Atholl Gathering 2026 Results – Updated

The Atholl Gathering was held yesterday (May 24) in the grounds of Blair Castle, Perthshire. There were several call offs but still a very healthy entry with 17 in the P/A Piobaireachd. The weather was settled with some warmth and sunshine. There were graded senior contests for Piobaireachd. The March, Strathspey and Reel and Hornpipe & Jig were open but split into four heats with three pipers in each progressing…

Dollar Band Results

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…

RSPS Results/ Aberdeen Games

The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society held their annual competitions in their rooms in Edinburgh on April 24th and May 8th/9th. Overall Prizes: Pipe Major William Ross Cup – Colin MacNeill (above right); David J Ross Trophy – Charles Dunbar (above left). ‘A’ Piobaireachd: 1 C MacNeill (Beloved Scotland) 2 C Dunbar (Battle of Waternish) 3 J Frater (Roderick Mòr Macleod’s Sal.) 4 S Letford (Lament for the Laird of Contuillich)…

New Book on the World Pipe Band Championship

A new book tracing the history of the World Pipe Band Championship is now available. ‘Around the Worlds’ has been a labour of love for the author, Iain Duncan, former RSPBA librarian and an Honorary Life Member of the Association. The book tracks the iconic championship from its inception to the present day. The sub-title is ‘The Development and Evolution of the Grade One World Pipe Band Championship and the…

Livingstone Memorial Report

It is several years since I was in Canada so I was pleased to accept an invitation to judge the Livingstone Invitational solo contest run by the Niagara-Hamilton Branch of the Pipers and Pipe Band Association of Ontario. You can get a direct flight from Glasgow and that brought me seven hours or so later to Toronto to be met by my old Muirheads friend Mike MacDonald, the man immortalised…