Ailis Sutherland from Kirriemuir and Angus Nicolson from Sleat in Skye were the first prize winners at the competition hosted by Isle of Raasay Distillers in the island’s community hall on Saturday, 6th September, writes Cailean Maclean.
Ailis won the section for Piobaireachd/Seann Nòs/Slow Air tunes, the prize for which was a set of Highland Pipes in A, a copy of the legendary 1785 Black Set of Kintail, made by Hamish Moore.
Angus, overall winner last year, was the judges’ choice in the Piping for Dancing section, winning a small cask of Isle of Raasay whisky.
Eleven pipers competed and there was a very creditable audience of over 110 in the hall to listen to their performances. Raasay’s population is only about 170.
Other competitors: Angus MacColl, Calum Alex MacMillan, Ciar Milne, Decker Forrest, Simon McKerrell, Duncan Nicholson, Finlay Cameron, Gary West, Lorne Cousin. The aim of the ‘restitution’ competition, devised by Hamish Moore, is to ‘reconnect piping with its Gaelic heart and soul’.
Judges were Allan MacDonald and Anna Murray for the slow air/piobaireachd song Angus MacKenzie and Frank McConnell for the dance music. (Pictures courtesy Cailean Maclean.)
UK Drumming
St Laurence O’Toole’s Stephen Creighton won the World Solo Drumming qualifier held at the weekend in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
Stephen had already qualified for the World Solos by placing second at the European Solos in April at Lochgelly High School, Fife, but this win gives him six points and moves him to second in the Champion of Champions table.
Said Stephen: ‘Hopefully I can put the disappointment of not qualifying at last year’s final behind me – only the third time in 35 years that has happened to me.
‘I have been playing well and have adapted a more subtle style into my playing. Re-inventing yourself doesn’t come easy, but drumming changes and it is important to move with the times if you want to stay on top. I’m getting there!’
Stephen’s piper was the accomplished James Stone a fellow SLOT member.
Other placings: 2 William Glenholmes, Field Marshal 3 Aaron Jones, Ravara 4 Alex Buchanan, Field Marshal 5 Arren McWilliams, Shotts 6 Matthew Shaw, Ravara.
Chatsworth Piping
Thanks to Neil Esslemont for forwarding these results. The competition was held on Aug 31 at the famous estate in Derbyshire. It was a clean sweep for Cameron Bonar, the 17 year old from British Columbia, Canada. In addition to the prizemoney listed below Cameron received £200 as Champion Piper.
Piob: 1 Cameron Bonar 2 Andrew Hall 3 William McCallum 4 Zephan Knichel 5 Dan Lyden 6 Neil Esslemont 7 David Rischmiller 8 James MacHattie
March: 1 Cameron Bonar 2 William McCallum 3 Dan Lyden 4 Neil Esslemont 5 Zephan Knichel 6 Andrew Hall 7 James MacHattie 8 David Rischmiller
S&R: 1 Cameron Bonar 2 William McCallum 3 Dan Lyden 4 Neil Esslemont 5 Zephan Knichel 6 Andrew Hall 7 James MacHattie 8 David Rischmiller
H&J: 1 Cameron Bonar 2 William McCallum 3 James MacHattie 4 Andrew Hall 5 Zephan Knichel 6 Dan Lyden 7 Neil Esslemont 8 Antoin Doherty
6/8: 1 Cameron Bonar 2 William McCallum 3 Dan Lyden 4 James MacHattie 5 Neil Esslemont 6 Zephan Knichel 7 Andrew Hall 8 Antoin Doherty
Judges for all events: B Hitchings, R Livingstone
