Dollar Band Results

Boghall & Bathgate took the Grade 1 prize in a hotly contest Dollar contest today. Straight 1s in piping from judges Barry Donaldson and Grant Walker, a second in drumming from Brian Martin and a first in ensemble from Tom Brown earned them the top spot ahead of Field Marshal. Weather conditions were perfect. Eight bands played in Grade 1 with Coalburn IOR, the Grade 2 winners, playing ‘up’. Third…

Editor’s Notebook: Judging and Teaching/ 277 Argylls/ Perthshire League/ Strathendrick Boost/ ‘Redundant’ A

I want to double down on one of my comments in Brad Davidson’s report on my workshop in Ontario. Any rule or legislation in piping which discourages teaching, directly or indirectly, should be deplored by all right-thinking persons. Judging and teaching should not be seen as mutually exclusive, yet we now have experts, proven winners at the top of our business, who have turned their backs on the latter in…

Review: Piobaireachd Workshop in Ontario

A piobaireachd workshop was held in the Sergeants’ Mess of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in Hamilton, Ontario, on Sunday May 10, the day after the Livingstone Memorial Invitational Piping Competition. As someone who has received piobaireachd instruction over many years starting with P/M Donald MacLeod and his protégé, Garth Neel, to Colin Maclellan, Ed Neigh, Willie Connell, and finally John Cairns, I can attest to the value of hearing…

Atholl Gathering Details

The 2026 Atholl Gathering is this Sunday, May 24. It has attracted a very large entry. Piping Convenor Jack Taylor: ‘It is a busy field, although manageable due to a fair number of withdrawals.  ‘The weather is looking fair – 22 degrees, sun/light cloud, so it should be a good day all round for the first outdoor contest of the season. ‘Competitions start at 9.30am sharp. Pipers must check in on the…

RSPS Results/ Aberdeen Games

The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society held their annual competitions in their rooms in Edinburgh on April 24th and May 8th/9th. Overall Prizes: Pipe Major William Ross Cup – Colin MacNeill (above right); David J Ross Trophy – Charles Dunbar (above left). ‘A’ Piobaireachd: 1 C MacNeill (Beloved Scotland) 2 C Dunbar (Battle of Waternish) 3 J Frater (Roderick Mòr Macleod’s Sal.) 4 S Letford (Lament for the Laird of Contuillich)…