This prestigious competition for junior professional pipers will be held at Lochnell Castle, Benderloch, Argyll, a week today on Saturday, October 2. Ten leading young pipers aged 22 and under have been invited to take part.
Piobaireachd Draw and Selected Tune
1 Luke Kennedy, MacKay’s Banner
2 Anna Smart, Old Men of the Shells
3 Bobby Allan, MacDougall’s Gathering
4 Cameron May, King’s Taxes
5 Hamish Drennan, Battle of the Pass of Crieff
6 Andrew Ferguson, Earl of Ross’s March
7 Brodie Watson-Massey, Lament for Ronald MacDonald of Morar
8 Ross Conner, Lament for Mary MacLeod
9 Ruairidh Brown, Lachlan MacNeill Campbell of Kintarbert’s Fancy
10 Finlay Cameron, Lament for the Iolaire
[wds id=”2″]
MSR Draw and Selected Tunes
1 Finlay Cameron, Bonnie Anne, Bob o’ Fettercairn, John MacDonald’s Reel
2 Cameron May, Brigadier Cheape, Inveraray Castle, The Sheepwife
3 Andrew Ferguson, Stirlingshire Militia, Cameronian Rant, Rejected Suitor
4 Bobby Allan, Mrs John MacColl, John Roy Stewart, Arnish Light
5 Anna Smart, Parker’s Welcome to Perthshire, Maggie Cameron, Cockeral in the Creel
6 Hamish Drennan, John MacDonald of Glencoe, Arniston Castle, Alick C MacGregor
7 Luke Kennedy, Braes of Castle Grant, Shepherd’s Crook, Mrs MacPherson of Inveran
8 Ruaridh Brown, Miss Elspeth Campbell, Susan MacLeod, Miss Proud
9 Brodie Watson-Massey, Abercairney Highlanders, Cal. Soc. of London, The Sheepwife
10 Ross Conner, Inveran, Highland Harry, Little Cascade
Judges for both events are Ian Duncan, Archie Maclean and Robert Wallace
Most of the invited competitors were finalists in the recent MacGregor Memorial Competition run by the Argyllshire Gathering on behalf of the Highland Society of London. Others have developed significant track records since leaving the junior ranks.
Each competitor submitted four tunes of their own choice for both the Piobaireachd and the MSR.
The winner will have the highest aggregate score over the two competitions. In the event of a tie, the piper who scored the highest points in the Piobaireachd will be named the winner. Prizemoney is as follows:
Piobaireachd: 1st £120, 2nd £80, 3rd £60, 4th £40
MSR: 1st £120, 2nd £80, 3rd £60, 4th £40
Champion: £200
As part of the invitation the promoters are also offering substantial travel and accommodation expenses to each competitor.
How to get there:
There will be a trophy for each section winner and also for the overall Champion Piper. Sponsors include the Piobaireachd Society and members of the Argyllshire Gathering Trust.
Hattie Mellor of the organising committee said: ‘This Championship has been created in celebration of the Argyllshire Gathering’s 150th year since its inauguration and aspires to bring together the best young Scottish pipers in its first year, and to grow internationally in years to come, but exclusively focusing on young talent.
‘We hope it will be another springboard for young pipers into the senior ranks.’
The event will begin at 11am with the Piobaireachd, followed by the MSR at 3pm.
For the audience, use the map above to get there. The Lochnell Castle address is: Benderloch, Oban PA37 1QT. There is ample parking. The competition will take place in the Chapel with the kind permission of the Earl of Dundonald and will be hosted by his son, Lord Archie Cochrane.
