It was a pleasure to judge the Jimmy MacIntosh Challenge competition in North Carolina last Friday evening (April 11). This continues to be organised in Jimmy’s memory by his widow Joyce, with the assistance of their son Cameron.
Ben McClamrock was a new name on the piobaireachd trophy, playing Lament for Ronald MacDonald of Morar. He caught the pathos of the tune from the opening un-rushed B echo beat to the final crunluath a mach. Ben is pictured above with the first prize trophy.
By Dr Jack Taylor
Nick Hudson was a close second with Craigellachie, with only some questions from judges Brian Donaldson and myself about his interpretation of variation one separating him from Ben.
Third was Andrew Carlisle who caught the mood of the Unjust Incarceration well, tiring only in the crunluath.
Piobaireachd: 1 Ben McClamrock 2 Nick Hudson 3 Andrew Carlisle
MSR: 1 Ben McClamrock 2 Andrew Carlisle 3 Nick Hudson
H&J: 1 Andrew Carlisle 2 Ben McClamrock 3 Nick Hudson.
Saturday meant the nearby Loch Norman Highland Games. The Grade 4 piobaireachd players had varying mixtures of musicality and technique, with Katie Hope giving us a musical Company’s Lament for first prize.
In Grade 1 strong performances of the Pass of Crieff and Sound of the Waves had me balancing somewhat overbold groundwork in Crieff with tiring crunluath fingers in Duntroon. Michael Traynor’s Duntroon just won out.
Ben McClamrock sat with me, completing his judges apprenticeship – something the SPJA has talked about, but I am unsure whether it has happened as yet.
Then it was Grade 4 band medley judging for this piobaireachd man. Every one of the eight bands had an attractive selection, all using harmony, and with generally solid tuning.
It was a relief to me that my co-judge, the experienced June Hanley, came up with the same top four as me for piping, with Capital City and Loch Norman vying for top spot.
Piping flourishes in North Carolina.
