Lonach Gathering (Aug.23) attracted a strong international field of 24 seniors and 18 juniors on a fine day. Anna Kummerlöw, Germany, won the Piobaireachd receiving the Charles Morrison medal and £500.
Open Piobaireachd
1 Anna Kummerlöw, Lament for MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart 1 (£500)
2 Zephan Knichel, Rout of the MacPhees (£300)
3 Calum Brown, Big Spree (£200)
4 Nick Hudson, Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon
5 Angus MacPhee, Lament for Macleod of Colbeck
6 Austin Diepenhorst, Chisholm’s Salute
March: 1 William MacCallum 2 Calum Brown 3 Angus MacPhee 4 Cameron May 5 Andrew Donlon 6 Derek Midgley
S&R : 1 William McCallum 2 Jamie Elder 3 Calum Brown 4 Cameron May 5 Derek Midgley 6 Andrew Donlon
Best William Grant Tune: 1 William McCallum 2 Calum Brown 3 Hamish Munro 4 John McDonald 5 Andrew Donlon 6 Matt Pantaleoni
Piobaireachd 17 and under: 1 Chris Drummond, Lament for Captain MacDougall 2 Alex Pavlovic, Nameless, hiharin odin, hiharin dro 3 Magnus Stone, A Son’s Salute to his Parents 4 Lachlan Rennie, Lament for Ronald MacDonald of Morar 5 Abby Long, Stewart’s White Banner 6 Sam Foote, Too Long in this Condition
March U14: 1 Harper Cheyne 2 Larry Presslie 3 Bailey Munro 4 Cohen Nairn 5 Harper Lamont 6 Aled Lynn; S&R U14: 1 Larry Presslie 2 Harper Cheyne 3 Aled Lynn; March 14-17: 1 Alex Pavlovic 2 Lachlan Rennie 3 Sam Foote 4 Rory Menzies 5 Craig Mitchell 6 Abby Long; S&R 14-17: 1 Alex Pavlovic 2 Lachlan Rennie 3 Magnus Stone 4 Sam Foote 5 Rory Menzies 6 Abby Long; Lonach Society March: 1 Michael Laing 2 Darren Stewart; Lonach Society S&R: 1 Michael Laing 2 Darren Stewart
Judges: R Barnes, I Duncan, J Taylor, D Watson.
Glenurquhart Games, August 23
Jane Drennan: Great weather, only four in the seniors and nine juniors. The Piobaireachd was:
1 Cameron MacDougall, Ronald MacDonald of Morar’s Lament
2 Calum Dunbar, Lament for the Viscount of Dundee
3 Robin Sulzer, Catherine’s Lament
4 Calum Alex MacMillan, Black Donald’s March
March: 1 Calum Dunbar 2 Cameron MacDougall 3 Calum Alex MacMillan 4 Robin Sulzer
S&R: 1 Cameron MacDougall 2 Calum Dunbar 3 Calum Alex MacMillan
Jig: 1 Calum Dunbar 2 Cameron MacDougal 3 Calum Alex MacMillan 4 Robin Sulzer
18 & Under Piob: 1 Charlie Mack, East Lothian 2 Lily Robertson, Oban 3 Charlie Holder
18 & Under March: 1 Charlie Mack 2 Charlie Holder, Auldearn 3 Lily Robertson
18 & Under S&R: 1 Charlie Mack 2 Charlie Holder 3 Lily Robertson
18 & Under Jig: 1 Charlie Mack 2 Lily Robertson 3 Charlie Holder
18 & Under overall: Charlie Mack
15 & Under Piob: 1 Harris Morford, Dumfries 2 Aaron Kane, Bathgate 3 Finlay MacMillan
15 & Under March: 1 Harris Morford 2 Aaron Kane 3 Finlay MacMillan, Inverness
15 & Under S&R: 1 Harris Morford 2 Finlay MacMillan 3 Aaron Kane
15 & Under Jig: 1 Harris Morford 2 Aaron Kane 3 Finlay MacMillan
Under 13 Novice Piping: 1 Sophia MacKay Inverness 2 Lachie MacQueen, Balnain; U12 Chanter: Angus Walker Inverness; Judges: A Drennan, I MacFadyen, DJ MacIntyre.
Glenisla Games, August 22
The beautiful weather was conducive to producing solo piping of the highest order at the 2025 Glenisla Games, reports Murray Henderson. There was a strong international field, many whom have become regulars at these Games. In the junior section, two Scots, two Americans and one New Zealander contested the March & Strathspey and Reel. A very high standard of play resulted in Sam Foote from NZ winning the overall cup.
The Senior events are also very popular with overseas players with pipers from Canada, Germany, New Zealand, USA, as well as Scots, taking part. The standard of piping was outstanding over all events, as good as you will hear at any of the Games in Scotland. In a very tight finish, Zephan Knichel from Vancouver, Canada, successfully defended his title of overall champion with an exemplary performance in the final event where pipers were asked to perform two jigs.
March: 1 Ross Miller 2 Zephan Knichel 3 Cameron Bonar 4 Dan Lyden
S&R: 1 Zephan Knichel 2 Cameron Bonar 3 Ross Miller 4 Hector Munro
Jigs: 1 Zephan Knichel 2 Cameron Bonar 3 Ross Miller 4 Dan Lyden
Challenge Cup most points: Zephan Knichel Canada
U18 March: 1 Abby Long (Inverharity Quaich) 2 Sam Foote 3 Magnus Stone
U18 S&R: 1 Sam Foote (Society Quaich) 2 Abby Long 3 Magnus Stone USA
Judges: M Henderson, P Henderson.
CPA Bronze Medal, August 24
Twenty competed in this event held in the Piping Centre, Glasgow. Pipers had to submit three tunes from the Silver Medal list for 2025. The winner automatically qualifies for the Silver Medal competitions at Oban and Inverness next year: 1 Calum Carn 2 James Frazer 3 Norman Gillies 4 Andrew Hutton 5 Dan Nevans; Judges: E Anderson, A Forbes, M Gray.
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.
