Switalla Makes Near Clean Sweep at NZ Championships

Christchurch, New Zealand – Brian Switalla of Dunedin, New Zealand, won the overall title at the New Zealand Solo Piping Championships held here over the weekend.

Switalla took the March and Strathspey & Reel light music event and the Piobaireachd contest, and then went on to win the March, Strathspey & Reel for previous winners.

The former Pipe Major of the Dunedin Police Pipe Band, Switalla has also played with the New Zealand Police and, at the 2000 World Championships, Field Marshal Montgomery.

George Mason of Wellington, New Zealand, managed to keep Switalla honest by taking the Hornpipe & Jig contest.

Event were judged by Jack Lee of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Lewis Turrell of New Zealand.

Piobaireachd
1st Brian Switalla, “lament for Donald Duaghald MacKay”
2nd Fiona Manson
3rd Glenn Harris
4th Vaughan Wheeler

March
1st Brian Switalla
2nd Richard Hawke
3rd Casey Wilkes

Strathspey & Reel
1st Brian Switalla
2nd Casey Wilkes
3rd Richard Hawke

Hornpipe & Jig
1st George Mason
2nd Brian Switalla
3rd Stewart McKenzie

Clasp MSR (for previous winners of Silver Chanter)
1st Brian Switalla
2nd Martin Frewen
3rd Richard Hawke

Silver Chanter MSR (previous winners excluded)
1st Fiona Manson
2nd Ross Horsborough
3rd Vaughan Wheeler
4th Stuart Easton

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