World’s best set sights on Argyllshire Gathering
The World Pipe Band Championships are done and dusted, and now it’s the solo pipers’ turn to take the spotlight in the biggest competitions on the year at Oban and Inverness.
The Argyllshire Gathering takes place August 24-25, and the Northern Meeting September 1-2, with the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal, Senior Piobaireachd and Silver Star MSR competition the most noted events.
The 2010 Argyllshire Gathering was more historic than others in its more than 150-year history after Faye Henderson won the Gold Medal, becoming the first female ever to take the prize.
The piobaireachd events – comprising the Gold Medal, Senior Piobaireachd, Silver Medal and MacGregor Memorial – will, as usual be held on Wednesday, along with the Silver Star MSR at night, while the A- and B-Grade light music events will go outdoors at the Argyllshire Gathering on Thursday.
Stay tuned to pipes|drums for results from the Argyllshire Gathering as they become available.
As with all solo competitions order-of-play can be crucial to success. The draw for the Gold Medal:
Donald MacPhee
Jori Chisholm
Colin Lee
Ian K. MacDonald
Cameron Drummond
Andrew Bonar
William Geddes
Brendon Eade
Allan Russell
Marion Horsburgh
Finlay Johnston
John-Angus Smith
Andrea Boyd
Douglas Murray
Simon McKerrell
Gavin Walker
Andrew Hayes
John Mulhearn
James MacHattie
Andy Rogers
Fiona Manson
Duncan MacGillivray
Innes Smith
Jonathan Greenlees
Craig Sked
Callum Beaumont
Glenn Brown
The order-of-play for the Senior Piobaireachd:
Alastair Dunn
Andrew Hayes
William McCallum
Donald MacPhee
Glenn Brown
Duncan MacGillivray
James Murray
Brian Donaldson
Angus MacDonald
Iain Speirs
Roddy Macleod
Angus MacColl
Murray Henderson
Jack Lee
Niall Matheson
Stuart Liddell
Faye Henderson
Sure would be great if these to solo events were streamed.
Perhaps a silly question, but I thought winners of the Gold Medal competed solely in the Senior Piobaireachd. I notice several competitors are competing in both events. Can someone please explain how the competition works?
My understanding is that holding one Gold Medal entitles you to compete in both the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban and the Clasp at Inverness. Those who are playing both the Gold Medal and the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban hold the Inverness Gold Medal, but not the Oban one, so they are entitled to play in both competitions at Oban – good examples are Glenn Brown and Andrew Hayes.