The Uist and Barra competition through the years

The Glasgow Uist and Barra Association is in the 79th year of hosting their annual piping competition. It takes place from 9am on Saturday 7th March 2026 at The National Piping Centre on Otago Street. Below Jeannie Campbell presents the details of three of the competitions from across the years.

By Jeannie Campbell MBE

75 years ago

In 1951 the Uist and Barra competition was held in The Boys’ High School, Elmbank Street, just across the road from the old Highlanders’ Institute. It was reported in the Piping Times as follows:

‘A very successful piping competition was held in the Boys’ High School, Glasgow, on Saturday, 10th February. The standard of piobaireachd playing was without doubt very high indeed and the audience for the contest was the biggest seen for a long time. Nineteen professionals competed in the principal event, each playing a tune chosen by the judges from the three pieces offered. Two competitors broke down, although both were playing well. The winners may not have been difficult to choose, but this was because of their own individual excellence and not because of any weakness in the general playing.

‘The competitors, in order of playing, together with the tunes they offered, are as follows. John Garroway, Glasgow Police, (a) The Big Spree. (b) The Lament for McSwan of Roaig*. (c) The Prince’s Salute. Donald MacPherson, Glasgow, (a) I got a Kiss of the King’s Hand. (b) Mackintosh’s Lament. (c) The Big Spree*. J Sutherland, Edinburgh, (a) Too long in this condition*. (b) Lament for the only Son. (c) Lament for Mary Macleod. William Connell, Glasgow, (a) I got a Kiss of the King’s Hand. (b) My King has landed in Moidart*. (c) MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute. John C Johnston, Glasgow Police, (a) MacKay’s Banner. (b) MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart*. (c) Mary’s Praise. James McColl, Shotts, (a) Lament for the only Son. (b) Catherine’s Lament. (c) Donald of Laggan*. Hector MacLean, Glasgow, (a) Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay*. (b) The Blind Piper’s Obstinacy. (c} I got a Kiss of the King’s Hand. Cpl Peter Forbes, HLI, (a) Mackintosh’s Lament*. (b) I got a Kiss of the King’s Hand. (c) Catherine’s Lament. PM George Stoddart, Lowland Brigade, School of Piping, Edinburgh, (a) The Finger Lock*. (b) Lament for the only Son. (c) Ronald MacDonald of Morar’s Lament. PM Donald MacLeod, The Highland Brigade, Fort George, (a) Lament for the Children. (b) Donald Duaghal MacKay. (c) Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon*. Cpl Thomas Shearer, 1st Bt A and SH, Army School of Piping, (a) I got a Kiss of the King’s Hand*. (b) The Lament for the only Son. (c) Catherine’s Lament. John Finlay, Glasgow, (a) The Lament for the only Son. (b) The Lament for Mary MacLeod*. (c) The MacFarlane’s Gathering. Duncan Johnstone, Glasgow, (a) Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon. (b) Lament for the only Son. (c) MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute*.  Peter Bain, Glasgow, (a) MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart. (b) Grain in Hides and Corn in Sacks. (c) The Battle of Auldearn*. Ronald MacCallum, Strachur, (a) Macintosh’s Lament. (b) Macfarlane’s Gathering. (c) Earl of Seaforth*. Walter Drysdale, Methil, Fife, (a) Macintosh’s Lament. (b) MacGregor’s Gathering*. (c) Corrienessan’s Salute. Robert Hardie, Glasgow, (a) In Praise of Morag. (b) The Battle of Auldearn. (c) I got a Kiss of the King’s Hand*. Thomas Pearston, Glasgow, (a) MacNab’s Salute. (b) Glengarry’s Lament*. (c) The Big Spree. John D Burgess, Edinburgh, (a) In Praise of Morag*. (b) Donald Duaghal Mackay. (c) Mackintosh’s Lament. Seumas MacNeill, Glasgow, (a) Macintosh’s Lament. (b) The Massacre of Glencoe*. (c) Corrienessan’s Salute. The tunes played are marked *.

‘The result was: 1. Robert G Hardie; 2. Donald MacLeod; 3. Donald MacPherson; 4. John Burgess.

‘The March and Strathspey and Reel events were played off together, and again produced some fine playing. Results were March: 1. Donald MacLeod, 74th’s Farewell to Edinburgh; 2. Thomas Pearston, Lochaber Gathering; 3. Ronald MacCallum, Abercairney Highlanders; 4. Donald MacPherson.

‘Strathspey and Reel: 1. John D Burgess; 2. Ronald MacCallum; 3. Donald MacLeod; 4. Thomas Pearston.

‘The adjudicators were Hugh Kennedy and Nicol MacCallum. Mrs Donald W MacRitchie presented the prizes. The chairman was Mr John Kennedy and other members of the platform party included Mr Donald Matheson (president), Mr John MacLellan (hon vice-president), Mr Calum M Maclellan (hon secretary), Mr James D MacDonald (hon treasurer), Mr Hugh Macphee and Mr Archie MacPhedran.’

50 years ago

In 1976 the competition was held in Highlanders’ Institute on March 6th. The old building in Elmbank St had closed and the Institute had moved to larger premises in Berkeley St in 1961.This building was a maze of staircases, corridors and rooms on different levels and had a bar and restaurant. To access some parts it was necessary to go up one stair, through corridors and doors and down another stair.  Finding pipers must have been a problem for the stewards. The Piobaireachd in one hall and the March and the Strathspey and Reel in another hall, went on all day, with a break at lunch time and another break at tea time. After tea the jig competition went on until late in the evening.

The Piping Times reported: ‘As usual there was a large and heterogeneous entry for the competitions, and a large and likewise audience who nevertheless heard and appreciated some fine playing on this important occasion. It is a rule in the theatre that the show must go on, but the theatre has an equally true but less publicised rule that the show must not go on too long. Organisers of piping competitions have fortunately abided by the first of these rules, in spite of all the difficulties that arise, and we must all be eternally grateful to them for that. It is a pity however that the second rule is a non-starter in piping circles. This was a straight contest, open to all, in the usual events of piobaireachd, march, strathspey and reel, and jig. Entries numbered between thirty and forty in each event, and the standard varied from excellent to appalling. What would be wrong with holding the competition on two separate occasions, with the best players one day and the worst on the other? Instead of one endurance test we would have two recitals. Why do organisers always feel that we must have the marathon? Is there no place in the piping world for short sprints, eight hundred metres, or even middle distance races? Those who battered through to high honours deserve our commendation and congratulations. Except from the unfortunate adjudicators they did not deserve or receive the full attention of the audience, because nobody was prepared to pay money and then sit through the good, the bad, and the god-awful. There were however great pipers present, and great tunes played, if you were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. These same great pipers however should consider making some representation to have grading of piping introduced. This is not meant to be a condemnation in any way of the Uist and Barra Association, because they are in excellent company, along with the Scottish Pipers’ Association, The Argyllshire Gathering, The Northern Meeting and all others who allow the thought of large numbers to overcome their scruples regarding the difficulties of the judges and the discomfort of the audience.’

The results were Piobaireachd: 1. Murray Henderson, New Zealand, Lament for MacSwan of Roaig; 2. Andrew Wright, Glasgow, Lament for Colin Roy MacKenzie; 3. James MacIntosh, Dundee, MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart; 4. Tom Spiers, Edinburgh, The Battle of Auldearn; 5. John Wilson, Glasgow, Farewell to the Laird of Islay.

March: 1. Iain MacFadyen, Kyle of Lochalsh, John MacFadyen of Melfort; 2. Tom Spiers, Abercairney Highlanders; 3. John D Burgess, Dingwall, Lord Alexander Kennedy; 4. Ian McLellan, Glasgow, Brigadier Cheape of Tiroran.

Strathspey and reel: 1. Ian Clowe, Dumfries, Monymusk,  Grey Bob; 2. Murray Henderson, Blair Drummond, The Sheepwife; 3. Hugh McInnes, Glasgow, Colin Campbell, Kalabakan; 4. Cpl Alexander Stewart, John Roy Stewart, Sandy Cameron.

Jig: 1. John D Burgess, The Old Wife’s Dance; 2. Ian Clowe, Cork Hill; 3. Tom Spiers, PM Joe Wright; 4. Neil Smith, PM James MacGregor. The adjudicators for piobaireachd were Roderick MacDonald and Nicol MacCallum; for the march and strathspey and reel events John MacFadyen, James MacGregor and Mr E W Swindell; and for the jig Roderick MacDonald and Nicol MacCallum.

As can be seen from the Piping Times report, by this time the number entering was getting unmanageable but a couple of years later in 1978 the problem was partially solved with the introduction of separate Class I and Class II events for piobaireachd. The same was done for the light music in 1982.

25 years ago

In 1990 there was an invitational competition and a separate competition a couple of weeks later for others. From 1991 onwards only an invitational competition was held. The 2001 competition was held at the Piping Centre on 10th March. The pipers and their tunes were, Ceol Mor: Roderick J. MacLeod, Donald Gruamach’s March; William McCallum, My King has landed in Moidart; Stuart Shedden, Lament for Captain MacDougall; Greg Wilson, The Battle of Waternish; Donald MacPhee, Lament for Captain Donald MacKenzie; John Patrick, MacDougalls’ Gathering; Iain Speirs, MacKays’ Banner; Angus MacColl, Lament for the Children; Euan MacCrimmon, Rory MacLeod’s Lament; Gordon Walker, The Battle of Auldearn No. 2; Niall Matheson, Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay; Stuart Liddell, Lament for the Dead; James Murray, Mary’s Praise; Allan Russell, Menzies’ Salute; Robert Watt, The Prince’s Salute.

Ceol Beag: Roderick MacLeod, Hugh Kennedy, Susan MacLeod, Smith of Chilliechassie; Stuart Shedden, The Taking of Beaumont Hamel, Maggie Cameron, Thomson’s Dirk; Iain Speirs, The Duchess of Edinburgh, The Islay Ball, John MacKechnie; Allan Russell, Kantara to El Arish, Tulloch Castle, Miss Proud; Gordon Walker, 71″ Highlanders, Susan MacLeod, The Sheepwife; Angus MacColl, Mrs J. MacColl, John Roy Stuart, The Rejected Suitor; William McCallum, Abercairney Highlanders, Macbeth’s Strathspey, The Man from Glengarry; James Murray, The Ross-shire Volunteers, The Ewe wi’ the Crooked Horn, Alick C. MacGregor; Lorne Cousin, John Macdonald of Glencoe, Atholl Cummers, Lochcarron;

John Patrick, 91st at Modder River, Caberfeidh, Lt. Col. D.J.S. Murray; Niall Matheson, Pipe Major John Stuart, Dora MacLeod, Sandy Cameron; Greg Wilson,  MacLean of Pennycross, Inveraray Castle, The Brown-haired Maid (G. S. MacLennan setting); James MacPhee, Braes of Castle Grant, Piper’s Bonnet, The Smith of Chilliechassie; Robert Watt, Bonnie Anne, The Shepherd’s Crook, MacAllister’s Dirk; Stuart Liddell, Clan MacColl, Lady Loudon, John Morrison of Assynt House; Euan MacCrimmon, John MacDonald’s Welcome to South Uist, Arniston Castle, Pipe Major Calum Campbell; Donald MacPhee, Leaving Lunga, Delvinside, Cecily Ross.

The Piobaireachd began at 9am in the morning and was followed by the MSR in the afternoon. Six tunes had been submitted for the Piobaireachd and four of each for the MSR. Competitors were notified in advance with their place in the running order and the tunes selected for them to play.

The results were Piobaireachd: 1. Stuart Liddell; 2. Gordon Walker; 3. Willie McCallum; 4. Roddy MacLeod; 5. Greg Wilson. The judges were Angus J MacLellan, Jimmy Young and Neill Mulvie. 15 played.

MSR: 1. Stuart Liddell; 2. Angus MacColl; 3. Gordon Walker; 4. Willie McCallum; 5. Roddy MacLeod. The judges were John Wilson and Ian McLellan. 17 played.

The chief steward was John MacPhee and Mrs Peggy MacPhee presented the prizes.