NI Piper of the Year/ Shotts Concert/ Balmoral Classic

The Northern Ireland Piper of the Year competition will take place in the Adair Arms Hotel, Ballymena, this Saturday, 28th September, writes Ken Stewart. This event has been in existence since 1979 and is an invitation only competition. Pipers who have featured in prizelists at various events throughout Ireland during the current year are invited to take part. The competition comprises both Piobaireachd and March, Strathspey & Reel. Each competitor…

Editor’s Notebook: P/Ms Succession Planning/ George Sherriff Memorial/ Mystery Band/ Cancale Piper

Succession planning is everything when its comes to changing Grade 1 pipe majors. Get it right and the prizes continue unabated. Wrong, and a once great outfit tumbles and expires. That’s what happened with Muirhead & Sons in the ’70s. There are more modern examples too.  One of the most successful handovers came when Tully Senior handed over to Tully Junior at St Laurence O’Toole a few years back. Alen…

Unifying Set Tunes Worldwide, James McGrady, Norman Meldrum and Neville McKay

I would like to comment on a few articles on Piping Press over the past several weeks. Firstly, Scott Nicholson’s plan for a unified system of Piobaireachd Society set tunes for Australia (PP, July 2). This has great value. It motivates aspiring competitors to commit to learning these tunes and if they are successful with them and accepted for Oban and Inverness, they are likely to be well prepared.  My…

Bowhill Games Results

Here are the results from Bowhill Highland Games today [Sept.15], writes Piping Convenor Greig Canning. They were held in changeable conditions in Wallsgreen Park, Cardenden, Fife. Judges for open events were Jimmy Banks and Chris Armstrong. Judge for junior events was Jamie Elder. It was another healthy entry with 12 pipers playing in the open events, 17 in the under-15 light music and 10 in the junior piobaireachd. Mike Fitzhenry…

Pitlochry Games Results

Damp, overcast conditions but only a few light showers at Pitlochry in Highland Perthshire on September 14. The piobaireachd competition, sponsored by the Piobaireachd Society, attracted a large entry and was capped at 20. Twenty-six in the light music. Christopher Armstrong continued his good form from the Argyllshire Gathering, but the piper with most points was young Cameron May, Lesmahagow (pictured). Judges reported a high standard, particularly in the ceòl…