A raft of solo piping contests over the weekend. Below is a run down of them all in chronological order. We have yet to receive any results from last week’s games in the Outer Isles and would be grateful if the relevant secretaries could forward these and any pictures to editor@pipingpress.com.
We appreciate the assistance of those correspondents who have sent the following information and pictures:
Durness Games, July 25
Piob: 1 Martin Kessler, Lament for Mary MacLeod
2 Alasdair Mearns, Too Long in this Condition
3 Arran King, MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart
March: 1 Martin Kessler 2 Arran King 3 Alasdair Mearns
S&R: 1 Martin Kessler 2 Alasdair Mearns 3 Arran King
Jig: 1 Arran King 2 Martin Kessler 3 Alasdair Mearns
Champion Piper: Martin Kessler; Judge for all events: Lewis Barclay
Lochearnhead Games, July 26
Dr Jack Taylor reports: Lochearnhead is an ideal piping games in many ways – a beautiful setting, a piobaireachd board away from the arena, and little background noise. Only six adults and two juniors took advantage of this, and the agreeable conditions, today.
Ed McIlwaine impressed both judges with a fine interpretation of the wonderful, but difficult, Unjust Incarceration on a deep, smooth pipe.
Piobaireachd
1 Ed McIlwaine, Unjust Incarceration
2 Andrew Hall, Old Men of the Shells
3 Jamie Forrester, Stewart’s White Banner
4 Ben Mulhearn, Earl of Seaforth’s Salute
Ed was awarded the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society Bronze Star, only given if the judges decide the performance is of sufficiently high standard. He also won the Clan Gregor trophy, which was presented to him by Games Chieftain and former flying ace Mrs Diana Britten of Edinample (above).
March: 1 Jamie Forrester 2 Anna Smart 3 Andrew Hall 4 Ed McIlwaine
S&R: 1 Andrew Hall 2 Jamie Forrester 3 Anna Smart 4 Ed McIlwaine
Judges: A Forbes, D Fraser, P Hunt, C MacNeill, J Taylor.
Airth Games, July 26
Piobaireachd
1 Campbell Wilson
2 Gordon Bruce
3 Callum Carn
4 Mark MacKenzie
March: 1 Campbell Wilson 2 Gordon Bruce 3 Callum Carn 4 Lewis Maxwell
S&R: 1 Campbell Wilson 2 Callum Carn 3 Gordon Bruce 4 Lewis Maxwell
Junior March: 1 James Silcock 2 Finlay Thompson
Junior Slow Air: 1 James Silcock 2 Finlay Thompson
Champion Piper: Campbell Wilson, New Zealand
Judges: R Livingstone, L Tannock
St Andrews Games, July 27
Douglas Murray: Nice sunny day in a lovely setting in St Andrews on the Fife coast. Eight competed in the juniors and nine in the seniors, all at a very good standard and all well received by a very good public turnout. The games were very busy.
Junior March: 1 Kai Hay 2 Charlie Mack 3 Mirren Silver 4 Jamie Crawford
Junior S&R: 1 Callan Erskine 2 Jamie Crawford 3 Charlie Mack 4 Mirren Silver
Open March: 1 Brian Lamond 2 Ross Conner 3 Greig Canning 4 Mark MacKenzie
Open S&R: 1 Ross Conner 2 Brian Lamond 3 Greig Canning 4 Mark MacKenzie
Open Jig: 1 Brian Lamond 2 Ross Conner 3 Lewis Maxwell 4 Hector Munro
Champion Piper: Brian Lamond; Judge for all events: Douglas Murray.
Classic 2/4 Competition Marches (H -Y) – ‘Play Along’ Lessons
More of the all time greats of the 2/4 march repertoire are listed here. Each is played in full on the practice chanter by Robert Wallace. Firstly he goes through the tune very slowly at a practice tempo and then he plays it a little more quickly, closer to performance speed. If the tune you need is not listed email pipingpress@gmail.com.
