All-star pipers go for Metro Cup gold; record purse on offer

A total prize purse worth more than US$8,000 will be up for grabs by the 18 top-flight solo pipers entered to compete at the 2011 Metro Cup in Newark, New Jersey. The total prize is thought to be a record for a solo Highland bagpipe competition.

On offer once again is a one-ounce solid gold “Gold Eagle” coin, a limited edition piece produced by the West Point Mint. Of the 18 professional pipers entered, no fewer than 10 are previous winners of a Highland Society of London Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering or Northern Meeting, including Stuart Liddell of Inveraray, Scotland, the overall winner of the 2010 Metro Cup.

If a competitor wins both the Piobaireachd and Medley events he or she would walk away with US$3,000, as well as other prizes. The competition is organized by the Metro New York Branch of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association, and includes a special amateur section in memorial to George M. Bell, the late piper who taught dozens of pipers and led several top-class pipe bands.

Competitors scheduled to compete in the professional events: Chris Armstrong, Airth, Scotland; Andrea Boyd, Glasgow; Glenn Brown, Glasgow; Brian Donaldson, Edinburgh; Alastair Dunn, Glasgow; Margaret Dunn, Glasgow; Alex Gandy, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; Bruce Gandy, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; Andrew Hayes, Ottawa; Stuart Liddell; Dan Lyden, New Jersey; Willie McCallum, Bearsden, Scotland; Brian Meagher, USA; John Mulhearn, Glasgow; James Murray, Coupar, Scotland; John Patrick, Fankerton, Scotland; Alen Tully, Dublin; and Gordon Walker, Galston, Scotland.

John Cairns, Jim Stack and Colin MacLellan will be the judges.

The competition will be held on February 19th at the Ramada Inn, Newark, and tickets are US$30 each. The Piobaireachd begins at 1 pm and the Medley at 7 pm, with the Pipe-Major George M. Bell Amateur Championship beginning at 8 am with 12 pipers competing.

pipes|drums Magazine has once again made a financial contribution to the event.