• Updated with B Grade Piobaireachd results:
A large entry competed today at the annual Atholl Gathering, Scotland’s first major outdoor solo piping contest of the year. On the day, 14 pipers scratched. Sarah Muir from Glasgow, with two firsts and a second, was the overall winner. In the Junior events, Bobby Allen from Chryston swept the boards.
It was a day of very changeable weather conditions at Blair Castle’s Target Field where the sun threatened at various times during the day but never really shone. As a result of the constantly-changing conditions, more than a few performances suffered.
RESULTS:
A/P Open Piobaireachd – 1. Sarah Muir; 2. Sandy Cameron; 3. Steven Leask; 4. Darach Urquhart; 5. Angus D. MacColl.
Judges: Ronnie MacShannon and Logan Tannock.
B Piobaireachd – 1. Pipe Major Ben Duncan (MacDougall’s Gathering); 2. Finlay Cameron; 3. John Dew; 4. Callum Brown; 5. Calum Wynd.
Judges: Chris Armstrong and Gordon Clark.
C Piobaireachd – 1. Gwenael Dage; 2. Andrew Hutton; 3. Brodie Watson-Massey; 4. Timothy Ness; 5. Enora Morrice.
Judges: Bill Wotherspoon.
MSR Final – 1. Angus MacColl Snr.; 2. Sarah Muir; 3. Steven Gray; 4. Craig Sutherland; Pipe Major Ben Duncan.
Judges: Ian McLellan and Murray Henderson.
Hornpipe & Jig Final – 1. Sarah Muir; 2. Angus MacColl; 3. Steven Gray; 4. Steven Leask; 5. Pipe Major Ben Duncan.
Judges: John Wilson and Willie Morrison.
Junior Piobaireachd – 1. Bobby Allen; 2. Chris Happs; 3. Gregor MacDonald; 4. Gregor Grierson
Judges: Patricia Henderson.
Junior MSR – 1. Bobby Allen; 2. Hamish Drennan; 3. Chris Happs; 4. Gregor MacDonald.
Junior Jig – 1. Bobby Allen; 2. Hamish Drennan; 3. Chris Happs; 4. Gregor MacDonald.
Judges: Ann Spalding.
Junior Champion: Bobby Allen.
The solo piping at the Atholl Gathering is sponsored by the William Grant Foundation,
At lunchtime, the Pipes and Drums of the Atholl Highlanders, the Duke of Atholl’s private regiment, officially opened the games with a march past the castle and down onto the field. Here is a short video:
