The Argyllshire Gathering Trust’s Lochnell Intermediate Championship will take place a week on Saturday, 22 October.
The venue is the chapel at Lochnell Castle, Argyll, by kind permission of the Earl of Dundonald and hosted by his son Lord Archie Cochrane.
The competition is by invitation only and features Scotland’s finest pipers aged under 22: Ruairidh Brown, Andrew Ferguson, Luke Kennedy, Gregor MacDonald, Angus MacPhee, Cameron May and Brodie Watson-Massey.
They compete in Piobaireachd and March, Strathspey and Reel, four tunes of each asked for. The 2022 judges are Derek Fraser, Niall Matheson and John Wilson.
Hattie Mellor, organiser, announced two new trophies for the chanpionship. The first is the Jimmy McIntosh MBE Memorial Trophy for Piobaireachd presented by Mrs Joyce McIntosh. Mr McIntosh was a former Oban Gold medallist and teacher of renown.
The second trophy is for the MSR and is presented by McCallum Bagpipes in memory of Mr Willie McCallum Snr., Campbeltown, a man who dedicated his life to promoting piping in his native town and in wider Argyll.
In addition to these trophies the Champion Piper, most points in both disciplines, receives a Bronze Star presented by the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society.
Robert Wallace, Fear an Tighe for this year’s event and President of the Piobaireachd Society, said: ‘We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to Lochnell for the second annual Intermediate Youth Championship.
‘This competition fills a gap in the calendar for the young aspiring professional piper and encourages them on to even greater effort and success.’
Have a look at some shots from last year’s competition:
Ruaridh Brown, second in piobaireachd with Lachlan MacNeill Campbell of Kintarbert’s Fancy 
Finlay Cameron, third in the MSR with Bonnie Anne, Bob o’ Fettercairn, John MacDonald’s Reel 
Second in the MSR, Ross Connor tunes up before playing Inveran, Highland Harry, Little Cascade 
Hamish Drennan tunes before the Battle of the Pass of Crieff which earned him third place 
Andrew Ferguson, the 2021 Champion at Lochnell 
Luke Kennedy gets ready for Braes of Castle Grant, Shepherd’s Crook, Mrs MacPherson of Inveran 
Cameron May plays his MSR, Brigadier Cheape, Inveraray Castle, Sheepwife 
Brodie Watson-Massey in the MSR playing Abercairney Highlanders, Caledonian Society of London, Sheepwife
Hattie Mellor: ‘The promoters would like to thank sponsors Alik Campbell, the Duncan Louis Stewart Foundation, Andrew Holman, the Piobaireachd Society and the Royal Scottish Pipers Society.
‘We have had wonderful support from our sponsors and the piping community through our JustGiving Page – thank you to everyone. If you would like to support us please use this link.
‘If anyone would like to attend Lochnell or find out more about the Argyllshire Gathering Trust and our Primary Schools Tuition Scheme please get in touch with me at argyllshiregatheringtrust@gmail.com.’
