PP Ed’s Blog: NSW Results/ U&B Recording/ Kintyre Cancelled/ Draw for the British – comment

The New South Wales Piper’s Society ran it’s annual Silver Chalice solo competition at the Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney, on Saturday 16th April. Results were: Silver Chalice Piobaireachd: 1st: Jason Craig – Earl of Seaforth’s Salute 2nd: Dennis Browning – Old Men of the Shells 3rd: Stephen Ross – The MacDonalds are Simple Judge: Malcolm McRae Ron Clement MSR: 1st: Adam Wishart 2nd: Charlie Hunter 3rd: Dennis Browning Judge: Aaron O’Neill…

P/M Archie Cairns and the Sovereign’s Piper

I was sorry to learn the other day of the passing of Pipe Major Archie Cairns. Archie was aged 87 and throughout his life piping was central to everything he did. An obituary in Canada’s ‘Your Life Moments’ reads: ‘Peacefully at home on 1 April, 2016, at the age of 87 with daughter Fiona at his side. He was a loving and devoted son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. Archie…

Scottish Pipers’ Association Annual Professional Contest – Full Results

Andy Wilson, Northern Ireland, won the Piobaireachd at the annual Scottish Pipers’ Association professional contest held today at the College of Piping in Glasgow. Andy also won the overall prize. Piobaireachd: 1 Andy Wilson, Lament for Mary Macleod 2 Darach Urquhart, Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg 3 Gordon Bruce, My King has Landed in Moidart March: 1 Graham Drummond 2 Brighde Chaimbeul 3 Ross Cowan Strathspey and Reel: 1…

How We Won the Worlds by P/M Robert Mathieson

One of the best pipe majors of the recent past was undoubtedly Robert Mathieson, firstly with Polkemmet Grorud and then House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead. His five World Grade 1 championships alone have earned him the right to break bread with the greats of the game. Now retired from competing, Robert is Secretary of the RSPBA’s Adjudicators’ Panel (recently in the news) and will be on duty judging throughout the…

PP Audio Archive Addition/ Hugh MacCallum Recording

New addition to the PP Audio Archive today with the playing of Donald MacPherson in the Former Winners’ MSR at the Argyllshire Gathering in the early 1970s.  Once more we are indebted to Breton piper Patrick Molard for sharing his archive with the rest of piping community worldwide. The recordings were done on a reel-to-reel tape machine whilst Patrick stood at the side of the competition board. Donald’s playing is…