All piping eyes today turn from the World Championship and Glasgow Green to the West Highland town of Oban where the first of piping’s two most important solo gatherings gets underway. The Argyllshire Gathering hosts four major piobaireachd competitions: the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal, the Silver Medal, the Senior Piobaireachd and the MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd for intermediate level. Success in these events are highlights in every piper’s career….

This summary review of the performances in the Grade 1 Finals at the 2018 World Pipe Band Championships (WPBC) is based on what I heard from my seat in the main arena stand. As already reported this was the 71st WPBC under the auspices of the RSPBA and the 70th anniversary of the first time the event was held in Glasgow. Overall the Championships attracted a total of 214 pipe band entries…

Some say his top hand is bigger than his bottom (and say so in less delicate terms), others that his predictions are too close for comfort……..All we know is his coverage of Grade 2 is what you are after and in this final review of the summer MacStig brings his own inimitable commentary to what was an exciting end to the 2018 outdoor season……… Glasgow Green was damp and grey…

‘Neath louring skies the man made history. Stepping forward to receive his 12th World Pipe Band Champions title, P/M Richard Parkes MBE had equalled the record of the legendary P/M Ian McLellan of Strathclyde Police fame, writes the Editor. Yet only moments before, as drizzle fell and night closed in, no one really knew if his band’s scintillating performances at Glasgow Green 2018 would, this time, get their due reward….

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band under P/M Richard Parkes MBE are the new World Pipe Band Champions. They were placed first ahead of Inveraray, so reversing last year’s 1/2.  St Laurence O’Toole from Dublin took the drumming title. 214 bands took part across all grades. Conditions were wet, cold and blustery in the morning but improved later. FMM are pictured above celebrating (picture courtesy Glasgow Life). The RSPBA summary sheets showed that…