Worrall judging Argyllshire Gathering

Bob Worrall of Burlington, Ontario, will be a judge at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban, Scotland, this August. He will also serve on the solo piping panel at the Cowal Gathering in Dunoon, Scotland, immediately following the Oban competition.

It was previously confirmed that Jim McGillivray of Aurora, Ontario, would judge at both events. Worrall had been travelling and thus only confirmed his attendance in the past few days.

McGillivray and Worrall judging at the Argyllshire Gathering marks the first time that judges not from the United Kingdom will judge at one of the major Scottish gatherings. Worrall and McGillivray have previously judged at the Scottish Pipers Society of London and Uist & Barra piping competitions.

The Argyllshire Gathering, while considered by most pipers as the lesser sibling in terms of stature when compared with its sister event, the Northern Meeting at Inverness, has been far more progressive in recent years. In addition to opening its judging panel to non-Scottish judges, the Argyllshire Gathering last year implemented an online registration system for competitors.

Three years ago the piping convener, Jamie Fraser, responded to the grumblings of competitors when he altered the 150-year-old tradition of the competing pipers marching behind the Oban gentry in the event’s celebrated march to the Thursday games. The pipers now lead the march.

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