Updated: Niall Stewart wins Oban Gold Medal
Oban, Scotland – August 27, 2008 – The Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal for Piobaireachd at the Argylshire Gathering was won by Niall Stewart of Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland, today.
Gold Medal (29 competed)
1st Niall Stewart, “The Blind Piper’s Obstinacy” (played 10th)
2nd Andrew Hayes, Ottawa, “The End of the Great Bridge” (played 14th)
3rd Gareth Rudolph, Glasgow, “The Stewarts’ White Banner” (played 28th)
4th Callum Beaumont, Bo’ness, Scotland, “The King’s Taxes” (played 27th)
5th James MacHattie, Toronto, “My King Has Landed In Moidart” (played 22nd)
Judges: Bill Livingstone, Malcolm McRae, John Wilson
A few hours earlier, Roddy MacLeod of Glasgow was announced the winner of the prestigious Senior Piobaireachd competition, an event reserved for those who have a Highland Society of London Gold Medal at Inverness or Oban. MacLeod’s win follows his gaining a fifth Silver Chanter at Skye earlier in the month. It was MacLeod’s second win of the Senior Piobaireachd, having won it previously in 2006.
Senior Piobaireachd (18 entered, 11 competed)
1st Roddy MacLeod, “Lament for Allan, My Son”
2nd Jack Lee, Surrey, British Columbia, “The Phantom Piper of Corrieyarrick”
3rd Niall Matheson, Inverness, Scotland, “The Phantom Piper of Corrieyarrick”
4th Iain Speirs, Edinburgh, “Roddy MacDonald’s Salute”
Judges: Jack Taylor, Jim McGillivray, John MacDougall
Silver Medal
1st Andrea Boyd, Glasgow
2nd Andrew Lee, Surrey, British Columbia
3rd Faye Henderson, Kirriemuir, Scotland
4th Duncan Grant
5th Cameron Drummond, Edinburgh
Judges: Hugh MacCallum, Iain MacFadyen, Bob Worrall
The March, Strathspey & Reel for former winners of the A-Grade March and A-Grade Strathspey & Reel events was won for the fifth time by Willie McCallum of Bearsden, Scotland, who earlier in the day had to withdraw from the Senior Piobaireachd event. Bruce Hitchings was drafted to judge the event, wearing civilian attire, at the last minute after scheduled judge Willie Morrison did not turn up. For the first time in many years, the Royal Scottish Pipers Society returned sponsorship of the event and awarded the traditional Silver Star, as the organization has continued to do at the Northern Meeting.
Silver Star Former Winners MSR
1st Willie McCallum, “Capt. Campbell of Drum A Voisk,” “Ewe wi’ the Crookit Horn,” “John McKechnie’s Big Reel”
2nd Bruce Gandy, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
3rd Stuart Liddell, Inveraray, Scotland
4th Douglas Murray, Cupar, Scotland
Judge: Barry Donaldson, Bruce Hitchings, Iain MacLellan
MacGregor Memorial
1st Ashleigh Bell
2nd Fraser Maitland
3rd Alistair Lee, Vancouver
4th Gordon Conn, Calgary
Judges: Ronald Clark, Tom Speirs, Andrew Wright
2nd Fraser Maitland
3rd Alistair Lee, Vancouver
4th Gordon Conn, Calgary
Judges: Ronald Clark, Tom Speirs, Andrew Wright
Well done Andrea!
So proud of you Andrea!! Ryan and Megan
OK, I know the idea isn’t new, but maybe it’s time for set tunes for the Former Winners MSR. It’s cool, in a way, that the elite pipers come to have signature tunes that they play for their MSR, but it might be cooler still to hear them play something different.
I reckon you must think it is straightforward to play tunes you know. Since my tunes are listed I will comment. All competitors submit 6 marches, strathspeys and reels of our own choice and have to have them ready to play with 10 minutes warning. I had some new tunes in my list but they weren’t picked. To go up and play an MSR set twice through under that kind of pressure isn’t easy, even if you have been over the course with them before. Anyone who has played in that event will testify to it…….IT’S NOT EASY!!!
Congratulations Andrea!! So proud of you!