Lochaber Gathering Draw Published

The draw for Saturday’s contest in Fort William has now been published online. Over 50 pipers, juniors and senior, have entered. The picture shows last year’s champion pipers Ben Duncan, Gordon Walker and Callum Beaumont. Piobaireached P/A Hall A:  08:30 Michael Fitzhenry, Paisley Innes Smith, Glasgow Jonathon Greenlees, Glasgow Alan Russell, Kelty Peter MacAlister, Dunblane Ben Duncan, Edinburgh Euan MacCrimmon, Inverness Callum Beaumont, Linlithgow James MacHattie, Canada Derek Midgley, USA…

RSPBA Announce Dates of Majors 2018

The 2017 season may just have ended but the Washington Street HQ is already planning for next year. Today they released the dates for all the 2018 Majors so get the diaries out: The 2018 Pipe Band Championships will take place as follows: • British Championships – May 19th at Paisley • United Kingdom Championships – June 16th at Belfast • European Championships – June 30th at Grant Park, Forres…

Posted in News   

Skye Gathering 2017: Dunvegan Medal Critique

A few free days before the Worlds allowed an escape to the wonderful Isle of Skye and an opportunity to listen to some top class piobaireachd, writes the Editor. Portree was sunny and pleasant when I arrived, though the venue, the Skye Gathering Hall, cool. I missed the first two tunes in the Dunvegan Medal but was fortunate to hear the winning performance by Ian K MacDonald from Toronto. No…

Worlds – Grade 2 Review and Thoughts on the Day at Glasgow Green

Some say he wears a glengarry with his pyjamas….others that his kilt was at Culloden….yet more that his dress sense is more Prince, than Charlie. All we know is that he is called MacStig……. The climax of the 2017 Pipe Band Season arrived last Saturday at Glasgow Green, the home of the World Championships, with cold, overcast conditions, rain at times yet brightening towards evening. But enough of the weather………

Changes at the College and the Funding of Piping

Just when things seemed to be settling down at the College of Piping we hear of another departure, that of General Manager Fraser MacInnes, writes the Editor. My information is that the parting was not as harmonious as it might have been. There must have been personality issues here for, according to the Office of Scottish Charities Register (OSCR), the College’s profit last year was £21,000. The old place seemed…