Finlay Johnston took home the overall prize at the 2019 Glenfiddich Piping Championship, held as ever in a crowded Ballroom of Blair Castle in Perthshire today.
It was the second time that Finlay Johnston won the award, successfully defending the title he first won in 2018. He gained this year’s win by placing 2nd in the Ceòl Mòr and 2nd in the MSR.
Competitors are asked to submit six tunes of each type.
Results:
Ceòl Mòr
1. Glenn Brown, Milton, Ontario, Canada, Farewell to the Queen’s Ferry
2. Finlay Johnston, Glasgow, Scotland, Donald Gruamach’s March
3. Iain Speirs, Edinburgh, Scotland, Scarce of Fishing
4. Jack Lee, Surrey, BC, Canada, Lament for the Laird of Anapool
5. Connor Sinclair, Crieff, Lachlan MacNeill Campbell of Kintarbert‘s Fancy
Judges – Patricia Henderson, Colin MacLellan and Stuart Samson.
MSR (twice through)
1. Connor Sinclair, Major Manson’s Farewell to Clachantrushal, Susan MacLeod, Broadford Bay
2. Finlay Johnston, Inverlochy Castle, Cat Lodge, The Smith Chilliechassie
3. Niall Stewart, Kyle of Localsh, Scotland P.M.J. McWilliams, Glentruim, Ca’ the Ewes
4. Callum Beaumont, Dollar, Scotland, The Stirlingshire Militia, Lady Louden, The Little Cascade
5. Stuart Liddell, Inveraray, Scotland, Mrs John MacColl, The Shepherd’s Crook, John Morrison of Assynt House
Judges: Murray Henderson, Dr Angus MacDonald and John Wilson.
Overall
1. Finlay Johnston
2. Connor Sinclair
3. Glenn Brown
Also competing but not in the prizes were Andrew Hayes and Gordon McCready.
Anne Spalding was awarded the Balvenie Medal for a lifetime of service to piping.
Thousands of viewers around the world watched at various times of the day and were given the opportunity to donate to this year’s named charity, the Scottish Pipers’ Association.
