UK Pipe Band Championships – SLOT Triumph

St Laurence O’Toole from Dublin are the new UK Pipe Band Champions winning today in Bangor, Northern Ireland, in perfect weather conditions. SLOT secured two firsts for piping, a fourth for drumming and second for ensemble. Two medleys were required in G1. The other places in the top grade went to: 2 Inveraray (2,2,1,6)3 FMM (3,3,2,5)4 Boghall (6,4,3,1)5 Shotts (5,5,6,3)6 S Power (4,6,8,4) with the drumming going to Inveraray. Judges…

Gourock Games: First Blood to Shotts/ Leinster: SLOT ‘Outstanding’

A warm bright start at the first central belt contest of the pipe band season at Gourock. However storms moved in from the coast bringing torrential rain and the cancellation of the massed bands and march past. As the photograph shows, this was a sensible decision given the extreme weather. Winners in Grade 1 were Shotts and Dykehead who placed second from both piping judges (B Donaldson and J Wilson),…

Highlands & Islands Festival 2024 Senior & Junior Results

Another successful competition was held in the Oban High School today, Saturday, May 4, with healthy entries in most competitions. Sponsors included the Piobaireachd Society, RG Hardie & Co, McCallum Bagpipes and the Competing Pipers’ Association. P/A Ceol Mor for Cooper Salver (1st) and Dugald MacColl Memorial Trophy (2nd).1 Angus J MacColl, I Got a Kiss of the King’s Hand 2 Angus MacPhee, Lament for MacSwan of Roaig3 Calum Watson,…

Highlands & Islands Festival Draws and Judges Announced

Piping Convenor Iain Hurst has announced details of the important Highlands & islands Festival senior piping competitions to be held in Oban High School this Saturday, May 4. Sponsors included the Piobaireachd Society, RG Hardie & Co, McCallum Bagpipes and the Competing Pipers’ Association. There have been several withdrawals; the lists below are accurate as of today, May 2. Organisers are the Netherlorn Piping Society. P/A Ceol Mor (9am, four…

Readers’ Memories of P/M Hugh MacInnes

Yesterday’s story and recordings about former light music champion piper Hugh MacInnes brought considerable response from readers. Many had fond memories of the man and his piping. The recordings we featured are now in the PP Audio archive and can be enjoyed again here. The first message was from Tom Johnstone: Hughie and I were both founder members of the Glasgow Skye Assoc. band back in 1967/8 and soon became…