There are a variety of solo classes to cater for all levels including beginner, intermediate, open and “seasoned” (older players).  Playing with other instruments, duets, pipe and song and new composition categories also have a place on this day where the focus is on participation and enjoyment rather than the competitive aspects. Inevitably, as there are prizes, there have to be rules which follow below.  Please check carefully the time limits and criteria for the class(es) you intend to enter.

Entry forms will be available online in the month prior to the event for pre-entry. The competition is open to non members. Non players and others are encourage to attend as audience members.

Full details of the classes in the competition, of general rules and of class-specific rule are available here

Read more ...

LBPS Annual Competition 2022 – The Results

The LBPS Annual Competition 2022 was held in Linlithgow on Saturday, 9^th April 2022.

It was the first time the Society had been to this historic town. The town's old municipal building, the Burgh Halls proved to be a superb venue and was only a five-minute walk from the railway station. The town itself is conveniently situated roughly halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

At the Burgh Halls (built in 1670) we pretty much had the running of the place. The acoustics were superb. Due to the ease of getting there plus the superb facilities, the committee is considering returning there for the 2023 competition.

At lunchtime, a dozen or so competitors played on the veranda for an Easter event the town held for local children ... and, naturally, the town tune, The Roke was given an airing.

   

            The Linlithgow Burgh Halls                                      Rona Dawson playing in the Open Solo

 

The results are shown below. The videos of the winning entries can be seen on the Lowland & Border Pipers' Society Official YouTube channel. Please follow the link to enjoy the tunes. 

 

Seasoned Pipers – Nigel Richards Trophy

Judge – Neil Clark

1^st Brian Mulhearn – Mulinders Hymn, MacCrimmon’s Wedding, Lenny’s Bus (Hornpipe), Rowan Martin

2^nd David Hannay – The Mill, Corn Riggs with variations

3^rd John Kelly – Mary Scott, Flower of Yarrow, Mrs Hamilton of Pentcaitland

Intermediate – Julian Goodacre Trophy

Judge – Neil Clark

1^st Robert Porter – She Moved Through The Fair, Ae’ Fond Kiss, part of The Black and The Grey, (Dixon)

2^nd Matt Mochar – Bonnie Lass O’ Fyvie O, The Braes of Killiekrankie, The Roses of Prince Charlie, Flett From Flotta

3^rd John Kelly – Wals Voor Polle By Wim Poesen, Arr. By Ian Kinnear; Le Canal en Octobre - (Frédéric Paris) Arr. by Malin Lewis & Pasacaglia de Pontevedra (Galician  March) Trad. Arr. By Gary West

Novice - Heriot & Allan Quaich

No candidates

Duet for Piper and Singer – Judy Barker Trophy

Judge – Neil Clark

1^st Peter McAllister and Robert Porter – The Mountains of Mourne

Skeely Piper Trophy (tunes associated with Perthshire)

Judge – Neil Clark

1^st Stuart Letford – MacGregor of Rora, Mrs Jane Kennedy of St Annes, The High Drive, (Gordon Duncan),The Straloch Turkeys, (Gordon Duncan)

2^nd Alexander Scott – The Hills of Perth (alternate 4th part by Andrew MacIntyre) The Pitlochry High-school Centenary

3^rd Matt Seattle – An Ye Had Been Whaur I Hae Been, Ye Wad Nae Been Sae Cantie, (arr. Matt Seattle), Forteviot (Matt Seattle)

Open Solo for Scottish Smallpipes – Colin Ross Trophy

Judge – Lee Moore

1^st Rona Dawson – Duke of Fife's Welcome to Deeside, Kirsteen's Jig, The Ring, Dark Lowers the Night, Sleepy Maggie.

2^nd Alexander Scott – The Last Cradle Song, Go To Berwick Johnny, Arlitrach (1885 William Ross setting)

3^rd Norman MacLeod – Soutars of Selkirk (Dixon)

Duet for Pipes – Mains Castle Medal

Judge – Lee Moore

1^st Peter McAllister and Robert Porter – Jack Lattin (Dixon)

2^nd Stuart Letford and Bill Bennett – The Rose of Allendale, Corn Riggs, (arr. Matt Seattle), Cuddy's Wedding, (arr. Matt Seattle)

3^rd Norman MacLeod and Matt Mochar – Muntanyes del Canigo, Kilworth Hills

Solo Pipe and Song – Jimmy Wilson Memorial Cup

Judge – Lee Moore

1^st Matt Mochar – Rose of Allandale

Duet for pipes and other instrument – Dunfermline Tassie

Judge – Lee Moore

1^st Neil Clark and Kathryn Grainger – Lindisfarne, (Matt Seattle), The Rolling Hills Of The Border, (Matt McGinn)

Open solo for Lowland and Border Pipes – Hamish Moore Cup

Judge – Lee Moore

1^st Ian Gelston – Dorrington Lads, (John Rook setting), Andrew Carr, Lairds of Ryton aka Over The Border

2^nd Stuart Letford - Over The Dyke And Till Her Laddie, Lasses Bushes Brawly, (Dixon settings), I'll Gang Nae Mair to Yon Toun (setting by Matt Seattle)

3^rd Matt Seattle - The Fair Maid of Perth, (Matt Seattle), Rock and a Wee Pickle Tow, The Kelpies, (Matt Seattle)

Martin Lowe Trophy - Awarded by the Judges only for the greatest contribution to the performance

of Lowland and Border music on the day of the competition

Norman MacLeod

Overseas Performance Class

Judge – John Saunders

1^st Jeremy Kingsbury – Strike the Bell (Vickers), Little Wee Winking Thing (Dixon)

2^nd Phil Tillman – Kilt Thy Coat Maggie and Dance with Me, Silly Bit Chicken, Deil's Awa wi' the Exciseman

3^rd Paul Connolly – House in St Peters (Allan MacDonald),  Eilean Fhianan (Charlie MacFarlane), Gun'San T’Aparan (Gown and Apron) - Trad

LBPS Annual Competition 2022 – Saturday 9th April 2022

Linlithgow Burgh Halls

 

The committee of the LBPS are looking forward to welcoming members to the first full live LBPS competition since 2019.  We encourage you to come and have a go at competing, whatever stage you are at in your small-piping/ Border piping “career”. It’s a supportive atmosphere where you will meet great people, have a chance to listen to a wide range of playing and get constructive feedback on your performance.

 

Entry fees:

Members:          £2.50 per class 

Non-members:  £5.00 per class 

Spectators:       Free

The booking form is available below.

 

The venue will be Linlithgow Burgh Halls which is an interesting historic venue with a small museum in the centre of the town, close to the railway station (on the main Glasgow to Edinburgh line).

Full address for the venue:

Linlithgow Burgh Halls, The Cross, Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 7AH

 

Read more ...

LBPS Annual Competition – Saturday 27th March 2021

 

We are pleased to announce the results of this year's annual competition, held via Zoom:

                                                       RESULTS OF THE LBPS ANNUAL COMPETITION 2021

SEASONED PIPERS CLASS (Judge: Lee Moore)
1st	Pete Stewart	Wo Betyd Thy Wearie Bodie (Skene, MS, 1615) An Old Man Is a Bed of Bones (Playford 1651 arr Stewart) I Am a Silly Old Man (Balcarres MS as ‘Gin the kirk would let me be 1695)
2nd	John Kelly	Mary Scott the Flower of Yarrow Linkcumdoddie
3rd	Jody Lynch	Teddy o Neill  (Air) The Clare jig and The Nora Crionna hornpipe The Wonky Table

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS (Judge: Iain MacInnes)
1st	Alexander Sime-Scott	The Rock and the Wee Pickle Tow, Lassie Gae Milk on My Cow Hill
2nd	Ruari Black	The Rose of Allendale   /   Knucklehead Johnny the Tree Wrecker
3rd	Caroline Barden	Wee Totum Fogg Pawkie Adam Glen

 

PIPE AND SONG CLASS (Judge: Iain MacInnes)
1st	Ian Crane	Tha Mi Sgith
2nd	Pete Stewart	The Ballad of Jock Elliot

 

SCOTTISH SMALL PIPES CLASS (Judge: Hamish Moore)
1st	Stuart Letford	John Anderson   My Jo / Jack Latin (from Dixon) Lassies o’ Melrose
Joint 2nd	Norman Macleod	Dark Lowers the Night (3/4 Retreat), Hacky Honey (9/4 from Dixon, tune #4)
	John Charles Bauschatz	Shuidh Mi air Cnocan an t-Siùil A Bhean Ud A-staigh Hì Rì a Bho Horo Hug Gur e an Latha He Mo Leannan, Ho Mo Leannan Clo Mhicllemhiceil
3rd	Bill Bennett	My Home Town, Scarce of Tatties, Drops of Brandy Aye Walkin O

 

LOWLAND & BORDER PIPES CLASS (Judge: Gordon Mooney)
1st	Stuart Letford	Rowan Tree (arrangement by Mark Stewart, Crieff) The Lasses Bushes Brawly (from Dixon; the first four parts only) Dixon’s Highland  Laddie (from Dixon but I shall miss our parts 6 and 7 due to time constraints).
2nd	David Faulkner	Joyful Days Will Come (David Faulkner)  Dorrington Lads (Rook manuscript)
3rd	Ian Crane	Wat Ye What I Got Late Yestreen Kiss'd Her Under the Coverlet

 

        

                           Ian Crane                                                                        Stuart Letford   

 

                       David Faulkner

Videos of the prize-winning entries and others have now been uploaded onto the LBPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LowlandBorderPipersSocietyOfficial

Read more ...

LBPS Annual Competition 2020

 

The LBPS Annual Competition will not be going ahead as planned on Saturday March 28th. 

It is with great regret that we have taken this decision as a result of the impact of Coronavirus and in order to protect the safety and wellbeing of our members. We plan to consider future possible dates for this event, but obviously this will depend on the length of time it takes to restore normal activity in the country.

Please keep an eye on our Face Book, Twitter and website for further updates.