One of the last Highland games of the summer was held in cool, dry conditions at Braemar today (September 5). HM King Charles and HM Queen Camilla were in attendance, continuing a royal tradition dating back to the time of Queen Victoria.
The king of the piping boards was overall champion Zephan Knichel, Canada – with the coveted piobaireachd Gold Medal going Ben McClamrock, USA.
By the Editor
First on in the ceòl mòr in chilly conditions was hardened local man John McDonald. It took him a while to settle in Tulloch Ard but eventually he got going and produced a strong finish.
Anyone wondering what has happened to Donald MacPherson’s pipes will be interested to know that they are in the safe keeping of German piper Martin Kessler. He played them at Braemar, the drone slightly more raucous than I remember and the chanter insecure on high G. This upset his delivery of MacGregor’s Gathering.
Keith Bowes was too long on the Bs in the first variation of the Earl of Ross – otherwise a solid performance from the Renfrewshire man. Dan Lyden had a small B for a low A in the dithis doubling of Pass of Crieff but it in no way affected his fluent performance on a fine pipe.
Ben McClamrock…my notes read, ‘VG performance, no technical errors, pipe held well, good tempo changes and controlled phrasing’. MacNeill of Barra’s March was James MacHattie’s tune and he played it well too – minus four hiharins.
This is one of the good things about Braemar. After a season of set tunes we get to hear something different. So it was with Ed McIlwaine in MacLeod of MacLeod. The fingers got cold and he had several misses knocking him down the order – but he certainly knew what he was doing with the tune. Derek Midgley is still a little slow with the Patrick Og urlar and doubling. One ugly embari too.
Cameron MacDougall broke down when going well in the OM Shells, and Andrew Carlisle put himself out of the reckoning with an instrument loud enough for the FM front rank (the tent not helping to quell the reverb). He knew exactly how to express the Earl of Antrim but didn’t have the pipe. SFU’s Zephan and Cameron are young lads who lacked maturity when delivering Dro o Dro and Black Donald – pipes and fingers very good.
Lastly a mention for Bobby Durning who eventually made it over the hills to the boards via a flat tyre issue and played last. The pipe was very good but the work tight in places. There was also a prominent note error which, unlike Dan’s, broke the spell. Still, his MacSwan was an enjoyable listen.
Piobaireachd, eight tunes asked for, 18 played.
1 Ben McClamrock, Red Speckled Bull, £415
2 Dan Lyden, Battle of the Pass of Crieff, £85
3 Keith Bowes, Earl of Ross’s March, £65
4 Ed McIlwaine, MacLeod of MacLeod’s Lament, £45
5 Derek Midgley, Lament for Patrick Og, £35
6 John McDonald, Tulloch Ard, £25
March:
1 Zephan Knichel, £210, P/M J McGregor Cup
2 David Bruce, £85
3 James MacHattie, £65
4 Cameron Bonar, £45
5 Andrew Carlisle, £35
6 Cameron MacDougall, £25
Strathspey & Reel (prizemoney as March)
1 Zephan Knichel, Walter Drysdale Trophy
2 David Bruce
3 Cameron Bonar
4 Cameron MacDougall
5 James MacHattie
6 John McDonald
Overall Champion Piper: Zephan Knichel; Silver Medal for Overseas Piper highest placed: Zephan Knichel
Braemar Juniors
U18 Piobaireachd
1 Charlie Mack, £55
2 Larry Presslie, £45
3 Harris Morford, £35
4 Morla Bruce, £25
5 Mirren Silver, £20
U18 March (prizemoney as per Piobaireachd)
1 Alasdair Bullock 2 Oscar Melville Butler 3 Morla Bruce 4 Mirren Silver 5 Lily Robertson
U18 S&R (prizemoney as per Piobaireachd)
1 Alasdair Bullock 2 Oscar Melville Butler 3 Larry Presslie 4 Harris Morford 5 Charlie Mack
Local MSR:
Judges: L Barclay, I Duncan, P Grant, DJ MacIntyre, R MacDonald, M Robertson, L Tannock, R Wallace, D Watson
