Oban and Inverness Entry Rules for 2024 Announced

The Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting have issued a joint statement clarifying and updating procedures for entering their competitions in 2024. A new rule states that senior pipers must enter by January 31 or they will be ineligible. The statement reads: The number of competitors in the Gold and Silver Medal competitions has been restricted to 25 for a number of years. Competitors are selected based on their CPA Grade…

Rare Picture, Campbells of Kilberry and the Founding of the Piobaireachd Society

Together the two individuals in the above image helped change the course of piping history. Can you guess who they are? The handsome woman on the left is Lady Elspeth Campbell, and on the right John Campbell, Kilberry. I am indebted to his great-grandson, also John, and now the Piping Steward at the Argyllshire Gathering, for forwarding the photograph from his family collection. By Robert Wallace ‘It shows Lady Elspeth…

Editor’s Notebook: ‘Missing’ Majors/ Irish in Spain/ Split Stock / Wiltshire Piper/ Edinburgh Police Solos

Thanks to the many readers who have contributed to the debate on the RSPBA’s ‘missing Majors’. I agree with much of what has been said, in particular that the Association need to be pro-active in encouraging Cowal and the All Ireland promoters to help out. They may already have been in touch, I don’t know. With only the Worlds and the Scottish secure for next summer, we should not be…

CLASP 11th November 2023 –  ‘Live Online’ Results

The Grade 1 Overall winner of this competition receives an invitation to compete in a new CLASP online competition called ‘The World Amateur Solo Piping Champion of Champions’, 2024. This competition launched to celebrate 20 years of CLASP and aims to showcase the best 10 amateur solo pipers in the world using an online platform where audience members can attend. By Margaret Houlihan The competition will run in April 2024…

History: A Look Back 30 Years to Piping on Canada’s West Coast

The following is from the British Columbia Pipers’ Society Newsletter of December 1992…. Jack Lee Brings Home the Bratach Gorm….On Saturday, November 7th, Jack won the prestigious Bratach Gorm in London, England. Competing against 11 Scots and one other Canadian, he brought the banner to Canada for the very first time. He played the piobaireachd Lord Lovat’s Lament, that memorable tribute to Simon Fraser of the ’45. Jack’s great win,…