Category: History

Editor’s Notebook: Highland Games Threat/ Trophy Search/ Oban Festival/ Dollar Contest/ Sandy Jones

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This from a prominent Highland games organiser: ‘On the CPA judge/pupil pronouncements that have lately been made, has anyone raised the problems this causes for competition organisers? ‘How are games committees, expected to be able to attract decent player numbers, or to maintain their ‘local’ feel, when they may not be able to use local piping adjudicators because they then wouldn’t get local competitors? ‘How can they afford to import…

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Review: Uist & Barra Professional 2023

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The first thing to say is what a total success this comeback meeting, the first for three years, was. The standard of play, particularly in the light music, was as good as has been heard at this stage of the competitive year. Yes, there was some ring rustiness – but only some. For the most part the ten pipers entertained the large crowd grandly, with even those who didn’t make…

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Uist & Barra 2023 Results

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This competition was held today, March 4, at the Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow. Pipers were given their tunes one week in advance. There was a large and appreciative audience throughout the day. It was the first U&B since 2020. Ceòl Mòr, Glasgow Highland Club Medal and Finlay MacKenzie Challenge Trophy1 Craig Sutherland, Park Piobaireachd No.22 John Mulhearn, Queen Anne’s Lament3 Angus D MacColl, End of the High Bridge 4 Sandy Cameron,…

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Editor’s Notebook: North Lanarkshire Schools PB/ Jet Travel/ Uist & Barra/ Braemar/ PS Conference

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Speaking to Ross Cowan regarding the recent expansion of teaching in North Lanarkshire, he tells me he has 120 kids on practice chanter and 12 moving on to pipes this year. Who says there’s no interest out there? Other Scottish local authorities cutting back on their schools music tuition should look to this Motherwell-based council for the way forward. Says Ross:  ‘The band will be depleted this year as a…

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History: Solo Piping in 1985 and the Day the Gold Medal was Paused for Communion

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The following is taken from the Oban Times piping column written by Alfred Morrison in late August 1985. He begins in characteristically trenchant fashion with a comment on the Silver Chanter: On Wednesday evening this piping recital was held in Dunvegan Castle. This event in piping used to be a competition for pipers who had already won the Gold Medal at Oban or Inverness, but this year it was demoted…

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