Campbell Wilson wins fifth consecutive NZ Young Piper of the Year

Nelson, New Zealand – October 7, 2023 – Not only did Wellington’s 20-year-old Campbell Wilson win a record fifth consecutive NZ Young Piper of the Year solo competition, but he did so by taking all three events in his final year of eligibility. Wilson received a cheque for NZ$1,000 for his success.

There were 46 competitors over the various events and 17 in the younger than 21 category alone. The NZ Young Piper of the Year award goes to the competitor with the most aggregate points across the Piobaireachd and MSR, the piob result as usual, giving preference in the event of a tie. There was no need for that, though.

The event was held at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts. The competition was first held in 2018.

Younger than 21
Piobaireachd (10 competed)
1st Campbell Wilson
2nd Nicholas Weston
3rd Seumas Eade
Judges: Ross Hanning, Marion Horsburgh

MSR (17 competed)
1st Campbell Wilson
2nd Ralph Hunter
3rd Lucas Paterson
4th Rupert Neilsen
Judges: Ross Hanning, Ben McLaughlin

Hornpipe & Jig (17 competed)
1st Campbell Wilson
2nd Ralph Hunter
3rd Mackenzie Loudon
4th Cooper Gallagher
Judge: Ben McLaughlin

Open Medley (seven competed, one prize awarded, open to all pipers regardless of grade)
1st Seumas Eade
Judge: Philip Mair

[Got competition results you’d like the entire piping and drumming world to see? Just email the details and a pic or two to us!]

B-Grade
Piobaireachd (15 competed)
1st Nicholas Weston
2nd Seumas Eade
3rd Alex Neilsen
Judges: Ross Hanning, Marion Horsburgh

2/4 March (19 competed)
1st Seumas Eade
2nd Rupert Neilsen
3rd Cooper Gallagher
4th Tayla Eagle
Judge: Philip Mair

Strathspey & Reel (18 competed)
1st Rupert Neilsen
2nd Seumas Eade
3rd Sam Foote
4th Nicholas Weston
Judge: Ben McLaughlin

Hornpipe & Jig (17 competed)
1st Ralph Hunter
2nd Mackenzie Loudon
3rd Cooper Gallagher
4th Sam Foote
Judge: Ben McLaughlin

C-Grade
Piobaireachd (12 competed)
1st Ralph Hunter
2nd Hunter MacInnes
3rd Maggie McConnochie
Judge: Brendon Eade

2/4 March (17 competed)
1st Toby Cammock-Elliot
2nd Maggie McConnochie
3rd Emily Brooke
4th Sam Foote
Judge: Brendon Eade

Strathspey & Reel (15 competed)
1st Sam Foote
2nd Ralph Hunter
3rd William Nichols
4th Liam Reid
Judge: Philip Mair

Hornpipe & Jig (11 competed)
1st Ralph Hunter
2nd Dylan Jones
3rd Sam Foote
Judge: Ross Hanning

D-Grade
Piobaireachd (seven competed)
1st Hamish Bilton
2nd Alice Glover
3rd Jordan Barselman
Judge: Brendon Eade

2/4 March (15 competed)
1st Hamish Bilton
2nd Alice Glover
3rd Jordan Barselman
Judge: Ben McLaughlin

Strathspey & Reel (11 competed)
1st Hamish Bilton
2nd William Nichols
3rd Theo McGillivray
Judge: Philip Mair

Novice March (nine competed)
1st Isaac Mason
2nd Keaton Reichert
3rd MacKenzie Wooley
Judge: Brendon Eade

Practice Chanter (three competed)
1st MacKenzie Wooley
2nd Brodie MacDonald
Judge: Philip Mair