Four different Highland Games piping contests were held over last weekend, three on Saturday and one yesterday, August 3. There were healthy entries at all games despite the clash of dates. Incidentally, we are still awaiting results from the Young Piper of the Year held on Benbecula the week before last. Would the secretary please forward to editor@pipingpress.com.
Once more we appreciate the assistance of those correspondents who have sent the following information and pictures:
Mallaig & Morar Games, August 3
Eleven entered with a high standard reported.
Piobaireachd:
1 Piers Dover, MacFarlane’s Gathering
2 Campbell Wilson, MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart’s Lament No 1
3 Martin Kessler, Lament for Mary MacLeod
4 Decker Forrest, Battle of Waternish
March: 1 Piers Dover 2 Decker Forrest 3 Terry Krogh 4 Hector Munro
S&R: 1 Decker Forrest 2 Angus MacPhee 3 Terry Krogh 4 Hector Munro
Jig: 1 Campbell Wilson 2 Piers Dover 3 Angus MacPhee 4 Callum Carn
Champion Piper: Piers Dover; Judges: L Hutt, I MacFadyen.
Aboyne Games, August 2
Dr Jack Taylor reports: We had a bumper crowd on a hot, sunny day which sent pipers scurrying for shade at any opportunity. There was a strong field in both junior and senior events. Callum Beaumont was senior champion, with Lachlan Rennie taking the junior honours.
Piobaireachd
1 Callum Beaumont, Mrs MacLeod of Talisker’s Salute
2 William McCallum, Lament for the Earl of Antrim
3 Ben Duncan, Lament for Ronald MacDonald of Morar
4 Greig Canning, Desperate Battle of the Birds
5 Ed MacIlwaine, Lament for the Departure of King James
March: 1 William McCallum 2 Ben Duncan 3 Callum Beaumont 4 Anna Kummerlöw
S&R: 1 Callum Beaumont 2 Ben Duncan 3 William MacCallum 4 Greig Canning
H&J: 1 Calum Brown 2 William McCallum 3 Callum Beaumont 4 Ben Duncan
U18 Piob.: 1 Lachlan Rennie, Glen is Mine 2 Craig Mitchell, Black Donald’s March 3 Rory Menzies, Munro’s Salute 4 Calum Pearson, Garden of Roses
U18 MSR: 1 Lachlan Rennie 2 Rory Menzies 3 Craig Mitchell 4 Calum Pearson
U14 March: 1 Larry Presslie 2 Aled Lynn
Judges: L Barclay, M Henderson, P Henderson, L Tannock, J Taylor, D Watson, W Wotherspoon.
Dundonald Games, August 2
Peter Hunt: This Ayrshire games went really well. The weather helped and the organisers sited the solo piping in a decent area away from the bands with the piobaireachd right up at the castle which was a nice setting for it. There were 12 competitors in the seniors and seven in the juniors.
The addition of a piobaireachd competition and the grant from the Piobaireachd Society made a huge difference to the competition as the last couple of years they only had a few competitors in senior and junior light music competitions. I think the promoters are keen for the competition to grow and are prepared to listen to advice so that’s encouraging.
Piobaireachd
1 John Dew, McFarlane’s Gathering
2 Campbell Wilson, Lament for the Viscount of Dundee
3 Gordon McCready, Lament for the Earl of Antrim
MSR: 1 Andrew Pattison 2 Gordon McCready 3 Campbell Wilson
H&J: 1 Gordon McCready 2 Campbell Wilson 3 John Dew
Champion Piper: Gordon McCready; Judges: B Donaldson, D Fraser, P Hunt, R MacShannon.
Newtonmore Games, Aug 2
Nineteen entered on what was a warm, sunny day in Badenoch. Unfortunate illness of one of the judges meant the cancellation of the March and Strathspey & Reel competitions. The money prizes for the MSR were added to the Jig cash pot and eight prizes given.
Piobaireachd
1 Angus MacPhee, Lament for MacLeod of Colbeck
2 Eireann Ianetta-MacKay, Lament for the Viscount of Dundee
3 Calum Carn, MacFarlane’s Gathering
4 Jamie Elder, MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute
Jig: 1 Callum Wynd 2 David Stulpner 3 Eireann Ianetta-MacKay 4 Sandy Cameron 5 Angus MacPhee 6 Hector Finlayson 7 Jamie Elder 8 Jenny Hazzard
Junior Piob: 1 Chris Drummond, Lament for Mary MacLeod 2 Lily Robertson, MacMhurrich’s Salute 3 Mirren Silver, Sir James MacDonald of the Isles’ Lament
Junior MSR: 1 Chris Drummond 2 Lily Robertson 3 Mirren Silver
Judges: F MacGhee, JD MacKenzie
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.