Argyllshire Gathering 2019 – Complete First Day Results plus Pictures

Four of the major piobaireachd competitions in world piping were held yesterday in Oban, Argyll. North American pipers were prominent in the lists with the Gold Medal going to Canada and the Silver to the U.S.A. Andrew Hayes’s win gave him his second Highland Society of London. He won his first at Inverness in 2010. Silver Medallist Ben McClamrock now competes for the Gold in 2020.

The home front prospered in the Senior Piobaireachd where the remarkable Stuart Liddell (pictured above in a study by photographer Kevin McGlynn) took the title only days after securing the World Pipe Band Championship for his band, Inveraray & District.

Another home piper, Gordon McCready from Renfrewshire, triumphed in the Former Winners’ March, Strathspey & Reel, Gordon’s first success in this gruelling challenge.

The MacGregor Memorial for intermediate ceol mor was won by Ruaridh Brown a piper with Dollar Academy pipe band the current Juvenile World Champions. This was the third year that a young piper from Dollar has won this title with Finlay Cameron successful in 2016 and Andrew Ferguson last year.

The emphasis today is on ceol beag and we will bring you the results from Mossfield Park, Oban, as we get them.

Gold Medal
1 Andrew Hayes, Ontario, Old Men of the Shells, £500
2 Sandy Cameron, Old Men of the Shells, £350
3 Andrew Donlan, USA, £200
4 Nick Hudson, USA, £150
5 Cameron Drummond, £100
Judges: C Armstrong, P Henderson, R McShannon

Silver Medal
1 Ben McClamrock, USA, MacKay’s Banner, £300
2 Alex Gandy, Canada, MacKay’s Banner, £250
3 Finlay Cameron, MacGregor’s Salute, £130
4 Steven Leask, Marquis of Argyll’s Salute, £90
5 Anna Kummerlöw, Germany, Tulloch Ard, £50
Judges: B Hitchings, W Livingstone, W Wotherspoon

Senior Piobaireachd
1 Stuart Liddell, Lament for the Union, £1,000
2 Ian Speirs, Edinburgh Piobaireachd, £350
3 Stuart Easton, NZ, Lament for John MacDonald, Inverness, £200
4 Callum Beaumont, Scarce of Fishing, £150
5 Alan Bevan, Canada, Daughter’s Lament, £100

Judges: W Morrison, S Samson, J Wilson

MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd
1 Ruairidh Brown, Lament for the Iolaire, £100
2 Campbell Wilson, NZ, Lachlan MacNeill Campbell of Kintarbert’s Fancy, £75
3 Gregor MacDonald, £50
4 Angus MacPhee, £40
Judges for the final: A Forbes, M McRae, J Taylor, R Worrall

Former Winners’ MSR
1 Gordon McCready, Hugh Alexander Low of Tiree, Lachine Rapids, Eight Men of Moidart, £500
2 Iain Speirs, P/M J MacWilliams, Tulloch Gorm, Grey Bob, £350
3 William McCallum, Captaincies. Campbell of Drum a Voisk, Arniston Castle, Man from Glengarry, £200
4 Jack Lee, 93rd at Modder River, Islay Ball, Dolina MacKay, £150
5 Angus MacColl, MacLean of Pennycross, Ewe wi’ the Crookit Horn, Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree, £100
Judges: W Cowan, W Donaldson, M Grey,

• Stay tuned to Piping Press for results from the Argyllshire Gathering Day 2 and for comment on the playing.