Grading of Solo Competing Pipers/PP Miscellany

The Editor: Just to add a little flesh to my earlier comments about flaws in the grading system, I do think the whole business needs re-assessed with greater involvement of the judging fraternity. After all, it is the judges who sit through lengthy contests listening intently to each player as they come forward – something the current Competing Pipers’ Association Grading Committee don’t seem to do. They operate primarily on…

Highlands & Islands Senior Piping (updated)

Here are the results from today’s senior piping at Oban. Stay tuned for comment and more from the Festival tomorrow. A Piob 1 Darach Urquhart, Cooper Salver, Earl of Ross’s March 2 Jenny Hazzard, Dougie MacColl Memorial Trophy, Lady Margaret MacDonald’s Salute 3 William Geddes, Earl of Seaforth 4 Allan Russell 5 Chris Armstrong Judges: A Wright, S Shedden B Piob 1 Greig Canning 2 Katherine Belcher 3 Connor Sinclair…

PP Editor’s Blog: GWoS Indoor, RSPS Champion, Spring Gathering, New England camp, Rab Mathieson

Here are a couple of pictures missed from the report on Saturday’s successful Glasgow & West Indoor contest at Coatbridge. They are of Adult Section drumming champion Craig Lawrie (below) of Lomond & Clyde PB and the other trophy winners (above). Good to see one of the ‘old stagers’, Eric Ward, putting his reputation on the line against the younger generation. I am sure the promoters appreciated his support for…

Highlands & Islands Piping Draw

The draw for the Highlands & Islands solo piping has just been released: SENIOR PIPING, Saturday 2 May, 2015, Oban High School Adjudicators:  A Wright, N Mulvie, R MacShannon, S Shedden, R Wallace, I MacFadyen, I McLellan, W Cowan. Class 27 Piobaireachd, Grade A & P 9am Trophies:  1st – Cooper Salver, 2nd – Dugald MacColl Memorial Angus J. MacColl, Benderloch Jenny Hazzard, Edinburgh Chris Armstrong, Airth Gordon Bruce, Kilwinning Cameron Drummond, Edinburgh Michael Elder,…

Pipers Get Verbal Broadside After Competition Withdrawal

The organisers of the prestigious  Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition have gone public to express their disapproval of the withdrawal of two world-famous pipers from the event which takes place on the isle of Lewis in the Western Isles tomorrow (April 10). The Lewis and Harris Piping Society say they are bitterly disappointed at the withdrawals of Douglas Murray and Gordon Walker 24 hours before the competitors were due to fly to…