PP Ed’s Blog: Gold Medallists of the Queen’s Own Highlanders

Yesterday’s mention of the brilliant playing of P/M Iain Morrison, Lewis, brought to mind this famous picture of all the Gold Medallists of the Queen’s Own Highlanders attending the 1970 Northern Meeting. It features Iain standing top right. I am not sure if everyone is au fait with the individuals and their tunes, and to the modern generation these gentlemen will probably seem as mysterious as the early MacCrimmons. So, history…

Senior Adjudicator Adds Comments to MSR Tune Selection Discussion

  By  Barry Donaldson Following last week’s letter from Alex Gandy from Halifax, Nova Scotia, regarding comments on his tune selection for the Former Winner MSR event at this year’s Northern Meeting, I thought, as was one of the judges involved in the selection of the competitors’ tunes, I might be able to add something to the debate. The following are my considerations on this matter, however they are mine alone…

PP Ed’s Blog: World Drumming/ Gus MacLennan/ Nick pic/Q’land Contest/ Letters

One has to be careful about treading in areas where one’s knowledge is limited, but did anyone else notice that of the top six solo pipe band drummers from Saturday’s World Solos not one is Scottish? Is this something we should be concerned about? I don’t know about other grades, but in the Adult Final we had: 1 Steven McWhirter (Northern Ireland), 2 Michael McKenna (Ireland) 3 Jake Jørgensen (Denmark)…

World Solo Drumming – Steven McWhirter is the Champion (updated)

Steven McWhirter  of the Inveraray and District Pipe Band is the World Solo Drumming Champion for 2016. He emerged with most points after two hard fought disciplines at the championships held today at Glasgow Caledonian University. It is Steven’s sixth consecutive title and his seventh in total. The prize list in the Adult Final, livestreamed to thousands of viewers around the world for the first time, was: 1st Steven McWhirter…

Piping Results from the Royal National Mod

Complete results from last weekend’s Royal National Mod Piping are now available. They show a very successful day for US piper Decker Forrest now domiciled on Skye. This year the Mod was held on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Ceol Mor 1st J. Decker Forrest, Isleornsay, receives the James R. Johnston Memorial Quaich and £150 2nd James MacPhee, Inbhir Nis, £100 3rd Brìghde Chaimbeul, An Caol, £75 Ceol Beag 1st J. Decker Forrest £100 2nd James MacPhee £75 3rd Brìghde Chaimbeul £50 H&J 1st…