The 41st Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Contest was held on October 12, 2024, in Rockville, Maryland, USA. Gillian Blaney, from Lower Sackville (pictured above), Nova Scotia, was the overall champion.
Gillian receives a $1,000 travel bursary donated by NHSCOT Fund, a special Nicol-Brown McCallum blackwood pipe chanter, and a new Lee & Sons pipe bag. Runner-up overall Malachi Johannsen – $500 scholarship donated by Cathi Nixon (Tennessee) in memory of her father, Sandy Jones. Third, Magnus Stone – $300 scholarship sponsored by Doreen Forney (Vermont) in memory of P/M Angus Macdonald, Scots Guards; Fourth, Michael Trenor – $200 scholarship sponsored by Jane and Jim Spicer (Maryland); Fifth, Dr Karl Fetter – $100 scholarship sponsored by Bruce and Betsy Douglas (New York).
Piobaireachd
1 Gillian Blaney, Big Spree, also wins a bound Piobaireachd Society Collection, donated by Piper’s Hut
2 Malachi Johannsen, Lament for the Iolaire
3 Dr Karl Fetter, King’s Taxes
4 Michael Trenor, Battle of Auldearn No.2
5 Flora Stone, Lament for Donald of Laggan
MSR
1 Gillian Blaney, Roineabhal Cottage, Crann Tara, Dolina MacKay
2 Jessica Theriault, Morag Ramsay, Susan MacLeod, Traditional Reel
3 Magnus Stone 4 Adam Tingskou 5 Malachi Johannsen
6/8 March: 1 Liam Forrest (above), Maj. John MacLennan, Cameron MacFadyen, wins Silver Buckle, donated by Walker Metalsmiths; 2 Magnus Stone, Trees of North Uist, Duncan McGillivray, Chief Steward; 3 Malachi Johannsen; 4 Michael Trenor; 5 Gillian Blaney
Dress and Deportment: Liam Forrest; Judges: B McClamrock, R MacLeod
Lewis and Harris Piping Society Juniors
Teenagers from Barra and Benbecula took the top honours at the Lewis and Harris Piping Society’s annual Junior Piping Competition held in Sir E Scott School, Tarbert, recently. It saw its largest number of entrants in the Under 18 piping category for years, writes Katie Laing.
It was a fast-paced day, with the competition (October 5) beginning at 9am and finishing at 3pm to allow the competitors from the Southern Isles to catch the last ferry from Leverburgh back to the Uists at 5pm. It was a three-day trip for the Barra competitors, including Calum MacNeil who would go on to take the overall Under 18 win. The overall Under 15 winner was Niall MacRury from Benbecula.
Southern Isles piping tutor Dòmhnall Bàn MacDonald, named Tutor of the Year win at the Scots Trad Music Awards and subsequently given Local Hero status by the Scottish Parliament, said: ‘I’m very proud of them all. It has been a busy time for our young pipers and chanter players as they were competing at the Barra Mod the week before.
‘Thanks to the committee for sponsoring the competition and thanks to all the parents for their support, especially the Barra parents who had to spend two nights in Uist so they could take part.’
Judge Alasdair Henderson, who gave a recital the previous evening in Stornoway, said: ‘It was a lovely day. It was good to see so many from Uist and Barra. It was a good standard and it was nice to hear a variety of piobaireachd. Sometimes you get to these junior competitions and you hear the same tune over and over, and we heard some good MSR tunes as well.’
A Piping Society medal was awarded to every prize winner, along with other prize items courtesy the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust and McCallum pipes. Various groups have donated new piping trophies, which the Society are grateful for. Anyone interested in donating is invited to contact lhpipingsociety@gmail.com
Beginner Chanter: 1 Micheal Iain MacMillan 2 Albie Linnich 3 Catherine Williams 4 Ellie Beaton 5 Karis MacLean 6 Tearlach Stewart; Novice Chanter: 1 Kate MacDonald 2 Iagan MacDonald; Advanced Chanter: 1 Sarah MacDonald 2 Patrica Mallon 3 Maria Beaton 4 Francis MacLellan 5 Katie MacRury 6 Callum MacDonald; Novice Piping: 1 Shonnie Beaton 2 Mairi MacNeil 3 Charlene Nicholson 4 Coinneach MacKenzie 5 Niamh MacInnes 6 Kaylah MacDonald
U15 Piob.: 1 Niall MacRury 2 Ciorstaidh MacLean; U15 March: 1 Liam Beaton 2 Niall MacRury 3 Ciorstaidh MacLean 4 Mille Shepherd 5 Matthew MacLeod; U15 S&R: 1 Liam Beaton 2 Niall MacRury 3 Mille Shepherd 4 Ciorstaidh MacLean 5 Matthew MacLeod; U15 Hornpipe: 1 Niall MacRury 2 Liam Beaton 3 Mille Shepherd 4 Ciorstaidh MacLean 5 Matthew MacLeod; U15 Jig: 1 Niall MacRury 2 Liam Beaton 3 Mille Shepherd 4 Ciorstaidh MacLean 5 Matthew MacLeod; Overall U15: Niall MacRury, Benbecula
U18 Piob.: 1 Micheal MacLellan 2 Mairead Galbraith 3 Callum MacNeil 4 Isabel Beaton 5 Racheal Sinclair 6 Charlie Shirkie; U18 March: 1 Calum Beaton 2 Micheal MacLellan 3 Calum MacNeil 4 Racheal Sinclair 5 Mairead Galbraith 6 Isabel Beaton; U18 S&R: 1 Calum MacNeil 2 Micheal MacLellan 3 Mairead Galbraith 4 Racheal Sinclair 5 Calum Beaton 6 Isabel Beaton; U18 Jig: 1 Calum MacNeil 2 Padruig MacLean 3 Micheal MacLellan 4 Calum Beaton 5 Mairead Galbraith 6t Ian Alex MacDonald; U18 Hornpipe: 1 Calum MacNeil 2 Micheal MacLellan 3 Padruig MacLean 4 Alexander MacLeod 5 Ceitidh MacLean 6 Katie MacRae; Overall U18: Calum MacNeil, Barra
