North America’s 35th Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Piping Competition

One of North America’s leading amateur competitions, the 35th Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Piping Competition, was held on Saturday, October 7, 2017 in the First Reformed Church of Scotia, Scotia, NY. Judges: Ian K. MacDonald, Whitby, Ontario, Andrew Lee, Surrey, British Columbia and Ben McClamrock, Baltimore, Maryland. Master of Ceremonies: Donald F. Lindsay and Daniel Cole. Overall Nicol-Brown Championship 1. ALISTAIR BEVAN (21 points) Prizes: air fare to compete in London in November 2018, sponsored by the…

Manorcunningham Celebrate Successful Year and Are Now Recruiting

John Kelly reports….After a year out in 2016, Manorcunningham Pipe Band made a welcome return to the Grade 2 pipe band competition arena in 2017 picking up an amazing 41 trophies in a most successful year. To celebrate this success the band held a celebratory dinner in the Arena 7 Restaurant, Letterkenny on Saturday 7th October.  Earlier in the day the band members gathered in the band’s practice hall in Manorcunningham village for what…

Steven Wins Australian Drumming Title (picture added)

Steven Shedden has been awarded the 2017 ‘A’ Grade Snare Australian Solo Drumming Championship in Canberra today, receiving the top McCormick Award presented for the first time. All champions and placegetters receive special McCormick Award certificates honouring the inaugural principal drumming with the Australian Pipe Band College, Alex McCormick. The championships were promoted by Canberra College of Piping and Drumming with the support of sponsors and Pipe Bands Australia. Other…

Captain John MacLellan Memorial Results (pictures added)

More than 50 pipers took part in what was a very well run series of competitions at the Army School of Piping and Highland Drumming at Inchdrewer House, Edinburgh. There were nine competitions over four grades with everything completed by 4.30pm. Pictures courtesy Major Gordon Rowan, Director of Army Bagpipe Music. P Grade Overall Champion: Iain Speirs P Grade Piobaireachd: 1st: Iain Speirs 2nd: Callum Beaumont 3rd: Glenn Brown 4th: Faye…

PP Ed’s Blog: Captain John MacLellan Contest/ Danish Pipers in WW1 Initiative

The discrepancies in our lists of competitors for tomorrow’s Captain John MacLellan Memorial Competition are explained: there is a ‘P’ grade. Here is the draw: Good to see these leading pipers supporting this contest, particularly the big piobaireachd winners at this year’s Oban and Inverness gatherings, Glenn Brown (Senior Piobaireachd) and Iain Speirs (Clasp). However, with only a handful of entries I’m not sure how this grade is going to…