Review: USPF Annual Solo Piping Competition

Piping trips to the US are invariably characterised by superb hospitality, friendship and good music. Last weekend, at the United States Piping Foundation Maclean Macleod Memorial, was no exception. The contest was held at the University of Delaware. The organising committee led by Arthur McAra, Mike Rogers and Peter Kent, could not have been more accommodating. Visiting adjudicators, as I was, are given the kind of warm welcome that quickly banishes the…

Forres Prepared/ USPF Solos/ New England Piping Academy/ New CD

Preparations for next weekend’s European Pipe Band Championships are well in hand. The promoters, ‘Piping @ Forres’, have sent this:  ‘Final Piping At Forres preparations are in place for the European Pipe Band Championships, sponsored by Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, being held in Forres on Saturday 27 June. 105 bands, including eleven Grade 1 bands and the current European and World Champions, will play in Grant Park in…

Draw for the Scottish PB Champs./ John MacDougall Gillies MS (updated)

The RSPBA website is back up after a few hours down for essential maintenance. The new draw for the Scottish Championships to be held at Dumbarton on July 25 is announced as: Grade 1 – Final 01 14:15 Peoples Ford – Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia 02 14:25 Cullybackey 03 14:35 Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles 04 14:45 Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia 05 14:55 Inveraray and District 06 15:05 Scottish Power 07 15:15…

Rutherglen PB/ Edinburgh Police/Govan Cash/Winnipeg Cash

Our pipe bands of yesteryear department has uncovered this 1948 shot of Rutherglen Pipe Band, the year they were winners of the Worlds Grade 2 title at Scotstoun. In those days bands could play ‘up’ at championships and Rutherglen achieved a notable 5th prize in the contest against the G1 big guns of Glasgow Police, Shotts etc. The Rutherglen band was founded in 1923 by a few local enthusiasts. (Rutherglen…

Northern Meeting/Colchester Games/ JA MacLellan Competition

The Northern Meeting have issued full details of this year’s forthcoming piping events. They are as follows: Venue: Eden Court Theatre, Inverness. Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September 2015; Commencing 8.30am Thursday and Friday; Programme £5.00 Thursday 3 September – Senior Competition From 8.30 PIOBAIREACHD – GOLD MEDAL From 9.00 ‘A’ MARCH, STRATHSPEY & REEL From 9.00 PIOBAIREACHD – SILVER MEDAL From 18.00  FORMER WINNERS MARCH, STRATHSPEY & REEL Friday 4 September…