John Cairns wins Oban Gold Medal

Oban, Scotland – August 25, 1999 – John Cairns of London, Ontario, won the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal for piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering today, one of the world’s most prestigious solo piping events. He played “lament for Finlay,” probably the most technically difficult of this year’s set tunes.

Willie McCallum of Bearsden, Scotland, took first prize in the “Open” or “Senior” piobaireachd event, reserved for former winners of either of the Gold medals at the Argyllshire Gathering or Inverness’s Northern Meeting. McCallum completed a great Gathering by also winning the Former Winners March, Strathspey & Reel.

Michael Rogers of Maryland, USA, won the Silver Medal piobaireachd event.

The complete Gold Medal result was 1st John Cairns, 2nd Stuart Shedden, Glasgow, 3rd Alan Bevan, British Columbia, 4th Les Hutt, Glasgow, 5th Stuart Liddell, Inveraray.

Open Piobaireachd: 1st Willie MacCallum, 2nd Gordon Walker, Cumnock, 3rd Mike Cusack, Texas, 4th Rab Wallace, Stepps.

Former Winners MSR: 1st Willie MacCallum, 2nd Angus MacColl, Oban, 3rd Gordon Walker, 4th Roddy MacLeod, Glasgow.

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