

A healthy list at this games with James Mackenzie continuing his run of success. Pictured above is Rebecca Capon from Queensland, Australia, who won first place in the U-18 Strathspey & Reel. March 1 Calum Watson 2 James Mackenzie 3 Andrew Ferguson 4 Finlay Cameron S/R 1 Jonathan Simpson 2 Calum Watson 3 John Angus Smith 4 James Mackenzie Piob 1 James Mackenzie 2 Calum Watson 3 Finlay Cameron 4 John…