John MacFadyen on the Art of Judging – Part 3

We continue the recording of John MacFadyen talking about judging. We are once again grateful to reader Jack McLachlan for forwarding the recording made by John Davidson, Parkview, Johannesburg, at his home on 12th August 1973. At the beginning of this part of the recording Mr Davidson mentions some of the well-known worthies of southern African piping of the time, John Farmer, Cyril Hall (Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe) and Nick Kinsey. John…

A Few Days in the US for the Balmoral Amateur Piping Championship

There is something to be said for travelling to the US via Dublin. There you can clear border control and avoid queues on the other side of the Atlantic. I got stuck in arrivals at Philadelphia last weekend in a crowd of 400 with three unhurried guys in kiosks checking passports. Result: missed connection and an unplanned overnight in Philly courtesy the helpful woman at the British Airways desk. By…

New Sunbelt Contest Results

This new invitational competition was held in Orlando, Florida, yesterday, November 12. Promoter Eric Stein reported an audience of 200. There were two events a Piobaireachd and a Medley. Piobaireachd1 Callum Beaumont, Phantom Piper of the Corrieyairick, $1,0002 Angus MacColl, Nameless Cherede Darievea, $7503 Ian K MacDonald, MacLeod of Colbeck’s Lament, $5004 Bruce Gandy, Battle of Waternish, $2505 Stuart Liddell, Unjust Incarceration, $100 Medley1 Glenn Brown, $1,0002 Stuart Liddell, $7503…

Balmoral Classic US Amateur Championship Results

This competition was held yesterday, November 12, in the Gettysburg Room of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Pittsburgh, PA. There were eleven competitors in both Piobairachd and MSR. The overall winner was Paul MacKay who placed second in both events winning for himself a set of engraved McCallum Bagpipes. Pictured above are MSR winner Leland Reid, Balmoral US Amateur Champion Paul MacKay, and Piobaireachd winner Abby…

Inverness Cancels European Pipe Band Championships

The Inverness Courier newspaper is reporting today that the local council has withdrawn sponsorship for the 2023 European Pipe Band Championships due to be held the city’s Bught Park next July. The competition was seen as ‘no longer financially viable’ according to councillors. The report reads: ‘It is with deep regret that we must announce the cancellation of Piping Inverness 2023, incorporating the European Pipe Band Championship. ‘Due to the…