Atholl Gathering 2024 Full Results – Updated with Picture and Comment

The Atholl Gathering was held yesterday (May 26) in the grounds of Blair Castle, Perthshire. Seventy-eight solo pipers, junior and senior, entered meaning an early 9.30am start.

The weather was cold and wet but had cleared up by late afternoon. Champion Piper was Brodie Watson-Massey pictured above with his trophy. Brodie tied for the honour with three other pipers but his higher placing in his piobaireachd event was the clincher.

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:

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Judges: R Barnes, R Clarke, I Duncan, D Fraser, M Henderson, P Henderson, P Hunt, R MacShannon, N Matheson, W Morrison, L Tannock, R Wallace.

The Editor writes: I judged the B Piobaireachd with Niall Matheson. Twenty three played. Brodie Watson-Massey took first with a very professional performance of Lord Lovat’s Lament. The pipe and finger were the best in the contest. The music was good too, just the odd staccato moment interrupting flow in the ground doubling and variation 1 – and the T&C doublings would benefit from a stronger push on the theme notes. Second prize went to Andrew Ferguson with MacNeill of Barra’s March: a steady pipe rather than a great one. Andrew had a habit of timing his urlar and cadences with his body, introducing an uneven effect. A very good Glengarry’s March from Bobby Allen. Another excellent pipe and finger, the only timing issue a lack of smooth control at the climb to, and descent from, high A and high G in the Thumb. Dan Nevans gave us the best tune we had heard from him. His Melbank’s was well set out from start to finish. What a pity he put the pipe out of tune just before he started. The final place went to big John MacDonald from Aberdeen. His Battle of Waternish was bold, focussed and finely phrased. A few ropey a machs and a slightly off-shading pipe detracted from his overall presentation. Mentions in despatches must go to Gordon Barclay whose MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart was going along beautifully until he decided to start over-phrasing in the suibhal and beyond. Gregor MacDonald gave us a good MacFarlane’s Gathering but the technique needs work, especially the crunluath. Chris McLeish really went for it in MacLeod’s Salute but over did the power play. Mike Fitzhenry was competent with MacSwan but overall it was a bit square. Andrew Hall was clearly on form but a downpour half way through the Old Men of the Shells proved a challenge too far. Campbell Wilson from New Zealand was over eager with his MacSwan urlar and there were several misses. Thereafter he settled down and gave a finely controlled performance of the variations. A little more experience, and Campbell will do much better. Fraser Allison had a lovely pipe and his chanter a perfectly pitched high G. Was that an old Hardie he was playing? Unfortunately his crunluath movement was well off the mark – somehow made worse by comparison with his well played ground and variations of MacSwan.