History of the Argyllshire Gathering: the 1994 competition

• PART 59 •

BY JEANNIE CAMPBELL MBE.

In 1994 the Gathering was held on 24th and 25th August. Competitors for the Gold Medal were required to submit ten tunes of their own choice. The set tunes for the Senior were Scarce of Fishing, Nameless Cherede Darieva, Lament for Ronald MacDonald of Morar, Lament for the Laird of Annapool, The Bells of Perth, Lament for MacLeod of Colbeck.

For the Silver Medal four tunes were required from a list of six, Kinlochmoidart’s Lament No. 1, The Wee Spree, Corrienessan’s Salute, Catherine’s Lament, Lament for the Old Sword, Tulloch Ard (as in the Kilberry Book).

The report in the Piping Times was written by Jeannie Campbell.

The First Day

“The Gold Medal was due to start at 9am in the basement of the Great Western Hotel but because of a burst water pipe this was delayed for half an hour.

“There were 29 entries but five had withdrawn and there were two breakdowns. The competitors had submitted ten tunes of their own choice so the audience was treated to a good selection of the most popular tunes.

“The senior piobaireachd started at 10.30am so several people left the Gold Medal to go over to the Royal Hotel at that time. In doing this they were unfortunate in missing most of the prize winners in the Gold Medal, but were able to get back in time to hear the last three players, including the second prize winner, who played last.

“The judges were Major John Allan, William MacDonald (Benbecula) and Malcolm McRae. The result was:

1. Dr Angus MacDonald, Portree – Lament for MacSwan of Roaig
2. Rory Grossart, Glasgow – Lament for Captain MacDougall
3. William McCallum, Glasgow – Praise of Marion
4. Angus MacColl, Oban – The Bells of Perth

“After the result was announced the Steward informed us that we had six minutes to get to the Corran Halls for the start of the Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel at 7pm.

“The Senior Piobaireachd took place in the Royal Hotel, Argyll Square, in a pleasant upstairs lounge, under the watchful eye of a TV camera and the glare of the lights. The room was rather hot but the windows had to be kept closed due to the noise of the traffic in the square. The lounge seating was comfortable but inadequate for the size of the audience, with many standing at the side and back of the room. At the same time the Silver Medal audience was lost in the vastness of the Corran Hall.

“There were 16 entries for the Senior, but three withdrew, one didn’t arrive in time and there were two breakdowns. Competitors had submitted four from a list of six set tunes. The most popular tunes were Scarce of Fishing and Lament for Ronald MacDonald of Morar, each submitted 14 times. Least popular was the Lament for the Laird of Annapool, submitted only five times. The judges were Tom Speirs, Joe Henderson and Angus J MacLellan. The result was:

1. PM Alasdair Gillies, Queen’s Own Highlanders – Lament for MacLeod of Colbeck
2. Michael Cusack, U.S.A. – Scarce of Fishing
3. Angus MacColl, Oban – Nameless, Cherede Darieva
4. Murray Henderson, Kirriemuir – Lament for MacLeod of Colbeck

“Meanwhile the Silver Medal had been going on all day (in the Corran Halls) and the MacGregor Memorial Competition had been held in St. Columba’s Hall. It is a great pity that four piobaireachd events are all running at the same time, as many people would like to be able to hear all of them, but a choice has to be made. Neither is it easy to go from one to another to hear one’s favourite pipers, due to the distances between the various venues.

“The MacGregor Memorial, in memory of Prince Charles’ piper John MacGregor, is for pipers under the age of 22 who have not previously won the event. There were five entries but only two played. Competitors had to submit four tunes and were required to play two of them. First prize went to William Geddes from Dumfries. The judges were Donald MacPherson, James Burnet and James Young.

“The Silver Medal had an entry of 27 and was judged by Allan Beaton, Ronald Lawrie and Ronald Morrison. Competitors had submitted four from a list of six set tunes. Most popular of the set tunes was Corrienessan’s Salute, submitted 23 times, and least popular was Lament for the Old Sword submitted only five times.

“The winner of the Silver Medal was John Angus Smith from Ashford, but whose roots are in Uist. Second was Donald MacPhee from the U.S.A., third Neil Walker from Dunblane, fourth Alan Bevan from Canada and fifth Euan MacCrimmon from Inverness.

“It was interesting to note that two of the prize winners, John Angus Smith and Neil Walker play with the drones on the right shoulder, as does the MacGregor Memorial winner William Geddes. Others present at Oban who play this way included William Morrison, Gavin Walker, Alasdair Fletcher and two of the judges, William MacDonald and Angus MacLellan.

“In the evening the March, Strathspey and Reel for Former Winners was held in the Corran Halls. Twelve pipers played, out of an entry of thirteen and there was one breakdown.

“The players had submitted six of each and the tunes were played twice over. This was a good night for the Army pipers who took the first three places. The judges were Major John Allan, James Young and Angus J MacLellan.”

1. Cpl. Gordon Walker, Royal Highland Fusiliers – Highland Wedding, Piper’s Bonnet, John Morrison of Assynt House
2. PM Alasdair Gillies, Queen’s Own Highlanders – Hugh Kennedy, Atholl Cummers, The Sheepwife
3. Sgt. Brian Donaldson, Scots Guards – Stirlingshire Militia, Caledonian Society of London, Mrs Macpherson of Inveran
4. James Murray, Pitscottie – Pap of Glencoe, Maggie Cameron, Alick C MacGregor

The Games

“The second day began as usual with the march from the station to the games field. The Duke of Argyll led the Stewards and Members, followed by a band made up of the competing pipers. Unfortunately the Gold Medallist Dr Angus Macdonald had had to return to Portree the previous evening so was not able to take the place of honour as the Pipe Major. Alasdair Gillies, winner of the Senior Piobaireachd, took charge, with next to him on the front rank a Gordon Highlander, Lewis Barclay then another Queen’s Own Highlander, Donald John MacIntyre – a foretaste of their imminent amalgamation as the Highland Regiment. Gordon Walker, winner of the MSR, took the Pipe Sergeant’s position and the other front rank place went to Arthur Gillies last year’s Senior Piobaireachd winner.

“There was some speculation as to whether we would get a repeat of that memorable 1989 occasion when Alasdair Gillies as the new Gold Medallist, with a front rank of Queen ‘s Own Highlanders, marched the Duke of Argyll on to the Argyllshire Gathering field to the Piobaireachd of Donald Dubh, regimental march past of the Queen’s Own. This time the tunes played up the road were Caber Feidh and the 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar. On entering the field the Argyllshire Gathering was played, as instructed in the programme.

“The light music competitions began almost immediately with four platforms in use. There were 38 entries for the A Grade and 28 for the B Grade. Judges were Angus J MacLellan, Ronald Lawrie and Major John Allan. The results were:

A Grade March

1. Donald MacPhee
2. Niall Matheson
3. Alan Bevan
4. Cpl Michael Gray
5. Wilson Brown

A Grade Strathspey and Reel

1. Allan Russell
2. Michael Cusack
3. Wilson Brown
4. Alan Bevan
5. Scott Drummond

“Judges were Ronald Morrison, Tom Speirs, James Burnet.

B Grade March

1. John Patrick
2. Donald MacLeod
3. Douglas Murray
4. Bruce Hinch
5. Matthew Turnbull

“Judges were William MacDonald (Benbecula), James Young, Joe Henderson.

B Grade Strathspey and Reel

1. Niall Stewart
2. Roy Fraser
3. John Patrick
4. Stewart MacKenzie
5. Donald MacLeod

“Judges were Donald MacPherson, Allan Beaton, Malcolm McRae.

“The last event of the day was the Jig for which there were 54 entries. These were divided in two and played off at the same time on two platforms with the A Grade light music judges. Four or five were to be selected from each section to play again.

“Nine pipers played in the final and the result was:

1. Gordon Walker
2. John Patrick
3. Angus MacColl

“During the day there were performances by the Lochaber Schools Pipe Band and the Oban Pipe Band plus all the usual athletic, heavy and field events, fun races, Tug of War, Heritage Tent, parachute drops, shinty matches and side shows. The weather stayed fine all day.”