Andrew Carlisle Wins 41st Livingstone Invitational

By Julie Stewart The 41st William Livingstone, Senior, Memorial Invitational, or, ‘The Livingstone’, to those familiar with the event, was held Saturday, May 11, in the historic James Street Armouries, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in the Officers’ Mess of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada. The Livingstone contest is one of the most challenging anywhere: players are required to prevail in both piobaireachd and ‘light’ music contests in order to…

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Whistlestop Tour of the Grade 2 Action over the Weekend

By MacStig ‘The best laid plans o’ mice and men, gang aft agley’…… It had been my intention to be in Banchory for the thrilling regional Grade 2 competition featuring the best of the North East. Like a bad joke about getting directions in Dublin – ‘if I was going there I wouldn’t be starting from here’, the journey overland from western parts to Banchory was too far in the…

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Ulster Pipe Band Season Kicks off at Newtownards

The 2019 pipe band season got underway yesterday (May 11) at Newtownards Airport in the shadow of Scrabo Tower. Despite a bright and sunny day, a stiff breeze coming off Strangford Lough kept temperatures low. Sponsored by the North Down and Ards Borough Council, all manner of stalls and activities were laid on and this created a family friendly atmosphere which is what these events are all about. It was…

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Please Can I have My Pipes Back? – Yes!

A happy ending following our story of the other day. Malcolm Muir has his father’s pipes back. Writing in our comments section he says: ‘Wow here’s to the power of social media! Dad’s pipes have been found! ‘We’re over the moon and quite emotional as the owner, who despite his love of them and sentimental attachment, has agreed to come to an arrangement with us.’ Strapped for cash and against…

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Band Sizes, Fly-ins and Time for a Rethink on the Worlds Grade 1 Draw

By the Editor Now that we know that all four performances by Grade 1 bands at the Worlds will count towards the final outcome, is it time for RSPBA officials to have a look at the draw? At the moment a band drawn first holds that playing position throughout what was the Qualifier and into the Saturday. This was seen as being unnecessarily unfair. With the new arrangements it will…

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