Bradley Parker hit double top at the 2026 Piper Major’s Wheel of Fortune competition on Saturday, April 25th, 2026. Making his Wheel of Fortune debut, Parker won the medley and march strathspey and reel (MSR) elements of an event which has been described as “probably the funnest piping contest in the world.”
Cameron May took second place in the Medley, with John Dew in third. Craig Muirhead won the prize for best joke. The other musicians at a piping hot event were Sandy Cameron, Angus MacPhee, Sarah Muir, and Dan Nevans
The Wheel of Fortune competition, which is hosted by the City of Edinburgh Pipe Band, was held at Danderhall Miners Club in Midlothian.
Bradley’s winning medley featured Pipe Major George Allan, The Rakes of Kildare, Donella Beaton, Tommy Tully’s Air, Finlay MacDonald’s Reel, The Contradiction Reel, The Prince of Wales and The Fourth Floor. And his winning MSR tunes were Mrs Duncan MacFadyen, Susan MacLeod and Alick C. MacGregor.
Muirhead’s joke involved his dismay that no-one recognised his skills as a gardener, stonemason and joiner but always remembered his affection for sheep.
Following the event, band secretary, Paul White, said: “We were delighted to attract a field of top pipers to a competition which is going from strength to strength. They treated us to an afternoon of great music and good laughs.
“Special congratulations to Bradley, Cameron, Craig and John for their successes in a field of winners.”
The competition was judged by Ian Duncan, Douglas Murray and the audience. The voice of piping, Gary West, was compere for the day.
The Wheel of Fortune has 12 numbers, with each number corresponding to a type of tune. Each competitor must play five of the 12 tune categories. Four of the tune categories are determined by pipers spinning the Golden Chanter on arrival at the competition. The final category of tune is determined by a member of the audience spinning the Golden Chanter as competitors take the floor.
The City of Edinburgh Pipe Band is grateful to the following sponsors and supporters who helped ensure the success of the event:
- Enjoy Your Piping with Gary West
- The Gordon Duncan Trust
- McCallum Bagpipes
- pipes|drums
- Unison Lothian Health Branch
The City of Edinburgh band was formed in 1947 and was originally known as Woolmet and Danderhall. The band took its name from the Woolmet Colliery and the Midlothian village, where the band practices to this day.
Many of the top names in piping have pitted their wits against the Wheel of Fortune over the years. Former winners include:
- Chris Armstrong (2007)
- Cameron Drummond (2023)
- Ben Duncan (2017)
- Brian Lamond (2006 and 2015)
- Stuart Liddell (2008, 2009, 2013)
- Sarah Muir (2025)
- Douglas Murray (2014, 2016)
- Craig Sutherland (2024)
- Gordon Walker (2011, 2012)
- Our photos show:
- Bradley Parker being presented with The Tam Waterson Cup by Lorraine Aitken and Denise Wilson from Unison Lothian Health Branch. (Photo: Peter Hazzard)
- Bradley Parker at the Wheel of Fortune with The Tam Waterson Cup. (Photo: Paul White)
Bradley Parker on his way to Wheel of Fortune win. (Photo: Peter Hazzard)