Braemar Gathering – Updated With Juniors, Pic and Comment

A mixed day weather wise but the pipers had the benefit of a covered platform on which to play, writes the Editor. The standard was mixed too but the winner of the ceol mor, Nick Hudson, Pittsburgh, USA, produced an outstanding rendition of one of the most difficult tunes in the piobaireachd canon to take the £1,000 medal. Braemar Gold Medal Piobaireachd 1 Nick Hudson, Lament for the Laird of…

Northern Meeting Results Day 1 – Ian K Does the Double!/ Connor Takes Silver/ Angus Wins MSR

Ian K MacDonald, Toronto, is the 2016 Northern Meeting Gold Medallist, so completing a historic double of winning both Gold Medals in the same year. Ian’s tune was Mary’s Praise, the same piece he played to win his other medal at Oban last week.  The first three places in the Gold were the same as Oban. The above picture is of Ian K  on stage today at the Eden Court…

PP Editor’s Blog: Poll/ Angus Nicol/ Willie Lawrie/ Shotts Contest/ Glenn’s Job

  [polldaddy poll=9503440] Don’t forget to offer your opinion on the Champion of Champions poll above. Now that Cowal is past, visitors might have a better idea of how the event could handle re-instituting the awards there. Still with the bands, a good letter today on the Worlds and Grade 1 players being allowed to play ‘down’. Correspondent Jim Johnson, like all those with any sense, believes the open circle…

William Grant & Sons Funding for Piping Events Under Review

The news that there is to be a reduction in the sponsorship of piping by Glenfiddich/ Wm Grant and Sons will be of concern to all our readers, writes the Editor. Rumours have been abroad for some time and now it seems the whispers have become fact. This company’s generosity towards our art is legion. They and their former Chairman Sandy Grant Gordon will forever have a place in the hearts…

Reflections on the Argyllshire Gathering 2016 – Part 1

The 2016 Argyllshire Gathering should be described as nothing less than an outstanding success, writes the Editor. Of course the fine weather helped with pipers able to stop and chat in the Oban sunshine about all the usual things: drones going off, rotten reeds, crooked judges. The gathering was helped by having popular winners in all the main piobaireachd events. Pride of place must go to Ian K. MacDonald of…