The World Pipe Band Championships kick off in Glasgow today (Aug.15) with the first two rounds of the Grade 1 contest and the Juvenile and Novice grades.
The weather is set fair but if you cannot manage to Glasgow Green here is the live-streaming link.
Prizes in the junior grades are expected anytime after 7pm tonight and at a similar time tomorrow for all other grades.
Things should be over rather earlier than usual on Saturday given that the lengthy march past has been scrapped in favour of the ‘all in at once’ approach adopted successfully at the Europeans in Perth.
This will be the 77th iteration of the Worlds with 207 bands taking part, including 122 from Scotland, 25 from Northern Ireland, 14 from the US and ten from Eire. Here’s the link for the Saturday livestream. Viewers need to create an account.
Saturday’s G1 MSR schedule: 11:15 Closkelt 11:25 78th Frasers 11:35 Boghall 11:45 SLOT 11:55 Inveraray 12:05 Ravara 12:15 FMM 12:25 St Thomas Alumni 12:35 Scot. Power 12:45 SFU 12:55 Manawatu 13:05 Shotts 13:15 Fife Police 13:25 Johnstone
Saturday’s G1 Medley schedule: 14:30 Closkelt 14:42 78th Frasers 14:54 Boghall 15:06 SLOT 15:18 Inveraray 15:30 Ravara 15:42 FMM 15:54 St Thomas Alumni 16:06 Scot. Power 16:18 SFU 16:30 Manawatu 16:42 Shotts 16:54 Fife Police 17:06 Johnstone
Ballater Juniors
This contest was held yesterday (Aug.14) amid heavy thunder and hail storms.
U14 Slow March: 1 Larry Presslie 2 Andrew Fagan 3 Aled Lynn
U14 March: 1 Larry Presslie 2 Aled Lynn ; Overall U14: Larry Presslie
U18 March: 1 Rory Menzies 2 Larry Presslie 3 Aiden Rito 4 Aled Lynn
U18 S&R: 1 Larry Presslie 2 Rory Menzies 3 Aiden Rito 4 Aled Lynn
Judge: N Selbie
Cortachy Games
These results were missed from our earlier round up of games results. Five played in the seniors. Date Aug.10
Piobaireachd:
1 James McPetrie, Desperate Battle of the Birds
2 Anna Kummerlöw, Macdonald of Kinlochmoidart’s Lament No.1
3 Hector Munro, Hector Maclean’s Warning
March: 1 Anna Kummerlöw 2 James McPetrie 3 Hector Munro
S&R: 1 James McPetrie 2 Hector Munro 3 Anna Kummerlöw
Judges M Henderson, P Henderson.
Other Games
If pipe bands are not your thing then there are plenty of piping events taking place this weekend elsewhere in Scotland. Tomorrow there are games at Helmsdale, Rannoch (no Piob.), Nairn and Glenfinnan. Sunday sees the Crieff Highland Gathering with events for juniors and seniors. (Note: No entries on the field.)
Books
The best written piping tutor books in the world are available from the Piping Press Shop. They cover all aspects of light music and piobaireachd. The only way to start a piping career!
If it’s new music you are after check out Niall Matheson’s superb digital book ‘The Fyrish Collection’ and other digital downloads such as Donald Sutherland’s Collection and the Donald Morrison Collection. And don’t forget Robert Wallace’s acclaimed ‘Glasgow Collection’ with tunes such as the Detroit Highlanders, Mrs John MacColl, the Barlinnie Highlander, Granny MacLeod and many, many more.
