European Pipe Band Champs Promo/ South Africa Soloists End of Year Meeting

Need a reminder of the summer’s pipe band contests? Below is the link to a promo video put out by the sponsors of the European Pipe Band Championships, Piping at Forres. It is ostensibly a plug for their commercial side but there are some good shots of bands, drum corps, RSPBA officials and adjudicators. The picture above shows Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia marching to the line at Forres last summer….

John Retires With a Look Back at Northern Ireland's 2017 Band Scene

After ten years of covering pipe band events and competitions John Kelly (RSPBANI Honorary Vice-President) has decided to pack away the Nikon D3 camera, hang up the now familiar straw hat and retire from the pipe band scene.  In concluding this ‘Review of 2017’ John would like to thank his many pipe band and drum major friends for many special memories and wish them every success in 2018. January (pic…

Northern Winter School in Germany Comes to a Successful Conclusion

So that is the third annual Northern Winter School over and we are now travelling home, writes the Editor. I think it would be fair to say it has been a success and Principal Ronnie Bromhead has already booked his premises for the next few years ahead. The picture above shows students and instructors.Many of the students have expressed a wish to have a weekend refresher course a few months…

A Look Back at the London Championship 2017 and a Review of the B Grade Piobaireachd

I read the comment on yesterday’s results post  with a little concern. Organisers and stewards giving of their free time and effort can take these things cruelly. However I do feel the London contest needs a bit of pruning if it is to maintain its mojo. Prizemoney looked modest and the number of prizes could do with an increase. Any more than 12 entrants and there needs to be a…

PP Ed's Blog: London/ Critiques/Bellows Collogue/SPA/ Florida

To London today for the annual solo championships. A huge number of events with around 100 pipers taking part. The judges will have their work cut out for sure. Kensington Conference Centre is the place to be from 8.30am tomorrow and I’ll have results here as soon as I get them. ‘Charlie’ comments again on Glenfiddich asking if I could review the performances via the videos. Not something I do…