Atholl Gathering 2025 Full Results – Updated with Comment and Pictures

The Atholl Gathering was held yesterday (May 25) in the grounds of Blair Castle, Perthshire. Seventy-three solo pipers, junior and senior, entered meaning an early 9.30am start.

The weather was a mix of cold wind, heavy rain and sunshine. There were graded senior contests for piobaireachd. 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 finalists had to play a different set in the final. Results:

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The editor writes: This was an exceptionally well run set of competitions especially given the weather and the numbers. All events were completed by 4.30pm when the prizes were announced and graciously presented by the Marquess of Tullibardine. Standards in all events were often predicated on the weather; those playing during the sunnier spells benefited, with others struggling as chanters and fingers reacted to the chill wind and rain showers. But this is the essence of the Highland games. Pipers take it in good part (I only heard one curse all day) and the pleasing camaraderie was clear for all to see.

There was a minor hiccup at the start of the day when someone forgot to open the large iron gates barring access to the Blair Castle demesne. Some knew another way in but most of us sat in line listening to the car radio until a sheepish chap arrived with a large bunch of keys.

After brief chinwags with fellow judges it was now 9.30 and time for the music to begin. Lewis Barclay and I did the C Grade piobaireachd. The winner was Hector Munro with Hector MacLean’s Warning. Best pipe of the day and good fingers. More variation in tempo would have improved things further. A steady Corrienessan earned John Cameron second. Maybe just a little too steady. A bit more zip and he could have been first. Third prize for Walter Glendinning whose Too Long in this Condition lacked expression but was competently handled nevertheless.

Fourth went to Craig Muirhead also playing Corrienessan. A bit more phrasing in the ground and a crisper crunluath required. A good bagpipe. A promising piper new on the scene is Arran Green. He gained fifth with Sir James MacDonald. Arran’s piobaireachd does not match his light music prowess but he is a very young lad only just out of the juniors and has plenty of time. Of the others Fraser Maitland was going well with The Groat when the chanter collapsed; Andrew Pattison was handling the Viscount of Dundee well until he had a memory lapse. There was a bit of a squall at the time.
It was disappointing to hear several pipers struggling with the timing of their tunes. Qualified teachers must be sought. Listening to recordings on the internet is never going to be sufficient to succeed in our highly competitive world.

Judges: E Anderson, L Barclay, R Barnes, B Donaldson, A Forbes, D Fraser, P Hunt, W Morrison, L Tannock, DJ MacIntyre, R MacShannon, J Taylor, R Wallace, J Wilson.

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