Category: Piobaireachd

Editor’s Notebook: Training of Pipe Band Judges/ Lewis & Harris News/ RSPS 1978/ Letters

Posted on      by      6 Comments

A comment has been made about Iain McLeod, five times winner of the Worlds with Edinburgh City / Lothian and Borders Police, refusing to judge for the RSPBA because he was asked to ‘quantify his experience’ as our correspondent put it. From what I remember it was more than that. He and other leading men of the time (late ’70s, early ’80s), RG Hardie, John Weatherston, were also asked to…

More Editor’s Notebook: Training of Pipe Band Judges/ Lewis & Harris News/ RSPS 1978/ Letters

NI Piper of the Year/ Shotts Concert/ Balmoral Classic

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The Northern Ireland Piper of the Year competition will take place in the Adair Arms Hotel, Ballymena, this Saturday, 28th September, writes Ken Stewart. This event has been in existence since 1979 and is an invitation only competition. Pipers who have featured in prizelists at various events throughout Ireland during the current year are invited to take part. The competition comprises both Piobaireachd and March, Strathspey & Reel. Each competitor…

More NI Piper of the Year/ Shotts Concert/ Balmoral Classic

Lochnell Championship Details Announced

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The top solo competition for young professional pipers aged under 22 will be held at Lochnell Castle, Argyll, on October 19 from 10am. The line-up of invited pipers, with their qualifying success in brackets, is as follows: Ruairidh Brown (MSR winner 2023), Cameron May (B Grade Champion 2024 Argyllshire Gathering), Brodie Watson-Massey (Inverness Silver Medal), Ross Conner (Lochaber Gathering Piob 3rd prize, plus multiple prizes at games), Luke Kennedy, (5th…

More Lochnell Championship Details Announced

Editor’s Notebook: P/Ms Succession Planning/ George Sherriff Memorial/ Mystery Band/ Cancale Piper

Posted on      by      4 Comments

Succession planning is everything when its comes to changing Grade 1 pipe majors. Get it right and the prizes continue unabated. Wrong, and a once great outfit tumbles and expires. That’s what happened with Muirhead & Sons in the ’70s. There are more modern examples too.  One of the most successful handovers came when Tully Senior handed over to Tully Junior at St Laurence O’Toole a few years back. Alen…

More Editor’s Notebook: P/Ms Succession Planning/ George Sherriff Memorial/ Mystery Band/ Cancale Piper

Unifying Set Tunes Worldwide, James McGrady, Norman Meldrum and Neville McKay

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

I would like to comment on a few articles on Piping Press over the past several weeks. Firstly, Scott Nicholson’s plan for a unified system of Piobaireachd Society set tunes for Australia (PP, July 2). This has great value. It motivates aspiring competitors to commit to learning these tunes and if they are successful with them and accepted for Oban and Inverness, they are likely to be well prepared.  My…

More Unifying Set Tunes Worldwide, James McGrady, Norman Meldrum and Neville McKay