Tag: piping

We Need to Rethink Champion of Champions Points for 2025

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As the 2025 pipe band season gets into full swing, bands will have their sights set on two major goals. The pinnacle is clearly winning, or being placed, in the World Championships, followed closely by winning the Champion of Champions award.  This latter achievement is arguably a more meaningful measure of a pipe band’s success as it represents consistency across all the Championship competitions, confirming excellent performances in both MSR…

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Cyril Hall, Zimbabwe

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I rose this morning to learn of the passing of Cyril Hall, Zimbabwe. His friend Aiton Shepherd wrote from Western Australia: ‘Cyril died last night in Mutare.  ‘His eldest son, Bobby, who lives here in Perth, phoned with the sad news. I admit to a few tears. The attached photo [above] was taken by Craig Sked a few years ago at the 100 Guineas solo piping competition in Johannesburg.  By the…

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Kenmore Games/ Johnstone Pipe Band/ Euro Draw

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Despite fluctuating weather forecast predictions, it turned out to be a warm, dry night at this week’s Kenmore Games, writes Jen Mackintosh.  Even the midgies were kind enough to hold off until nearly the end!  Although a small number of entries, it was a good competition with some fine playing, and judge Ronnie Clark was encouraging in his praise when speaking at the prize giving. Above are the winners pictured…

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Rare Book Quest/ Lochaber Gathering Entries/ John’s New Recording

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Avid pipe music collector Marco Borzacca is looking to add the above book, the ‘Dunoon Highland Gathering Collection’, to his growing library. Marco lives in Genoa, Italy. He writes: ‘I’m looking for a vintage bagpipe music book but, despite all my adverts on various facebook’s pages, I have not found it yet, since I realise it is extremely rare and hard to find. ‘So, I was wondering if your magazine can…

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Tribute Band to Star at Saturday’s All Ireland Championships

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Some time ago an idea was hatched by a few people who had competed during the 1970s to acknowledge the introduction of the Medley format for the World Pipe Band Championships. Prior to Aberdeen 1970 all World Championships had been conducted within the MSR format, with one pipe and one drum adjudicator on duty. The new Medley format required the use of a third adjudicator for the new discipline of…

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