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The Inverness Courier newspaper is reporting today that the local council has withdrawn sponsorship for the 2023 European Pipe Band Championships due to be held the city’s Bught Park next July.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…

Editor’s Notebook: Balmoral Classic/ Logan Tannock/ Florence Allan/ Jimmy Banks

In Pittsburgh, PA, for the annual Balmoral Classic US Amateur Piping Championship. The judges are myself, Amy Garson and Lezlie Webster. The 12 competitors and their tunes: It should be a good competition. Lots of excellent prizes for the winners. I do a free workshop for all competitors on the Sunday. More details here. Pittsburgh is of course the home of Carnegie Mellon University where Jimmy McIntosh established the first…

Ulster News: Blackthorn Pipers/ RSPBANI AGM/ Show Returns/ Paddy Kelly/ Dundalk/ St Mary’s

On the third Wednesday of the months of September and October the Blackthorn Pipers Society welcomed guest pipers Kris Coyle and Ashley McMichael. Both of these Field Marshal Montgomery pipers were in outstanding form and videos of theirs and other players’ performances can be seen on the Blackthorn Society’s Facebook page. The Society meets in the Discover Ulster Scots Building, 1-9 Victoria Street Belfast BT1 3GA and it will continue…