Northern Meeting Day 1 Results

The competitions were held today (Sept. 11) in Eden Court Theatre, Inverness. Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal:1 Brodie Watson-Massey (£550) – Stewart’s White Banner (pictured)2 Darach Urquhart, MacLean’s March (£400)3 Angus MacPhee, Lament for the Departure of King James (£250)4 Steven Leask (£200), Lady Mgt. MacDonald’s Sal.5 John McDonald, MacLean’s March (£150)Judges: R Barnes, R MacShannon, J Wilson Silver Medal:1 Callum Wynd, MacFarlane’s Gath. (£350)2 Zephan Knichel (£250)3 Joe…

Northern Meeting/ Pitlochry Draw/ Cancale Pipers

The annual Northern Meeting piping competitions got underway last night with a reception in Inverness Town House, writes the Editor. It was a convivial gathering with refreshments gratis from the town council and music from last year’s Silver Medallist Brodie Watson-Massey and the Queen’s Own Highlanders ex-members band. Heavy rain did not dampen the occasion. It takes more than water to dilute the importance of this gathering of enthusiasts for…

Braemar Results and Report/ Blairgowrie Results

The Braemar Gold Medallist for 2025 is John McDonald, Aberdeen, (above). He gave a fine rendition of the supposedly MacCrimmon tune, the Glen is Mine, on a steady, tuneful instrument, writes the Editor How appropriate that a local man should win the medal with this tune. The first few bars of it are inscribed on the memorial cairn to the Bobs of Balmoral only yards from the piobaireachd board. As…

Reflections on the Argyllshire Gathering – Part 2

Argyllshire Gathering Day 1. I judged the Silver Medal with Robert Barnes and Donald MacPhee. We started at 9am sharp and finished at 4.30 with a short break for some lunch. The winner was Kyle Cameron, now a son of Tobermory on Mull. His tune was the shortest in the list, You’re Welcome Ewen Lochiel. The pipe was rich-toned and as rock steady as the finger. Kyle’s only fault was…

Reflections on the Argyllshire Gathering – Part 1

I think it would be fair to say that everything went off very smoothly over the two days of the Gathering held in Oban last week. It is no easy task to organise more than 100 highly motivated pipers and more than 30 judges and stewards, so all credit to John Campbell, Kilberry, Piping Steward, and Assistant Steward Torquil Telfer and their team. Conditions could have been kinder on Games…