Hamilton, Ontario – November 21, 2009 – Richard Gillies of Portland, Oregon, gained the 2009 George Sherriff Memorial Invitational Amateur Solo Piping Championship in a contest that brought together 10 of the year's most successful amateur pipers. Gillies won the Piobaireachd and 6/8 Marches section, and was third in the MSR to take the prize. The 2008 Sherriff Champion, Bobby Durning of Milltown, New Jersey, was second overall.
Piobaireachd
1st Richard Gillies, "The MacLeods' Salute"
2nd Liz Dunsire, Bellingham, Washington, "A Flame of Wrath"
3rd Thomas Harrington, Glenholme, Nova Scotia, "The MacKays' Banner"
4th Bobby Durning, "The Desperate Battle"
5th Brendan Culver, Orangeville, Ontario "Lament for the Viscount of Dundee"
MSR
1st Anthony Masterson, Houston, "Willie MacLean," "The Doune of Invernochty," "The Blackberry Bush"
2nd Bobby Durning, "Knightswood Ceilidh," "Caber Feidh," "Broadford Bay"
3rd Richard Gillies, "The Young MacGregor," "Arniston Castle," "Alick C. MacGregor"
4th Liz Dunsire, "Bonnie Ann," "The Islay Ball," "The Smith of Chillichassie"
5th Thomas Harrington, "Kantara to El Arish," "Maggie Cameron," "The Rejected Suitor"
6/8 Marches
1st Richard Gillies
2nd Anthony Masterson
3rd Bobby Durning
4th Glenn Walpole, Tiverton, Ontario
5th Liz Dunsire
Also playing but not in the prizes were Ursa Beckford, Clifton; Lee Cho-Lam, Hong Kong; and Elizabeth Sheridan, Oakville, Ontario.
Jack Lee, Stuart Liddell and Reay Mackay judged all of the events. Peter Aumonier was the master of ceremonies throughout the day.
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