Review of the 2018 Scottish Pipers’ Association Competition

I am not sure everyone appreciates how hard it is to produce a piobaireachd to a high professional standard. At last weekend’s Scottish Pipers’ Association contest, there were 22 competitors, all of them first class pipers. Some play in world championship winning bands; others have won major solo awards. Yet of those I heard we really only had four tunes which reached the level described in my opening sentence.  There…

Kintyre Juniors Results

The annual junior competition run by the Kintyre Piping Society was held today in the Seafield Hotel, Campbeltown. The picture above shows the main winners and their trophies. Results: Under 15 yrs 2/4 March First Bobby Allen Second Joshua Reilly Third Andrew Renton Under 15 yrs S&R First Bobby Allen Second Joshua Reilly Third Murray O’May Ground of Piobaireachd Under 15 First Matthew McKerral Second Murray O’May Third Andrew Renton…

SPA Professional Contest – Full Results

The annual professional competition run by the Scottish Pipers’ Association was held at the College of Piping in Glasgow today. There was a good entry in all categories. The picture above shows the main winners with their trophies: l to r – John Dew, Gordon McCready and Cameron MacDougall. The young man with the overall trophy and the big grin is Gordon’s son Innes: Results: Piob: 1 Cameron MacDougall, Old…

Funding Cuts Deal Blow to the Silver Chanter Memorial Recital

After 51 unbroken years the Silver Chanter MacCrimmon Memorial Piobaireachd Competition will not go ahead this August. Funding cuts by the William Grant Foundation have meant that the organisers, the Skye Piping Society, have found it impossible to continue with the prestigious event. The Foundation, who funnel the bulk of their £150,000+ funding for piping through the National Piping Centre, intimated two years ago that they were cutting back. The competition/recital was…

PP Ed’s Blog: SPA Pro/Jimmy Jackson/ SPJA/ Xavier Vid/ Balmoral Schools/ Allan Chatto/

What will be the first professional piping contest of the season (following the weather cancellation of the Uist & Barra) will be held this Saturday April 14. It’s the Scottish Pipers Association contest and it will be held at NPC West (College of Piping, Otago St. to us old timers) with a good entry in all categories. Last year’s overall winner was Sarah Muir (pictured top with her trophies) who will be…