Argyllshire Gathering Announce Draws for 2016 Competitions (times updated, short leet details)

The Argyllshire Gathering will be held at Oban on August 24th and 25th. Twenty eight pipers will compete in the Gold and Silver Medals, 30 in the junior MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd and  23 in the Senior Piobaireachd. The winner of the Highland Society of London Gold Medal has the honour of leading the pipers and stewards to the games field on the second day of the gathering. The picture above…

A Look Back At The Grade 1 Contest at the Scottish Championships

I didn’t think Saturday’s Grade 1 contest was reflected in the way the summaries eventually showed. For me there were three bands in the mix for first at Dumbarton: Field Marshal, St Laurence and Inveraray. The title could have gone to either one and no one could have complained. That said, Inveraray’s four straight first places tells its own story and I bow to the superior insight and positioning of…

Inveraray Proclaimed Scottish Champions

Inveraray & District Pipe Band picked up their second major title of the season when they  took first place at the Scottish Championships Grade 1 contest held today at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton. Previously P/M Stuart Liddell’s band had won the first major of the season, the British at Paisley. Today, a total of 141 bands competed on what was a briefly showery but cold day on the banks of the River…

Scottish Championships Underway/ Skye: Dunvegan Medal Draw

The penultimate pipe band championship of the season is underway at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton, west of Glasgow. 141 bands will compete for the Scottish Champions title in nine grades from Novice B to Grade 1. The contest concludes at 5.20pm with MacKenzie Caledonia’s performance in Grade 2. First results approximately an hour later. Get them as they are announced by joining Twitter and the RSPBA’s feed. Alternatively wait a few…

PP Editor’s Blog: Highland Games/ Scottish & Worlds/Ulva and MacArthur Pipers

I am not sure the prestige of Inveraray Games is helped by the pipers being given their piobaireachd a week before the contest. It makes things easier all round for the competitors but is much less of a test. Compare it with Braemar where it’s eight tunes, the chosen piece given at the bench. Promoters often justify the ‘early tune’ decision by saying it cuts down the number of breakdowns….