Nichols and Haddon win 2013 BCPA Knockout Finals

Vancouver – March 9, 2013 – Will Nichols of Blaine, Washington, and Graham Haddon of Langley, British Columbia, won the British Columbia Pipers Association Professional Knockout Finals in solo piping and solo snare drumming, respectively, at the association’s Annual Dinner before an audience of more than 150. Nichols took the Davie Moore Memorial trophy, dedicated 30 years ago by the now defunct Ontario-based Clan MacFarlane Pipe Band in honour of their late piper, to promote piping and drumming between Ontario and British Columbia. It was the second Professional-grade competition for the 16-year-old Haddon.

All competitors in the Drumming Knockout received the Willie McErlean medal, in honour of the BCPA Life Member and Leading-Drummer with 1979 World Drum Corps Champions Triumph Street. The annual Knockout comprises a series of events held over the winter, culminating in a final round.

During the evening Life Member awards were presented to Ron Sutherland, North Vancouver, British Columbia, and Ron MacLeod, Surrey, British Columbia, for their decades of services to the BCPA as builders. Robbi Brewer of Portland was given the annual Mary MacKinnon Memorial Service Award for her advancement and excellence in the administration, promotion and organization of piping, drumming and pipe band activities, and a framed print for display in the Scottish Cultural Centre to Pipe-Major Rob Menzies and Leading-Drummer Gavin MacRae of the Robert Malcolm Memorial III Pipe Band for winning Grade 3A at the 2012 World Pipe Band Championship.

BCPA Professional Knockout Finals
Solo Piping
1st Will Nichols
2nd Keith Paton

Judges: Andrew Bonar, Jack Lee, Terry Lee.

Also competing was Brittney Otto.

Solo Snare Drumming
1st Graham Haddon

Judges: Duncan Millar, Scott Robertson

Also competing was Gavin MacRae.

[Homepage photo of Will Nichols and judge Jack Lee courtesy of Weatherly Schiele.]