More Observations on the British Pipe Band Championships

BRITISH PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016, St James Playing Fields, Paisley, Saturday, May 21 By Alistair Aitken OBE, former senior adjudicator for the RSPBA This was a new venue for the first major championship of the year and my first impression was the amount of space which was available.  The Playing Fields were flat and firm despite the rain earlier in the day.  However, they were also rather open to the…

Piping in Breeks/ Donald Video/ Australia Results

New video posted today of Donald McBride, Kansas and Donegal, but formerly Patna (South Ayrshire), Prestonpans and Glasgow. Donald plays some ceol beag and then the piobaireachd The Sound of the Waves Against the Castle of Duntroon. Appropriately he is playing the tune on the foreshore north of Boston (the tide is audible in the background) during a quiet evening at the New England piping camp in 2013. It was a balmy…

Pipe Major Responds to Comments on his Band’s Medley at the British Championships

The statement below has been received from P/M Christopher Armstrong of Scottish Power Pipe Band. It follows yesterday’s critique by PP Editor Robert Wallace on the performances in Grade 1 at the British Championships held at Paisley last Saturday, May 21.  P/M Armstrong writes: ‘It’s always interesting to read your thoughts on all the bands’ performances after a contest, and as the Pipe Major of ScottishPower Pipe Band I thought I’d share…

British Pipe Band Championship Updated With Comment and Analysis Added

An outstanding performance by Inveraray & District  Pipe Band earned them the deserved title of Grade 1 British Pipe Band Champions 2016, writes Editor Robert Wallace In second came Field Marshal Montgomery,  placed first by both piping judges but whose sixth in drumming cost them dear. That said, I think that with this level of playing only the most churlish would have denied Inveraray their reward. After their performance there were,…

Paisley Preview/ WW1 Tunes

All eyes tomorrow on the British Pipe Band Championships. If you are not already on Twitter then you may like to sign up and receive the RSPBA’s feed @RSPBAHQ. That way you will get the results as they are announced by Chief Executive Ian Embelton on the park. Failing that check out the RSPBA’s Results summaries from 6.30pm onwards. I will be reporting from the competition in these pages from…