Category: Comment

A Look Back at the 2016 London Championship

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Ian Duncan and I judged the A Grade Piobaireachd for the Ram’s Horn Snuff Mull. Committee Room 5 at the Kensington Conference Centre was the venue and, though adequate, the close proximity of the bench to the room’s playing area may have intimidated some of the pipers and contributed to the mixed standard of play. Two tunes were out on their own: Darach Urquhart’s Big Spree and Nick Hudson’s Lament for…

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London Championship Underway/ St Thomas New Job Announced/ Dowco-Boghall Switch/ Argylls Book

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The Annual London Championship is now underway at the Kensington Conference Centre. All the main piobaireachd events started at 8.30am, the aim being to ensure an earlier finish than hitherto. The premier grade March Strathspey and Reel contest will be once through each tune only, again in order to save time. Entries this year are up on last with 14 contending the coveted Bratach Gorm for piobaireachd (seven tunes asked)…

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Glenfiddich Result Revised – Bruce Gandy Placed Second

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Following today’s story on the error in the final placings at the Glenfiddich Championship the organiser, Mrs Liz Maxwell, has issued the following statement: ‘This year’s Glenfiddich Piping Championship generated a unique situation whereby three pipers tied on merit points for the overall awards. Two of those had been placed 1st in a major element of the Championship viz, the Piobaireachd and March, Strathspey & Reel sections whilst the third…

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PP Ed’s Blog: Bruce’s Prize/ Scottish School Champs/ Argylls Book/ Trad Nominees/ Piob Query

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When is piobaireachd preference not piobaireachd preference? Last Saturday’s showpiece Glenfiddich Championship at Blair Castle produced a three-way tie in points between three pipers Roderick MacLeod, William McCallum and Bruce Gandy.  The results were: Ceol Mor – 1 R MacLeod 2 S Liddell 3 I Speirs 4 J Lee 5 B Gandy Ceol Beag – 1 W McCallum 2 B Gandy 3 A MacColl 4 F Johnston  5 I Speirs Points were allocated on a 5,4,3,2,1, basis and…

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History of The Scottish Piping Society of London: The Post War Years

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We continue with our detailed look at one of the world’s most important piping societies. The SPSL has been a beacon of piping excellence since the 1930s with a long history of attracting the very best pipers to perform at its recitals, competitions and meetings. This history was compiled by former President of the Society, Adam Sanderson, and we are grateful to him for making it available to readers of…

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