Results from Glasgow Highland Club’s Annual Competitions for schools 2025

By ROBIN GIBSON

The Glasgow Highland Club’s Annual Competitions for schools’ pipe bands and individual pipers and drummers was held at Hutchesons’ Grammar School on Sunday, February 23, 2025.

There was a very strong entry to the competition with 15 pipe bands competing and some 100 pipers and drummers entering the solo competitions.

Pipe Band Results

Senior Bands

1^st Dollar Academy
2^nd Renfrewshire Schools
3^rd George Heriot’s School

Intermediate Bands

1^st Lochgelly High School
2^nd Dollar Academy
3^rd West Lothian Schools

Junior Bands

1^st Lochgelly High School
2^nd Hutcheson’s Grammar School
3^rd Merchiston Castle School – A

Best Corps of Drums: Dollar Academy

Solo Competition Results

Senior Piping

1^st Paul McKay – Dollar Academy
2^nd Christopher Drummond – West Lothian Schools
3^rd Henry Kesterton – George Heriot’s School
4^th Peter McKay – Ross Hall Academy
5^th Charlie Mack – Preston Lodge High School
6^th James Crawford – Preston Lodge High School

Intermediate Piping

1^st Ranulph Birch – George Heriot’s School
2^nd Thomas Edgar – George Heriot’s School      
3^rd Toby Chapman – Dollar Academy
4^th Ellie Harrison – Renfrewshire Schools
5^th Eddie Molyneux – George Heriot’s School
6^th Ben McGaugie – Dollar Academy

Junior Piping

1^st Abhiram Rao – West Lothian Schools
2^nd Cash McLeay – Preston Lodge High School
3^rd Noah Cottam – George Heriot’s School
4^th Laura Shennan – Renfrewshire Schools
5^th Murray McColl – Dollar Academy
6^th Cailean Acamovic – Preston Lodge High School

Senior Drumming

1^st Mark McKendrick – Renfrewshire Schools
2^nd Tommi McAndrew – Mearns Academy
3^rd Aaron Christie – Edinburgh College
4^th Rory Lamont – Douglas Castle High School
5^th Dylan Gillespie – George Heriot’s School
6^th Caelyn Mathieson – Lochgelly High School

Junior Drumming

1^s Ga Yeon Oh – George Heriot’s School
2^nd Eliza Dibley – Dollar Academy
3^rd Anna Tam – George Heriot’s School
4^th Renny Bell  – Lochgelly High School
5^th Zara Weir – Dollar Academy
6^th Dillan Amin – George Heriot’s School

A very good day was enjoyed by all. There was considerable talent and a great deal of developing potential on display; fantastic music and confident performances shone throughout the events; and a great day of fellowship was enjoyed by all.  Of note:

• Spectator numbers saw another increase this year with nigh on 200 visitors enjoying the band and solo performances through the day.
• Increased Band entry, for the second year in a row.
• Solo entries at an all-time high.
• There was a trophy for the Best Corps of Drums; Sponsor prizes were awarded to all those placed 1^st to 6th in the solo events; and certificates were presented to all bands and individuals who were placed.
• There was increased overall sponsorship and a greater number of prizes received from our Sponsors  –  for which we are very grateful.
• Full gloss printed programme (listing all the competition draws) was again available  –  a great keepsake and memento of the event.

This is a long-standing annual competition, run by the Glasgow Highland Club, to encourage and support the development of school pipe bands and individuals.  The premier prize in the Pipe Band Contest is the Glasgow Highland Club’s Highland Shield Challenge Trophy. Juvenile bands have competed for the Highland Shield since 1909, making this one of the oldest competitions that encourages and develops Juvenile and developing bands.

The Glasgow Highland Club is extremely grateful to our Sponsors for their generous support to the event.  Their support, and encouragement, enabled us to deliver a very enjoyable, instructive and rewarding day.  Our grateful thanks go to: McCallum Bagpipes; R.G. Hardie & Co.; Kingdom Thistle; KMQ Drums; Scottish Building Society; Tunnock’s; and McGill’s.