Competing pipers, judges, supporters, sponsors and organisers joined together tonight at a civic reception to mark the commencement of the Northern Meeting, writes Stuart Letford.

At the reception in Inverness Town Hall, speeches were made by Councillor Bet McCalister who coincidentally represents the ward where the great John MacDonald of Inverness lived, and by Alan Forbes, the Northern Meeting Piping Convenor.

We were then treated to an enjoyable short recital from Peter McCallister, the winner here of the 2018 Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal for piobaireachd.

Here is a short video of Peter playing the slow air Loch Duich:

The evening was concluded outside the building where the pipe band of the Queens Own Highlanders Association – under the leadership of its new Pipe Major, Jim Stout – entertained a large crowd with some very enjoyable pipe band music.

It was a fine way to begin the two-day event.

Northern Meeting logo

Tomorrow, we make our way across the River Ness to the Eden Court Theatre for the first day of competitions. These, and the judges, are:

Gold Medal – Bill Wotherspoon, Tom Speirs and Stuart Samson. Timekeeper: Andrew Fraser.

Silver Medal – John Wilson, Stuart Sheddon and Neill Mulvie. Timekeeper: Patrick Grant.

Former Winners’ March Strathspey & Reel – Willie Morrison, Ian MacLellan and Dr Angus MacDonald. Timekeeper Don Smith.

March Strathspey & Reel ‘A’ – Walter Cowan, Barry Donaldson and Roddy Livingstone. Timekeeper Mark Tennant.

We shall bring you the results as we receive them.