Results from the Festival of Juvenile Solo Piping as event takes its final bow

The Festival of Juvenile Solo Piping Competition began life in St Andrew’s Academy, Saltcoats in 2003. It quickly became known as The Saltcoats Competition and over the years it attracted large numbers of top young pipers. Due to redevelopment of the Academy in Saltcoats the event moved to the neighbouring town, Stevenston, for many years. It was fitting that the final Festival of Juvenile Solo Piping Competition took place at St Matthew’s Academy in Saltcoats, on Saturday, October 21, 2023. 

The event organiser was Gerard McClumpha, and over the years he worked hard on the competition administration, and on the day of the event he recruited friends and family, members of his Caledonia Piping Club and members of the local Isle of Cumbrae Pipe Band to act as stewards and keep it running smoothly. It was always considered a well run competition. One stalwart volunteer who deserves a mention is Gerard’s friend, Tommy Bingham, who acted as steward and MC across the 20 years of the event.

Despite Gerard’s best efforts he could not find an other organisation to take on the running of the competition, so he has bought it to a fitting conclusion in 2023. Gerard will continue to play and teach through his Caledonian Piping Club, and more can be read about the Club on bagpipe.news here.

The Overall Junior Champion was Ross Aitchison and Overall Senior Champion was Thomas Fallon. The full results were as follows:

Chanter – 10 yrs & Under

1. Ethan Donachy – Irvine & Disct PB
2. Laura Shennan – Renfrewshire Schools PB
3. Harris Park – 1st Largs BB PB

Chanter – 11 yrs & Under

1. Ruby Warren – Glasgow High School
2. Jock Howat – Irvine & District PB
3. Matthew Wright – 1st Largs BB PB

Chanter – 12 yrs & Under

1. Robbie MacFadzean – Wellington Academy

Chanter – Open Slow Air

1. Ruby Warren – Glasgow High School PB
2. Jock Howat – Irvine & District PB
3. Laura Shennan – Renfrewshire Schools PB

Goose – 15 yrs & Under

1. Adam Keston – Wellington Academy

Chanter – Best Prospect

1. Finn Mertens – Caledonian Piping Club

Overall Chanter Champion

1. Ruby Warren – Glasgow High School PB

Piping – 12 yrs & Under

1. Christopher Denney – Stewarton
2. James Silcock – Falkirk Schools PB
3. Eilidh Dunbar – Caledonian Piping Club

Piping – 13 yrs & Under

1. James Silcock – Falkirk Schools PB
2. Ellie Harrison – Renfrewshire Schools PB
3. Kitty Townsend – Isle of Arran PB

Piping – 14 yrs & Under

1. Charlie Mack – Preston Lodge HS PB
2. Harris Morford – S.W. Pipe & Drum Acad.
3. Arran Brown – Kintyre Schools PB

Best in Branch Piping – 14 yrs & Under  

1. Katyann Thompson  – Ayr PB Society 

Piping – March 15 yrs & Under

1. Arran Brown – Kintyre Schools PB
2. Melissa Leary – Ayr PB Society 
3. Aaron Hughes – Renfrewshire Schools PB

Best in Branch Piping – March 15 yrs & Under

1. Kaya Tatar – Caledonian Piping Club

Piping – Strath/Reel 15 yrs & Under

1. Ross Aitchison – St. Columba HS PB
2. Liam Munro – Boghall & Bathgate PB
3. Arran Brown – Kintyre Schools PB

Best in Branch Piping – Strath/Reel 15 yrs & Under

1. Katherine Coyle – Isle of Arran PB

Piping – MSR 16 yrs & Under 

1. Thomas Fallon – Stewart’s Melville School
2. Ross Aitchison – St. Columba HS PB
3. Aaron Hughes – Renfrewshire Schools PB

Piping – MSR 17 yrs & Under 

1. Thomas Fallon – Stewart’s Melville School
2. Flynn Porter – Lenzie
3. Conal Rae – Irvine & District PB

Piping – MSR 18 yrs & Under 

1. Fraser Hamilton – Paisley

Piobaireachd – Junior Under 16 

1. James Silcock – Falkrik Schools PB
2. Harris Morford – S.W. pipe & Drum Acad
3. Archie Leonard – George Heriot School

Piobaireachd – Intermediate Under 17

1. Thomas Fallon – Stewart’s Melville School
2. Aaron Hughes – Renfrewshire Schools PB
3. Ross Aitchison – St. Columba HS PB

Piobaireachd – Senior Under 19

1. Fraser Hamilton – Paisley

Open Jig – Colin McCallum Trophy

1. Ross Aitchison – St. Columba HS PB
2. Fraser Hamilton – Paisley
3. Harris Morford – S.W. pipe & Drum Acad

Open Past Champions

1. Robbie MacIssac – Scottish Power PB
2. Scott Barrie – Scottish Power PB
3. Scott Garden – Irvine & Ditrict PB