Tag: pipes and drums

Argyllshire Gathering Day 2 Results Complete

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Ceòl beag is the focus of the second day at Oban with competitions for ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade March and Strathspey & Reel and Jig. There is also the Intermediate MSR for young pipers who played in the MacGregor Memorial the day before, and local contests. Conditions were warm and sunny. ‘A’ March, Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society Bronze Star1 Ben Duncan2 Ross Conner 3 Steven Leask4 Ian K MacDonald5 Greig…

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Reflections on Day 1 at the 2026 Argyllshire Gathering

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What a day for North America! Three of the five major prizes went to either Canada or the US with the other going to New Zealand. Scotland’s honour was saved by Finlay Johnston in the ‘big’ MSR – but with Ontario’s Ian K MacDonal right on his brogue heels. Ian’s compatriot Sean McKeown took the coveted Highland Society of London Gold Medal. This was a very popular win. Over the…

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Editor’s Notebook: Bands and Solos/ Edinburgh Job/ Angus Award/ Glasgow Police LP

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So that’s the band season more or less over for another year. The piping world now focuses on the solos with major events at Lonach tomorrow, Oban from Wednesday and Fort William next Friday. I suppose from the solo-piper-in-a-band-perspective the calendar works out well, but I still think it is a pity the bands don’t have Cowal or at least some other important event filling out the summer. That won’t…

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The Worlds 2026: Views of a Retired Adjudicator

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Unfortunately, I was able to attend only the Saturday of the World Pipe Band Championships this year.  Unlike some of the previous years the weather was pleasantly warm, free from rain and with only a mild wind, so the atmosphere was ideal for tuning and for the band performances.  Both days were well attended by spectators (estimated at around 35,000 over the two days).  The official programme showed a total…

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The Worlds 2026: Readers Have Their Say

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The comments on the 2026 Worlds continue to reverberate. There can be no question that this year’s championship was an outstanding success for which the RSPBA and the promoters, Glasgow Life, deserve considerable credit. But things could be better say our readers. The treatment of the Juvenile grade and the lack of concern for spectators can be added to the row over Friday heats in Grade 2. We start with…

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