British Pipe Band Championships 2019 Results

St Laurence O’Toole from Eire (pictured in the circle today) were declared the new British Pipe Band Champions today at a cold, grey St James Playing Fields in Paisley. Just over 120 bands entered for the contest, the first RSPBA major championship of the season. The G1 prizes: 1 SLoT2 Scottish Power3 Inveraray4 Boghall5 Field Marshal6 Fife Police with the drumming going to SLoT. Each band had to submit two MSRs,…

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Chairman Offers Best Wishes and All Success to Bands on Day of First Major

RSPBA Chairman John Hughes has offered support and encouragement to all bands participating in today’s first major of the season, the British at Paisley. Mr Hughes (pictured below) said: ‘On the day of the first Major Championship of the season, I hope you are all feeling satisfied with the hard work and determination that has gone in over the winter. ‘I know a number of you have managed to get…

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The Premiere of the New Tune for War Hero John Cruickshank VC

By the Editor A celebration lunch was held at the Royal Northern and University Club in Aberdeen yesterday to honour John Cruickshank VC and the tune written for him by Dave Mason of Cincinnati and South Africa. Dave flew in specially to play the tune, spending much of his £1,000 prize money in the process. ‘I wouldn’t have had it any other way,’ he said. John and Dave are pictured…

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2019 British Championship Grade 2 Preview

By MacStig His stocks might be high and his bag low, but our man in the oilskin and the WW2 Army-issue kilt will be at large in Paisley for the British Championship this Saturday….and look out for ol’ tin ears at Lurgan, Inverness, Dumbarton and Glasgow too.  Following instructions from the Editor (something about getting to Paisley and two fingers), I assumed correctly he was referring to my assigned grade…

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Piobaireachd Composing Competition Winners for 2019 Announced

Jori Chisholm of Seattle, USA, is the winner of this year’s original piobaireachd composing competition organised by the Shasta Piping Society, California, and the Burley Bagpipe Company. Jori is a previous winner of the competition (2017) and picks up a cheque for £500 ($650) for his as yet unnamed tune. In second place came Karen McCrindle Warren from Cumnock in Ayrshire. She wins £250. Karen, compiler of the South West…

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