Entries for the annual Lochaber Gathering piping competitions are now available. The contests will be held in person on August 27 in Fort William.
There are events for ‘P&A’ and ‘B&C’ grade pipers. Places are on a first come first served basis. The competition will be the first ‘live’ open competition in Scotland this year.
Entries are capped at 25 in total. There are six events: P/A Piobaireachd, P/A MSR, B/C Piobaireachd, B/C MSR, Open Hornpipe & Jig, and Open 6/8 March.
Entry fee is £20. Enter here. Ken Cameron, Chairman of the Lochaber Piping Society the competition organisers, said: ‘The Society will contact entrants as soon as the event is full to let them know if their entry has been succesful.
‘At this point we will request an entry fee of £20. If your entry is unsuccesful, you will not be asked to pay an entry fee, though your name will be added to a reserve list.’
The competition will take place in the recently renovated Fort William cinema complex with some of the light music being staged outdoors on a platform.
The new cinema opened last year. The main events will be in its 100 and 65 seat auditoriums. There is an 84 seat café and wine bar.
The building is on the town’s high street in Cameron Square, on the site of the old town hall.
Ken added: ‘The competition would not have been possible without the support of The Moidart Trust and The P.F. Charitable Trust, whose generosity has enabled the Society to organise the event.
‘We may be able to name one of the competitions after the late banker and philanthropist Robin Fleming, who was a great benefactor of the competition for many years.
‘Whilst retaining the attractive prizes which have long been a feature of the competition, this year we have an exciting change of venue and the event will be held right in the centre of Fort William, using the new cinema for two indoor platforms, plus a covered outside space. This location will add a much-needed attraction into Fort William itself, to benefit locals and tourists alike.’
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