Gandys first and second overall in Aboyne

The traditional Royal Deeside games, which were first held in 1867, were actually opened in an in-person ceremony on a chilly morning. The games committee was kilted and bonneted, gathering on the village green. The flag was raised and the Earl of Aboyne said a few words. Drams of whisky appeared from behind backs, a toast was proposed, and the flag was lowered, with Chris Armstrong performing his recently-made composition, “Salute to the Front Line.” Piping convenor Jack Taylor and a team of stewards then contacted competitors worldwide and assisted them to record their tunes.

Entrants to the three Open events were reduced to a final of nine in each.

Piobaireachd
1st Bruce Gandy, “Lord Lovat’s Lament”
2nd Jamie Forrester, London, “The Earl of Ross’s March”
3rd Andy Rogers, Fredericton, New Brunswick, “Lament for the Union”
4th Ben Duncan, “Lord Lovat’s Lament”
5th David Wilton, Dundee, Scotland, “Lament for the Earl of Antrim”
Judges: Ian Duncan, Stuart Samson, Duncan Watson

Also competing in the Piobaireachd final: Brodie Watson-Massey, Edinburgh; Calum Brown, Aberdeen, Scotland; Jonathon Simpson, Bo’ness, Scotland; Liz Drury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Here’s the MP3 recording of “Lord Lovat’s Lament” that Bruce Gandy performed for the prize:

March
1st Alex Gandy
2nd Fraser Allison
3rd Calum Brown, Aberdeen, Scotland
4th Ben Duncan
5th Teddy Krogh, Anchorage, Alaska
Judges: Malcolm McRae, Bill Wotherspoon

Also in the March final: Brodie Watson-Massey; Bruce Gandy; Callum Wynd, Stirling, Scotland; Jonathon Simpson; Lachie Dick, Glasgow.

Strathspey & Reel
1st John Dew, Perth, Scotland
2nd Bruce Gandy
3rd Alex Gandy
4th Ben Duncan
5th Calum Brown
Judges: Murray Henderson, Bill Wotherspoon

Also in the Strathspey & Reel final: Andrew Donlon, Washington, DC; Brodie Watson-Massey; Fraser Allison; John MacDonald; Jonathon Simpson.

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