My view is that the RSPBA should have cancelled the Grade 1 contest at the Ingliston UKs tomorrow. It really is no contest at all when there are only three bands taking part.
Nor does it do these bands any favours guaranteeing them Champion of Champions points for turning up. Should they place well in the final CoC tables they will always be condemned for their ‘UK appearance points’.
No, what should have happened is that the RSPBA maintain the CoC’s integrity over the five legs as usual – but with a twist: Medley and MSR at the Worlds, Medley and MSR at the Euros (an interesting and compensatory change here) and the Scottish. (I think our correspondent Ian Forbes suggested as much earlier this week.)
Six, five, four, three points etc over five legs just as every other year in the recent past. Whoever came out on top of that series of stringent tests would deserve to be crowned kings of the circle and could rightly claim equal status with Champion of Champions of the past.
A run through for the G1 bands playing tomorrow, but a devalued championship for them. Their loyalty to the cause cannot be questioned however, especially Dublin’s St Laurence O’Toole (pictured). Considerable expense involved for them, and such are the accommodation costs in Edinburgh that it is a case of fly in- fly out the same day.
Glass Chanter
Steven McCabe: ‘I wonder if you could post a little reminder that the quest for the glass chanter starts again tomorrow (July 12) at the Inverness Highland Games. Hopefully we will have a healthy entry around all the north games with this coveted prize as the overall trophy.
‘It is now on display at the Highlanders Museum at Fort George. I have enclosed a pic of Angus MacPhee being presented with it last year.’
Good luck to all the north pipers vying for this impressive trophy. We would appreciate it if games secretaries could forward the results as the qualifying events are completed – and tables of the leading pipers – over the next couple of months.
Ross Miller Show
Inveraray band piper Ross writes: ‘Following the success of last year’s show in Glasgow I’m putting on another one. It’s on Sunday 10th August at 8pm in Stereo (G2 5AR) in the city centre.
‘It is for over 18s only and is a standing concert, featuring a wealth of Scottish music talent. We are excited to be back with an even bigger and better show for 2025.’
Ross’ debut album, The Roke, received a nomination for ‘Album of the Year’ at the Trad Music Awards. Concert tickets here.
Inveraray Draw
Brian Spalding: ‘The order of play at this year’s Inveraray Highland Games was drawn on 6th July and is now available to view, along with B and C Grade Reserve Lists, and scheduling advice.
‘There is still time to enter the Junior Piping and new Novice Drumming contests at this year’s Games. For the full list of events and further details, please go to the Piping Section of the Games website. The lists may be subject to change in the run-up to Games Day itself on the 22nd July.’
Book Search
Uilleam Smith, Inverness: ‘I am hoping to purchase a copy of ‘The Cowal Collection of Bagpipe Music’ 1932, and am contracting you to ask if you are able to source a copy.’
Can anyone help Uilleam? Email him here.
Online Ads – Something to Sell? Looking to Buy?
Something to sell? Pipes, chanters, uniforms? Looking to buy an old copy of a magazine or a fancy dirk? Well, now you can reach eager customers with a PP Online Ad. For only £30 (UK – includes VAT), or £25 (Rest of World), you can place an advertisement in the web magazine that will reach thousands – yes thousands – of readers each WEEK, not month, WEEK. Include photographs at no extra charge. …
Following on from Steven’s news on the Glass Chanter, can I add a reminder that Inverness Games is tomorrow, 12th, with registration at Piping Tent 1030, and draw at 11am.
Les Hutt
Robert has identified the most important issue in this unfortunate situation, in which there are no perfect solutions. It is the integrity of the Grade 1 Champion of Champions award for 2025. No band worth its salt would want to win this title having had their final tally in the CoC table boosted by appearance points at the UK Championships.