Sunday 12th September saw one of the few outdoor UK solo piping competitions of 2021 at Harpenden Highland Gathering and the Scottish Piping Society of London (SPSL) was delighted to see competitors return to the boards.
With the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in the UK, the SPSL was pleased to support this well-established and popular gathering, running solo piping events for Open, Amateur and Juvenile competitors. The solo piping events were organised by SPSL Vice President, Fraser Stewart, supported by committee member William Wardrope.
During a pleasant autumn day, the piping events attracted players from across the south of England with a healthy attendance of four Open pipers, ten Amateur pipers and one Juvenile piper.
Roddy Livingstone was the sole adjudicator listening to approximately 50 performances throughout the day. The committee would like to thank Roddy for his hard work at the event and ongoing support of the SPSL, as well as to Roger Huth for his co-ordination at the event and ensuring a smooth massed bands and prize-giving concluded the Highland Gathering to a crowd of many hundreds of people.
The SPSL committee would like to take this opportunity to thank Harpenden Highland Gathering for the opportunity to organise the solo piping events – we were delighted to return to live competition and to be able to support piping in the south east of England.
Finally, we congratulate all competing pipers at Harpenden and it was great to see quite a few pipe band competitors taking part in the solo events. Many spectators came to listen and appreciate performances, which could be heard across the arena.
The SPSL committee is now looking forward to the Society’s 81st Annnual Competition on the 5th & 6th November. More information can be found here and you can follow our social media accounts for the most up-to-date information:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScottishPipingSocietyOfLondon/
Twitter: @LondonPiping twitter.com/LondonPiping
Results
Harpenden Highland Gathering Champion Piper – Steve Cussen
Open Piping
Piobaireachd
1st Steve Cussen (The Desperate Battle)
2nd Fraser Stewart
3rd James Stewart
6/8 March
1st Steve Cussen
2nd James Stewart
3rd Fraser Stewart
March, Strathspey & Reel
1st James Stewart
2nd Fraser Stewart
3rd Steve Cussen
Hornpipe & Jig
1st Steve Cussen
2nd James Stewart
3rd Graham Waller
Juvenile Piping
2/4 March
1st Liberty Abbott
Amateur Piping
Piobaireachd
1st Matthew Kirkwood
2nd William Wardrope
3rd Philip Duthie
6/8 March
1st William Wardrope
2nd Alan Vaughan
3rd Laura McEwan
March, Strathspey & Reel
1st William Wardrope
2nd Matthew Kirkwood
3rd Philip Duthie
