No games at Tain? Hold your own event

Tain, Scotland – August 7, 2008 – When a contingent of several top solo pipers from North American made the trek north to the Tain Highland Games on August 7th – as per the Competing Pipers Association’s “Guide to the Games” schedule – only to find that there was no games of any kind scheduled, there was only one thing to do: head back down the road to the Glenmorangie Distillery for a visit.

That’s what Jim Dillahey, Charleston, South Carolina; Doug MacRae, Houston; Matt Pantaleoni, St. Louis; Andrew Rogers, Fredericton, New Brunswick; Ken Sutherland, California; and Lyric Todkill, Houston did, and then decided to hold their own impromptu competition – judged by Ann Gray of Calgary – in the distillery’s parking lot.

The “GCPPC” (Glenmorangie Car Park Piping Challenge) was cordially supported by the good people at Glenmorangie, who put up with it and also gave the pipers a dram and a complementary bottle of malt. The distillery did stress that, unlike Glenfiddich, stalwart supporters of piping for more than 30 years, Glenmorangie had no long-term interest in a formal sponsorship.

The day was cool and overcast and the midges were tolerable. One attendee said, “The event is expected by many to become one of the premier stops on the solo piping circuit.”

Piobaireachd
1st Matt Pantaleoni “Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay”
2nd Lyric Todkill “I got a kiss of the King’s hand”
3rd Andrew Rogers “The Stewart’s White Banner”
4th Doug McRae “The Battle of the Pass of Crieff”

MSR
1st Andrew Rogers
2nd Jim Dillahey
3rd Ken Sutherland

A special award for most promising piper (who played for comments only) was given to Robyn Gray of Calgary. The event was capped off by a march, led by Piper of the Day Andrew Rogers to the Glenmorangie Visitors’ Centre where another dram was had to celebrate the occasion.

It should be noted that none of the players confirmed with the Tain Games organizers before they set out that there would actually be an event.