UK Pipe Band Championships: Bands to be Selected at Random for Registration Checks

The RSPBA have made an important public announcement regarding the UK Pipe Band Championships to be held at Lurgan, Northern Ireland, on Saturday (June 10). The Association is anxious that all bands are complying with their regulations on the registration of pipers and drummers. RSPBA officials will be carrying out random checks during the day and band pipe majors could be confronted as they leave the performance arena. RSPBA Director…

Sun Belt Contest/ NZ Piobaireachd Composing Contest/ Piping Times Back Issues

The Sun Belt Invitational Piping Championship returns to Orlando, Florida, on November 11th, 2023, writes Eric Stein. The current list of invitees include: Callum Beaumont (2022 Champion pictured above), Glenn Brown, Bruce Gandy, Nick Hudson, Stuart Liddell, William McCallum, Donald MacPhee, Angus MacColl, Ian K. MacDonald, Alen Tully and Connor Sinclair There are two remaining qualifiers, the overall winners at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and the Masters Invitational at the…

History: The McAllister Reed Goes to Canada

The McAllister reed shot to fame with the success of the Shotts band in the 1970s. It consolidated its position in the era of Strathclyde Police’s run of World Championship wins. With stability, volume, projection, it was the reed of choice for many discerning pipe majors. Twenty five year ago a Canadian family swooped to buy the brand. The Troy family have never looked back. Pictured above are the McAllister…

Latest CLASP Results

CLASP results from the competition held at the National Piping Centre, Glasgow, on June 3rd. Overall Winners: Grade 1 – Theo Pratt, Grade 2 – Donald Morrison, Grade 3 – James Acheson; Piobaireachd judges Graham Drummond; light music Emmet Conway Grade 1 – Piobaireachd: 1 Ben Hall 2 Colin Innes 3 Theo PrattGrade 2 – Piobaireachd: 1 Donald Morrison 2 Ernest Cho 3 Laura McEwanGrade 3 – Piobaireachd: 1 John…

Markinch Games Results

Eleven played in the Piobaireachd and 12 in the MSR. It was a lovely, bright but fresh day in the piping corner at Markinch, Fife. Champion Piper Ben Duncan is pictured above with his trophies. The results were as follows: Piobaireachd:1 Edward Gaul – Red Speckled Bull2 Ben Duncan – Lament for the Dead3 Angus MacPhee – Fair Honey4 Christopher McLeish – Lament for Captain MacDougall Judges: A Forbes, D…