[updated with photograph] London, England – November 5, 2021 – Glenn Brown was awarded the Bràtach Gorm tonight in from of a good-sized audience in the Caledonian Club in Belgravia.
It’s the second time Glenn has won this competition and his win means he is the second invitee to next year’s Glenfiddich Championships in October. Two pipers withdrew: John-Angus Smith and Fred Morrison.
The competition was held after a two-year hiatus. Am Bràtach Gorm (The Blue Banner) has a long and distinguished history and is for those pipers who have won a Highland Society of London Gold Medal or the Gillies Cup at London. The competition kicked off at 6.00pm GMT with Alasdair Henderson playing The Big Spree. The final competitor was Dr. Peter McCalister playing The Finger Lock.
Tonight’s competition was the first to take place this week as part of the 81st London Championships.
Results:
1. Glenn Brown (The Edinburgh Piobaireachd); 2. Calum Beaumont (The Phantom Piper of Corrieyairack); 3. Finlay Johnston (The Battle of Auldearn, #1); 4. Alasdair Henderson (The Big Spree); 5. Iain Speirs.
The judges were Ian Duncan, Stuart Samson and Alan Forbes. Euan Anderson was the Fear an Taighe.
Organised by the Scottish Piping Society of London, tomorrow’s competitions include Premier, A and B Grade and juvenile competitions. Tickets are available online and at the door.
The Caledonian Club is a plush private members club founded in 1891 by the Marquis of Tullibardine as the representative national club and headquarters for Scots in London.
We will bring you the results of tomorrow’s competition as soon as we have them.
• Read part 1 of Jeannie Campbell’s news series on the history of piping in London.
