RSPBA Publishes Draw for UK Pipe Band Championships

The UK Pipe Band Championships will be held at Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland on June 10. There is a high entry in all grades. Here are the bands playing in Grade 1 and the times of their performances courtesy of the RSPBA: Grade 1 – Final 01 13:30 Field Marshal Montgomery 02 13:40 Inveraray and District 03 13:50 Bleary and District 04 14:00 Vale of Atholl 05 14:10 Peoples Ford…

PP Ed’s Blog: Aussie Rules/ St Petersburg/ Chris Terry

Latest from Pipe Bands Australia: ‘The national council of Pipe Bands Australia has voted to endorse the decision of bands in the recent annual ballot of bands to include a separate Grade 4 selection of marches events in the contest regulations. ‘National management committee last year introduced a trial rule for the event to encourage bands to return to the competition arena, retain players of long-standing and assist in providing…

Pipe Bands Australia Follows RSPBA Lead

The Council of Pipe Bands Australia has approved changes to its contest framework to closer align it with Scotland. The PBA website reports: Australian contest regulations now more closely reflect requirements observed in RSPBA competitions following national council adoption of proposals put to bands in the recent annual ballot of Pipe Bands Australia. The new definition of music requirements for Grade 4 MSR provide both flexibility for developing bands and…

Macdougall of Aberfeldy and that Feature of 1893 Part 2

We continue with our feature on Macdougall of Aberfeldy and the feature which appeared in the People’s Journal newspaper of November 4, 1893. It is by their ‘Lady Correspondent’ and is headlined ‘An Interview with the Queen’s Bagpipe-Maker’. This is a period piece of writing and the author is clearly no piper. Would that we could get our hands on some of the sets mentioned. There is relevant information on the ivory…

BC Pipers Association Indoor Meet Results

Robert MacNeill reports: Bruce Gandy won the MacCrimmon Memorial Cairn for Open Piping Piobaireachd, the March, Strathspey & Reel, and the Aggregate at the 2017 BCPA Annual Gathering on April 14 & 15 at Clayton Heights Secondary School, Surrey, BC. Andrew Lewis captured the Competing Pipers Association Combined B&C Grade Piobaireachd. Andrew is pictured above receiving his award. Grant Maxwell won both the Open Snare Drumming events and Mackenzie Webster took…