Northern Meeting Day 2 – Clasp and ‘B’ Grade Ceol Beag

Day Two of the Northern Meeting kicks off today with the Clasp competition, the premiere event for ceol mor, the ‘B’ Grade light music and the Hornpipe & Jig. It should be noted that Douglas Murray has withdrawn from the competition owing to pressure of work. There have been other withdrawals too and for this reason the start time was changed from 8.30am to 9am. Here is the draw for…

Northern Meeting Results Day 1 – Ian K Does the Double!/ Connor Takes Silver/ Angus Wins MSR

Ian K MacDonald, Toronto, is the 2016 Northern Meeting Gold Medallist, so completing a historic double of winning both Gold Medals in the same year. Ian’s tune was Mary’s Praise, the same piece he played to win his other medal at Oban last week.  The first three places in the Gold were the same as Oban. The above picture is of Ian K  on stage today at the Eden Court…

Northern Meeting Solo Piping Underway

The piping competitions at the Northern Meeting, Inverness, are now underway. Fifty pipers are playing for the Gold and Silver Medals (25 in each contest) and 31 for the ‘A’ Grade MSR. Later this evening a further 23 will be vying for the Former Winners’ March, Strathspey and Reel. All events are held at the town’s Eden Court Theatre. Here are the draws: GOLD MEDAL SILVER MEDAL   ‘A’ MSR   FORMER WINNERS…

PP Editor’s Blog: Poll/ Angus Nicol/ Willie Lawrie/ Shotts Contest/ Glenn’s Job

  [polldaddy poll=9503440] Don’t forget to offer your opinion on the Champion of Champions poll above. Now that Cowal is past, visitors might have a better idea of how the event could handle re-instituting the awards there. Still with the bands, a good letter today on the Worlds and Grade 1 players being allowed to play ‘down’. Correspondent Jim Johnson, like all those with any sense, believes the open circle…

William Grant & Sons Funding for Piping Events Under Review

The news that there is to be a reduction in the sponsorship of piping by Glenfiddich/ Wm Grant and Sons will be of concern to all our readers, writes the Editor. Rumours have been abroad for some time and now it seems the whispers have become fact. This company’s generosity towards our art is legion. They and their former Chairman Sandy Grant Gordon will forever have a place in the hearts…