Eric Stein has announced that a new Grade 1 solo invitational contest that will be added to the premier SunBelt Invitational Solo Piping competition next year.
The inaugural SunBelt Invitational, aka An Crios Gréine, took place this year on November 12, 2022. The event was won by Callum Beaumont, who beat a top class line up of competitors consisting of Willie McCallum, Stuart Liddell, Bruce Gandy, Andrew Donlon, Ian K. MacDonald, Ben McClamrock, Connor Sinclair, Glenn Brown and Angus D. MacColl.
In 2023 Eric Stein will work in partnership with The National Piping Centre to add an amateur competition and give two of the ten invites to the winners of CLASP events. Eric said: “We are thrilled to be working with The National Piping Centre to help us achieve our goal of promoting the best in piping and supporting aspiring players.”
CLASP organiser Margaret Dunn said: “I’d like to thank Eric Stein for offering this opportunity to our competitors. It raises the profile of our amateur competition and pipers to be connected with a premier international event such as the SunBelt Invitational. I’m sure it will add an extra competitive edge.
The other eight invites will go to the winners of:
- The Nicol-Brown
- The George Sheriff Memorial
- Dunedin Highland Games
- Grandfather Mountain Games
- Loon Mountain Highland Games
- Scotland County Highland Games
- and two to be determined.
The Grade 1 events will take place on the morning of Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the Sheraton Orlando North in Florida.
