Cowal axes Senior solo piping for 2019

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Darach Urquhart competing at Cowal in 2013.
Darach Urquhart competing at Cowal in 2013.
Darach Urquhart competing at Cowal in 2013.
Darach Urquhart competing at Cowal in 2013.

The Senior solo piping competitions have been axed at this year’s Cowal Highland Gathering. Organisers cite a date clash with the Northern Meeting as the reason.

The Junior competitions will take place as normal. The Senior competitions are expected to return next year.

A spokesman said: “This year the solo piping competitions were due to clash with the Northern Meeting. It’s one of those unfortunate things with the way the calendar falls this year. We know the best pipers will be competing in Inverness but we’re still holding our junior and local events.”

Gordon MacLean
A young Gordon MacLean competes in the 16-18 age group at Cowal in 1994.

The Junior solo piping events will take place in the Gathering stadium on Friday, August 30.

Along with Perth, which cancelled its solo piping, this year’s Cowal had been a qualifying event for the 2020 Silver Medal. A spokesman for the Competing Pipers’ Association said it was considering alternatives but that league placings taken from existing contests may be sufficient.

The history of Cowal is currently being serialised in the Piping Times. This year the event marks 125 years.