Lochnell Intermediate Piping Championship Results

This prestigious contest for solo pipers aged under 22 was held on October 10th, at Lochnell Castle, Benderloch, Argyll, courtesy the Earl of Dundonald.

The overall champion at the 5th annual competition was Magnus Stone from Massachusetts, USA. He became the first overseas winner of the coveted title. He is 17 years old. He qualified for Lochnell by placing third in the MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd at this year’s Argyllshire Gathering.

By Robert Wallace

He is pictured above (l) with Douglas Baird, Torphichen, winner of the March, Strathspey and Reel. Douglas qualified by placing second in the Intermediate MSR at the Gathering.

Magnus received the Lochnell Championship Cup and the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society Bronze Medal and £200. He also received the Jimmy McIntosh Memorial Piobaireachd Trophy presented by Mrs Joyce McIntosh.

Douglas, also 17, received the William McCallum Snr. Memorial Chanter presented by McCallum Bagpipes in memory of the man who did so much for piping in his native Kintyre and wider Argyll. The full results were as follows:

Piobaireachd
1 Magnus Stone, £120, Rory MacLeod’s Lament
2 Kyle Cameron, £80, MacNeill of Barra’s March
3 Ealla Niamh McIlhinney, £60, Battle of the Pass of Crieff
4 Bobby Allen, £40, Glengarry’s March

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MSR
1 Douglas Baird, £120, Young MacGregor, Bob o’ Fettercairn, Cecily Ross
2 Andrew Pattison, £80, David Ross, Rosehall, Arniston Castle, Alick C MacGregor
3 Bobby Allen, £60, Dr EG MacKinnon, Highland Harry, Willie Murray
4 Magnus Stone, £40, Mrs Duncan MacFadyen, Islay Ball, Cockerel in the Creel

Each competitor received substantial expenses on top of prizemoney. The competition was created to celebrate 150 years since the inauguration of the Argyllshire Gathering and is organised by the Argyllshire Gathering Trust.

Each piper had to submit four tunes of his/ her own choice, tunes given in the final tuning room. There were eight invitees.

There was a new intake this year and the standard may not have been just as high as in previous. This is to be expected. Just ask anyone who runs a juvenile or novice band. You bring them on, they reach the heights, they exceed the age limit, and you start all over again.

It has to be stated though, that the prizewinners at Lochnell 2025 all played well. Two teenagers took both firsts! Magnus was outstanding with Rory MacLeod’s Lament. He overcame a sticky first line to show great maturity in keeping the song going throughout the variations. So easy to resort to the barrel organ here. It goes without saying that the bagpipe was harmonious and steady.

Young Douglas really took command of his MSR. Here was a well-taught piper displaying accuracy of finger and a thorough understanding of how to play a 2/4 march, how to get lift into a strathspey and how to roll along with a reel.

The whole day was one of enjoyment with perfect stewarding from Christine and Emma Hill and interesting introductions from Fear an Tigh Alastair MacGregor. Before the prizes were announced organiser Torquil Telfer explained to the audience the background to the competition and thanked the sponsors.

Adjudicator John Wilson then offered words of encouragement and congratulation to the pipers as they entered the tough but rewarding world of solo piping competition.

Judges for both events: J Forrester, R Wallace, J Wilson. Sponsors were Dungallon Country House, the Piobaireachd Society, and McCallum Bagpipes. Special thanks to Lord Archie Cochrane our host, and his father the Earl of Dundonald and to the main sponsor, Dungallon Country House.

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