Editor’s Notebook: Dumbarton Draw/ General Thomason’s Sword/ Lorient Festival/ Scots Guards KO

The RSPBA have published the draws for the next pipe band championships, the Scottish at Dumbarton. In Grade 1 there are ten bands playing in the following order: Fife Police, Shotts, Scottish Power, Johnstone, FMM, SLOT, Boghall, Closkelt, Police Scotland and Inveraray. Judges are John Wilson, Peter Hunt, Stuart Coils and Tom Brown. The contest is not until July 27 so bands have five weeks to prepare. After that the…

History: The Northern Meeting 1949

I have in my possession four pages from an old Northern Meeting programme for 1949. The pages are for Day 1 only. Above is a picture of Andrew Pitkeathly, the winner of the Gold Medal that year. Twenty-four entered the Medal, but whether they all played I am not sure. The programme was given to me by the late Dr James Finlayson who was a Consultant Physician at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary….

Killin Games Entries Open/ Piping Live March/ Eilidh’s Trust Funding

Killin Highland Games (August 7th) are now taking entries for their piping competitions. To enter click here.          All competitors pay admission to the park and this gains entry to the competitions. All competitors must report to the Piping Convenor by 10.30am. Piobaireachd, MSR and Jig for Juniors (U-14) and Seniors. Light music for Intermediate pipers. Four prizes in each event The games, to be held at Breadalbane…

‘Pibroch by the Sea’ Details Announced

Details of the annual ‘Pibroch by the Sea’ event in Brittany, France, have been announced by the promoters. In a departure from previous years, performances of ceòl mòr will be given at the spectacular Mont St Michel a couple of hours drive east from the usual host village of Cancale. The date is Saturday, September 7, and the performances will be given between 11am and 2.30pm. Ten piobaireachd players from…

Blairgowrie Games Entries Open

Piping Convenor Stuart Samson has announced entries are now open for Blairgowrie Highland Games to be held on Sunday, 8th September 2024. The games are supported by the Competing Pipers Association. Email entries to Stuart at piping@blairgowriehighlandgames.co.uk indicating which events you wish to enter. Competitors will be notified in advance of their draw for each event entered. The entry fee is the admission fee taken at the gate to gain access to…