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On the Friday evening before the annual Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games, the Don MacRae Pub Piping Casual Hornpipe & Jig with contestants not having to wear itchy wool unless they actually prefer it. There are two groups: A comprises Open and Grade 1 pipers, while the B group is open to those who compete in amateur Grade 2, 3 or 4. The event is held at a pub and contestants are encouraged to get creative with their performance.

Arisaig, Scotland – July 26, 2023 – With the striking Sgùrr of Eigg in the distance, Fred Morrison gained the overall Canon Iain Gillies Memorial Trophy as well as the Arisaig Challenge Cup for Piobaireachd at the annual Arisaig Highland Games on Scotland’s spectacular West Highland coast. By winning both […]

The parched grounds of Mount Hood Community College in the hipster capital of the world were the site of the annual Portland Highland Games, where Portland Metro won both of the Grade 2 band events and Alastair Lee of Surrey, British Columbia, was victorious in all of the Open solo piping competitions. Lee received the inaugural Colin MacKenzie Memorial Award for Open Piobaireachd, which was presented by MacKenzie’s daughters, Shona and Holly. Temperatures exceeded 90°F.

It might well be bigger than total prize purse than the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championship, as a collective $7,800 will once again be offered to the prizewinners at the 2023 Piobaireachd Society Gold Medal (Canada) competitions, part of the Glengarry Highland Games at Maxville, Ontario, on Friday, August […]

In Part 4, the final instalment, MacLellan discusses reedmaking, the Competing Pipers Association, his father’s music, what he’d still like to do in piping and, of course, his other avocation in life: golf.

Sherwood Park, Alberta – July 22-23, 2023 – The weather was hot and sunny, with temperatures reaching 31°C for the Sherwood Park Highland Gathering at Broadmoor Lake Park where North Stratton of Edmonton won both Grade 2 band events against Calgary’s Rocky Mountain. The Professional Solo Piper of the Day […]

At a ceremony at Dunvegan, Skye, Calum MacCrimmon of Monifieth, Scotland, was officially appointed the 11th Honourary Hereditary Piper to Chief Hugh MacLeod of MacLeod in the long line of MacCrimmon descendants of Donald Ruadh MacCrimmon who inherit the role. The ceremonial pipe banner was presented by Kevin Tolmie of […]

John Mulhearn of Glasgow was the overall winner of the senior solo piping at the picturesque Lochearnhead Highland Games, with an almost perfect day by winning the Piobaireachd and Strathspey & Reel and placing second in the 2/4 March.

The weather was breezy and cool with a couple of light showers at the Airth Highland Games, where 10 competed in the senior open piping. Fred Morrison of Bishopton, Scotland, won everything.

William Donaldson writes: “The Sutherlands were an extended kindred in the far northern mainland of Scotland, where they were involved in frequent collisions with their neighbours the MacKays, and the Sinclairs of Caithness. Their chief residence at Dunrobin later became the seat of the notorious Duke of Sutherland one of the chief movers in the Highland Clearances.”

Approximately a day-and-a-half after the Grade 1 New Zealand Police Pipe Band parted ways with most of its drum section, including Leading-Drummer Olav Goud, the band made a formal statement regarding the move, saying, “The suggestion the Aussie drum corps was dismissed is totally incorrect.” With the strong majority of […]

In an off-season move that’s extraordinary even for the unusual world of pipe bands, the Grade 1 New Zealand Police of Wellington have reportedly dismissed all but a few members of its drum section. According to sources, Leading-Drummer Olav Goud and most of his section were asked by Pipe-Major Nick […]

The popular Inveraray Highland Games on the grounds of Inveraray Castle saw Argyllshire native Angus D. MacColl win the Premier- and A-Grade Piobaireachd contest, while Edinburgh’s Ben Duncan won the Marches and Steven Leask, Glasgow, took the Strathspey & Reel event.

Abbott: I say, Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know’s on third and then you… Costello: You the manager? Abbott: Yes. Costello: You know the guys’ names? Abbott: I’m telling you their names! Costello: Well, who’s on first? Abbott: Yeah. Costello: Go ahead and tell me. Abbott: Who. […]

pipes|drums is pleased to bring our followers and subscribers videos of the Grade 2 pipe band medley competition from the 2023 Cambridge Highlnd Games in Cambridge, Ontario.

Heavy weather impacted the Cambridge Highland Games with a strong rainstorm in the morning and intermittent rain throughout the muggy day. The Peel Regional Police won Grade 2 against four other bands, continuing the band’s undefeated streak in 2023. Due to no entries, there was no Grade 1 band competition. Jacob Dicker of Ottawa was the Professional Piper of the Day and Kyle Wardell was the Professional Snare Drummer of the Day. Amateur Piper of the Day was an extraordinary tie, with no tie-breaker due to Kayleigh Johnstone and Henry Paluch both winning their piobaireachd groups, and no second tie-breaker in the rules.