Lochnell Championship Underway

The prestigious Lochnell Intermediate Piping Championship got underway at 10am this morning with seven of the country’s top young talents aged under 22 vying for the title. The event is taking place in Lochnell Castle, a picturesque setting on a spit of land on the Argyllshire coast. The venue is courtesy the Earl of Dundonald and the competition is hosted by his son Lord Archie Cochrane. The competition is modelled…

National Mod Piping Results (updated with Juniors & Pictures)

Fifteen piping competitions from chanter to senior piping took place in the Mod city of Perth today. We will add to the results below as we get them. Senior competitions were held in Perth Theatre. Senior Champion Craig Sutherland is pictured above with his trophies. P/A Piob (six entered)1 Craig Sutherland, Park Piobaireachd 22 John Mulhearn3 Peter McCalister P/A MSR1 Craig Sutherland2 Ciaran Ross3 Mike Fitzhenry B Piobaireachd1 Brodie Watson-Massey2…

Editor’s Notebook: John Ban MacKenzie Gravestone/ Rule Change after 214BB Success/ Lochryan Pipe Band Tutor Search

Correspondent Duncan Watson has been in touch: ‘It might be of interest to add this to the bit re John Ban. The headstone is in the burial ground at Kinnetas which is up the hill from the village of Strathpeffer. ‘I have taken one or two people to the grave for some kind of inspirational visit. I have taken photographs of the headstone and of the one next to it which…

A Classical Musician’s Take on Piobaireachd

When asked to offer some thoughts about piobaireachd as an art form, I was delighted to oblige. This is not least because I was brought up as a flute-playing Scot in England by a piper for a father. With my career now in the performing arts as a conductor specialising in working with singers, I have regularly looked upon piobaireachd with a great deal of interest, even if my knowledge…

History: Competition Wins by the Pipe Band of the 214 Glasgow the Boys’ Brigade 

The funeral of Hector Russell takes place at Cardross Crematorium tomorrow, October 5, at 2.15pm. It is hard to believe that this article was submitted by him to Piping Press less than a month ago, on September 13. His words to the Editor accompanying the article make poignant reading: ‘Robert, I hope this travels okay. Tell me please if it arrives. It is almost complete as may be seen but…