Category: Pipe Bands

Why No Differences in Piping Judge Scores at Dollar?

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Enjoy Boghall & Bathgate’s winning medley at Dollar I note the Grade 1 result from Dollar, and in particular the fact both piping judges have exactly the same shakedown from 1 to 8. We are constantly told each year, particularly at the World Championships, that the margins between the top Grade 1 bands are becoming forever smaller. If so, the question I ask is this: at this competition was there…

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P/M Andy Venters

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The death has been announced of P/M Andy Venters, Queen’s Own Highlanders. Andy was 90. Andy was a noted teacher of cadets and in schools and Pipe Major of the regiment and its ex-members association band. He was also a noted composer with several fine tunes to his name. Funeral details to follow.

Dollar Band Results

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Boghall & Bathgate took the Grade 1 prize in a hotly contest Dollar contest today. Straight 1s in piping from judges Barry Donaldson and Grant Walker, a second in drumming from Brian Martin and a first in ensemble from Tom Brown earned them the top spot ahead of Field Marshal. Weather conditions were perfect. Eight bands played in Grade 1 with Coalburn IOR, the Grade 2 winners, playing ‘up’. Third…

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Editor’s Notebook: Judging and Teaching/ 277 Argylls/ Perthshire League/ Strathendrick Boost/ ‘Redundant’ A

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I want to double down on one of my comments in Brad Davidson’s report on my workshop in Ontario. Any rule or legislation in piping which discourages teaching, directly or indirectly, should be deplored by all right-thinking persons. Judging and teaching should not be seen as mutually exclusive, yet we now have experts, proven winners at the top of our business, who have turned their backs on the latter in…

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Walter Cowan 1936-2026

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Walter Cowan, who passed away peacefully in a nursing home in Annan last Friday, took his piping seriously – but not himself. It was an endearing quality which made him popular with everyone. When espousing knowledge and instruction in classroom, band hall or judging bench, there was always his pawky humour to lighten the load. His contribution to piping and pipe bands in the south west of Scotland and further…

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