Atholl Gathering 2023 Results: Updated with Juniors, Pictures and Comment

The Atholl Gathering was held today (May 28) in the grounds of Blair Castle, Perthshire. More than 60 solo pipers, junior and senior, competed.

There were graded senior contests for piobaireachd. Light music events for March, Strathspey and Reel and Hornpipe & Jig were open. The ceòl beag was split into four heats with four pipers in each progressing to the final.

Three tunes were asked for in ceòl mòr and MSR. The H&J and Juniors were own choice, but H&J finalists had to play a different set in the final. Results:

Judges: C Armstrong, R Barnes, R Clarke, I Duncan, D Fraser, M Henderson, P Henderson, P Hunt, R MacShannon, W Morrison, R Wallace, J Wilson.

The Editor writes: This was an excellent day of piping in the Perthshire Highlands. Events began at 10.30 – allowing plenty of time to get there – and concluded seven hours later. The weather was bright and sunny, though cold for the early performers in the morning.

Stewarding was ultra efficient thanks to Alistair Duthie and his Army team. The judges I spoke to reported a high standard among the prizewinners, but given the mixed gradings in the light music heats, things varied quite a bit there.

There was good support from pipers right through the grades and it was pleasing to see some senior players who hitherto have not been going round the games getting out for a tune.

For us the piping may have been the main thing, but the stars of the show were unquestionably the band and private army of the Atholl Highlanders, briskly parading twice during the day, scaring the tourists by firing off their cannon, getting their hands ruined in the tug-of-war and running the traditional kilted race. All great fun, and mixed with the dancing and the heavies’ events, giving the Atholl Gathering its unique character.

Before closing a word for the Atholl’s P/M Gary West who kindly held up his band’s close by performance to allow a competitor in the Hornpipe & Jig to finish his tunes.