The Dundee, Perth and Angus Branch of the RSPBA ran their ‘Kingdom Thistle European Solo Piping Contest’ last Saturday in Fife. The competition attracted a large entry.
The senior piping was split into two categories, piobaireachd and a combined MSR and Hornpipe & Jig. The RSPBA placing system was used to determine the outcome of the latter.
Piobaireachd: 1 Dan Nevans, Shotts 2 John Dew, Inveraray 3 Ian Simpson, (formerly Boghall) 4 Callum Davidson, Boghall 5 Keith Bowes, Johnstone 6 Jonathon Simpson, Edinburgh Academy; Judge: Cameron Drummond.
MSR/H&J: 1 Keith Bowes 2 Jonathon Simpson (MSR pref.) 3 Douglas Baird (Scottish Power) 4 John Dew (MSR pref.) 5 Aaron Hughes, Johnstone 6 Callum Davidson; Judges: Tom Brown, Peter Snaddon.
Dan Nevans, Keith Bowes and junior winner Charlie Mack are pictured above.
Wheel of Fortune Contest
City of Edinburgh Pipe Band’s annual ‘Pipe Major’s Wheel of Fortune’ competition will be held on Saturday 25 April, 2026 at Danderhall Miners Club, Midlothian. Entry £15/ £7.50 at the door; competition starts 12 noon.
The eight invited pipers are Sandy Cameron, John Dew, Angus MacPhee, Cameron May, Sarah Muir, Craig Muirhead, Dan Nevans and Bradley Parker.
The competition has three elements: MSR, Medley – and a joke. The Wheel of Fortune has 12 numbers corresponding to a type of tune.
Each piper must play five of the 12 tune categories, determined by spinning the Golden Chanter attached to the wheel. Tunes are in any order, but they must be combined to form one continuous medley.
Band secretary Paul White said: ‘This year marks the 20th anniversary of our competition. Our first was in 2006, when Brian Lamond lifted the Hebrides Challenge Cup. We are looking forward to an afternoon of great company and great piping at Danderhall Miners Club.’
CLASP Practice Chanter
Stephen McCusker writes, ‘We had five competitors for our March Practice Chanter competition. A big thanks to Emma Hill for judging and to sponsors ES Session Chanters.’
Piob: 1 H Schuster 2 C Watt 3 S Bernstein 4 A Gordon 5 P Terry; March: 1 S Bernstein 2 A Gordon 3 P Terry 4 C Watt; S&R: 1 S Bernstein 2 P Terry 3 A Gordon 4 C Watt; Jig: 1 S Bernstein 2 A Gordon 3 C Watt 4 P Terry
Overall Winner Smadar Bernstein wins a session chanter.
Donald Sutherland Collection – digital book
This is a digital, repeat digital, book which means you download it to your computer or tablet. This book has some very good music. It is by Donald Sutherland, a native of Rogart, Sutherland. It has been out of print for many years and is reproduced here as a service to followers of www.pipingpress.com. Tunes include Mary Horne, Kenny MacDonald’s Jig, Captain Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree and many other less well-known, but quality, compositions. The book is sized for use…
