Four of the major piobaireachd competitions in world piping were held today in Oban, Argyll. Stuart Easton from New Zealand became the seventh winner of the coveted Gold Medal from that country. Winner of the Senior Piobaireachd was Stuart Liddell (pictured above). Darach Urquhart from Kyle won the Silver Medal. All results below. Andrew Ferguson, a piper with Dollar Academy, won the MacGregor Memorial for intermediate ceol mor. Other results as…

‘Neath louring skies the man made history. Stepping forward to receive his 12th World Pipe Band Champions title, P/M Richard Parkes MBE had equalled the record of the legendary P/M Ian McLellan of Strathclyde Police fame, writes the Editor. Yet only moments before, as drizzle fell and night closed in, no one really knew if his band’s scintillating performances at Glasgow Green 2018 would, this time, get their due reward….

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band under P/M Richard Parkes MBE are the new World Pipe Band Champions. They were placed first ahead of Inveraray, so reversing last year’s 1/2.  St Laurence O’Toole from Dublin took the drumming title. 214 bands took part across all grades. Conditions were wet, cold and blustery in the morning but improved later. FMM are pictured above celebrating (picture courtesy Glasgow Life). The RSPBA summary sheets showed that…

The 2018 Worlds are go! Piping Press reporters are already out and about on a grey, overcast Glasgow Green listening to the Grade 1 bands preparing for the biggest performances of their year. There are two heats with six from each going forward to tomorrow’s final. Qualifier 1 MSR 1 11:00 Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia 2 11:10 New Zealand Police – New Zealand 3 11:20 St Laurence O’Toole – Eire…

Overall Winner – Stephen Ross (pictured above receiving a new trophy, the Dr Colin Caird Quaich, from Frances Bullick (Dr Caird’s daughter) in memory of her late father, a prominent member of Piobaireachd Society and an amateur piping champion in his own right. Pictures courtesy Alastair Sinclair. Results: Grade 1 – Piobaireachd 1st Andrew Park 2nd Robert Wilson 3rd Stephen Ross Grade 1 – MSR 1st Stephen Ross 2nd Charles…