Category: History

Focus of World Piping on Argyllshire Gathering – MacGregor Finalists Announced

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Our focus turns to the Argyllshire Gathering being held in Oban today and tomorrow. The Gathering attracts the best pipers in the world in a multi-discipline series of competitions. Piobaireachd competitions are underway for the Highland Society of London Gold Medal, the Argyllshire Gathering Silver Medal, Senior Piobaireachd and MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd. Finalists in this competition are: Thomas Fallon, Malachi Johannsen, Liam Nicolson, Lachlan Rennie, Peter MacKay, Magnus Stone, Alex…

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Editor’s Notebook: Bands and Solos/ Edinburgh Job/ Angus Award/ Glasgow Police LP

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So that’s the band season more or less over for another year. The piping world now focuses on the solos with major events at Lonach tomorrow, Oban from Wednesday and Fort William next Friday. I suppose from the solo-piper-in-a-band-perspective the calendar works out well, but I still think it is a pity the bands don’t have Cowal or at least some other important event filling out the summer. That won’t…

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The Worlds 2026: Views of a Retired Adjudicator

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Unfortunately, I was able to attend only the Saturday of the World Pipe Band Championships this year.  Unlike some of the previous years the weather was pleasantly warm, free from rain and with only a mild wind, so the atmosphere was ideal for tuning and for the band performances.  Both days were well attended by spectators (estimated at around 35,000 over the two days).  The official programme showed a total…

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Review: 2026 Worlds Grade 1

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On Friday I wrote that after hearing all of the Grade 1 Medley I had three bands out on their own and one I would back to take the title. The three were St Laurence O’Toole, Fife Police and Simon Fraser University – and my cash was on SFU. Not only did P/M Bevan’s boys (and girls) take the Friday Medley, but they also won the Saturday one too and…

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New Book on the Judging of Solo Piping

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A new book on the judging of solo piping has been issued by the Piobaireachd Society. It has been compiled and edited by PP Editor Robert Wallace who is also President of the Society. The book builds on an early edition entitled ‘The Judges’ Companion’ issued in 2005. The new book has contributions from some of the best writers and authorities on piping and the judging of competitions: Malcolm McRae,…

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