The Argyllshire Gathering

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About the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition

PIPING
Competition

25 & 26 August 2021, Oban

ABOUT THE 
COMPETITION

26 & 27 August 2020, Oban

The Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition 2020 takes place in Oban, Argyll on Wednesday 26 August and Thursday 27 August 2020.

It is two days of piping excellence, with over 200 pipers from across the globe competing in this, the world's foremost solo piping competition.

Whether you are a supporter, interested spectator or competitor, there is simply nowhere better for solo piping!

Sponsors here

FOR SPECTATORS
FOR COMPETITORS

World class solo piping

Over 2 days in August, the west coast town of Oban comes alive to the sound of the pipes. The Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition is a prestigious event attracting over 200 top class pipers from around the world who come to Oban to compete in more than 10 prestigious Piobaireachd, March, Strathspey & Reel and Jig competitions.

Pipers' friends, family and the general public are most welcome to come and hear the pipers play as they compete in indoor venues across Oban and outdoors at Oban Games.

Spectator Highlights

  • Solo Piobaireachd competitions including the Highland Society of London's Gold Medal.
  • Young pipers aged under 22 competing in The Highland Society of London's MacGregor Memorial competition.
  • The Former Winners MSR - an outstanding concert of light music
  • March of the Stewards through Oban, preceded by a band of competing pipers led by the Gold Medal winner
  • Ceòl Beag (light music) outdoor competitions at Oban Games.

Join pipers from around the world

Take part in one of the world's foremost solo piping competitions - the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition.  The annual competitions are held in the west coast town of Oban - Argyll's gateway to the islands.  Top class piping takes place over two days in the following solo piping competitions:

Day 1

The Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal Competition – Piobaireachd
The Senior Piobaireachd Competition - Piobaireachd
The Highland Society of London’s MacGregor Memorial Competition- Piobaireachd
The Argyllshire Gathering Silver Medal Competition - Piobaireachd
Former Winners Competition - March, Strathspey & Reel

Day 2

Intermediate March, Strathspey & Reel Competition
A March and A Strathspey & Reel Competition
B March and B Strathspey & Reel Competition
Jigs Competition
Junior and Local March, Strathspey & Reel Competitions

‍How to enter the competitions

To apply to enter the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competitions, simply complete the online application form here>

Competition eligibility details and general rules are listed below and in the online application forms. Once accepted, pay your entry fees securely online and enter your tune selection online. No entry fee is required from competitors in the MacGregor Memorial, the Intermediate March, Strathspey and Reel, Local Competitions or the Junior March, Strathspey and Reel.

Juniors and locals can enter on the field.

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We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming pipers to 2020 Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition in August.

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THe competitions

Click any Competition title below to see full details of prizes, eligibility and tune selections.

The Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal – Piobaireachd

Prizes: The Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal, Brigadier Lorne Campbell of Airds VC Trophy

Cash Prizes: Money prizes presented by the Highland Society of London and the Piobaireachd Society:

1st £500, 2nd £350, 3rd £200, 4th £150, 5th £100*

*this prize is at the discretion of the judges and stewards

Eligibility: Entry is restricted to those already notified of their eligibility to compete by the Joint Committee of the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting in the year of the competition.

Tunes: Competitors will submit eight tunes of their own choice, one of which they will be required to play.

Apply to enter hereR
The Senior Piobaireachd Competition - Piobaireachd

Prize: The Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Piping and Fiddle) Senior Piobaireachd Trophy, and the Kilberry Cup presented by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (both to be held for one year).

Cash Prizes: 1st £1000, 2nd £350, 3rd £200, 4th £150, 5th £100*
*this prize is at the discretion of the judges and stewards

Eligibility: Previous winners of the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering or the Northern Meeting.

Tunes: Competitors will submit six of the tunes below, one of which they will be required to play.

The Unjust Incarceration* – PS 2
Lament for Donald Ban MacCrimmon – PS 2, K
Patrick Og MacCrimmon’s Lament** – PS 3
The Sound of the Waves against the Castle of Duntroon – PS 6, K
Nameless Cherede Darievea – PS 8, K
The Laird of Anapool’s Lament – PS 9
MacLeod of Colbeck’s Lament – PS 10
Mrs MacLeod of Talisker’s Salute – PS 11
Lament for the Harp Tree – PS 12, K
Lament for King George III – PS 14

* For the purposes of the Senior competitions this tune should be played with the inclusion of the “optional” 3rd line, as recorded in Piobaireachd Society Book 2.
** For the purposes of the Senior competitions this tune should be played with the inclusion of Donald MacDonald’s additional variation (singling and doubling), as recorded in Piobaireachd society Book 3.

PS = Piobaireachd Society Collection; K = Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

Apply to enter hereR
The Highland Society of London’s MacGregor Memorial Competition - Piobaireachd

Prizes: The College of Piping Trophy, to be held for one year. A special prize: a R G Hardie Infinity Pipe Chanter kindly donated by R G Hardie & Co.

Cash Prizes: Money prizes awarded by the Highland Society of London: 1st £100, 2nd £75, 3rd £50, 4th £40*

*this prize is at the discretion of the judges and stewards

Eligibility: Open to Competitors under 22 on the day of competition who have not previously won first prize in this event. See the full Rules below.

Competition & Tunes: Competitors will submit FOUR tunes. There will be two heats. Four competitors will go through to the final from each heat. The finalists will be asked to play a second tune out of their four. The prize winners will be the best of those eight, judged on both their tunes.

Apply to enter hereR‍


THE MACGREGOR MEMORIAL PIOBAIREACHD COMPETITION
RULES OF THE COMPETITION

Click here to download a copy of the Rules>

(Amended March 2001, October 2005, November 2008, November 2010, November 2011)

  1. The MACGREGOR MEMORIAL PIOBAIREACHD COMPETITION (hereinafter called “the Competition”) was founded in 1982 in memory of John MacGregor, piper to Prince Charles Edward in 1745-46, winner of the third prize in the first piobaireachd competition at Falkirk in 1781, and piper to the Highland society of London from 1783. The competition was founded by Mrs. Audrey Jamieson, a direct descendant of John MacGregor, and is administered by the Highland Society of London (hereinafter called “the Society”) as trustees.
  2. Subject only to Rule 7 of these Rules the Competition is open to all pipers whether male or female and whether or not resident in Scotland who are under 22 years of age on the day of the Competition in a year in which the piper intends to compete (hereinafter called “the relevant year”).
  3. Intending competitors should apply on line to enter for the Competition at any time after 1st January in the year the relevant year but NOT LATER THAN 30th June in the relevant year or by such other date as the Society may decide. There is no entry fee.
  4. (a) Competitors will be required to submit a list of FOUR tunes of their own choice. The Competition will be held in two parts, both of which will take place on the same day.
    (b) The competitors will be divided by a random draw into two sections and will play one of their tunes as chosen by the judges before two judges. The judges in each section will decide upon a list of the four pipers who in their consideration played the best tunes. The final eight will then each play a second tune which will be heard by all four judges who will judge them on both tunes. The prizes will be awarded to those three competitors whom the four judges shall have adjudged to have played the best pair of tunes. The judges may at their discretion award a fourth prize if they consider that there is a fourth competitor whose two tunes merit a prize.
    (c) Competitors who have competed in previous years should not include in their lists of tunes more than two (if any) of the tunes submitted in the previous year.
  5. Competitors are not restricted to the settings of tunes printed in the Piobaireachd Society’s Collection and the Kilberry Book of Ceòl Mór. If a competitor intends to play a setting of a tune not contained in either of the above-named collections he or she must notify an Officer of the Society or the Judges of the section of the Competition in which he or she may be playing at any time, and provide the Judges with a copy of the setting, before the first part of the Competition begins. The Judges of the Competition may take into consideration the merits and the authenticity of and the authority for any setting submitted.
  6. In the event of there being fewer than three competitors entering in any year the Society may abandon the Competition for that year. In the event of their being only three competitors in any year only one prize will be awarded. In the event of there being at least four competitors but fewer than seven in any year only two prizes will be awarded. In the event of the Competition taking place with FOURTEEN or fewer competitors the competitors will not be divided into two sections and ALL competitors will be required to play TWO tunes.
  7. The winner of the first prize in the Competition will not be eligible to enter for the Competition in any subsequent year.
  8. All competitors must compete in Highland Dress or in uniform.
  9. All competitors must be ready to compete when called upon to do so and any competitor who is not ready to compete when called to the platform may be disqualified unless he or she can give a satisfactory explanation to an Officer of the Society or to the Judges for having been absent. No competitor who arrives after the Judges have risen to consider who should be included in the short list at the end of the first part of the competition in the section in which he or she was listed to compete will be permitted to compete. No competitor who arrives for the second or final part of the Competition after the judges have risen to consider their adjudication will be permitted to take part in the second part of the Competition.
  10. In the event of a competitor taking an unreasonably long time to tune his or her pipe after being called on to play the judges may require him or her to begin his or her tune forthwith. If that competitor has not begun his or her tune within one minute after being so required the judges may disqualify that competitor. Tuning time may be restricted by the use of lights or other timing device. Where lights are used the amber light shall mean that the competitor must start the tune within one minute and the red light shall mean that the competitor must start the tune immediately.
  11. All competitors must tune their own pipes.
  12. The decision of the judges as to those competitors who will play in the second part of the Competition shall be final. The decision of the judges of the second (final) part as to the winners of prizes in the Competition shall also be final.
  13. Any question dispute or disagreement that may arise in relation to the Competition or these Rules shall be determined by an Officer of the Society or by a person delegated by the Society for that purpose whose decision shall be final.
  14. Without prejudice to Rule 6 of these Rules the Society may in any year cancel abandon or postpone the Competition or may alter or amend these Rules or may change the place at which the Competition will take place. In such circumstances the Society will give as much notice of such change cancellation or abandonment as is reasonable possible. Any cancellation or postponement of the Competition or alteration of the place at which it will take place will also be advertised in the Oban Times and the Piping Times and/or such other publication as the Society may think necessary.
  15. Prizes will be presented at the conclusion of the March, Strathspey and Reel competition for Former Winners on the Wednesday evening of the Argyllshire Gathering. Any prize-winner who is unable to stay for that event may claim his or her prize after the conclusion of the MacGregor competition. It is the responsibility of prize-winners to collect their prizes and neither the Society not any Officer of the Society nor the organisers or committees or any person concerned in the promotion or organisation of any piping competition or Highland Games at which the Competition or either part thereof may be held shall be held liable for any prize not collected by the winner thereof.

ANGUS NICOL for THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON

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The Argyllshire Gathering Silver Medal - Piobaireachd

Prize: A Silver Medal presented by the Argyllshire Gathering, the Lorn Cup presented by John Campbell of Kilberry.

Cash Prizes: Cash prizes awarded by John Campbell of Kilberry: 1st £300, 2nd £250, 3rd £130, 4th £90, 5th £50*

*this prize is at the discretion of the judges and stewards

Eligibility: Entry is restricted to those already notified of their eligibility to compete by the Joint Committee of the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting in the year of the competition.

Tunes: Competitors will submit six tunes of their own choice, one of which they will be required to play.

Apply to enter hereR
March, Strathspey & Reel – Former Winners

Prizes: 1st Prize The P/M Ronald McCallum Memorial Trophy, The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society Silver Star and prizes sponsored by Francesca Von Habsburg.

Cash Prizes: 1st £500, 2nd £350, 3rd £200, 4th £150, 5th £100

Eligibility: Confined to previous 1st prize winners in the A grade March or in the A grade Strathspey and Reel competitions at the Argyllshire Gathering.

Apply to enter hereR
Intermediate March, Strathspey & Reel

Prizes: The Pipe Major Robert G Hardie memorial trophy

Cash Prizes: money prizes presented by R G Hardie Ltd: 1st £50, 2nd £40, 3rd £30, 4th £20, 5th £10*

*this prize is at the discretion of the judges and stewards

Eligibility: Open only to competitors who competed in The MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd Competition and that are not B graded.

Tunes: Competitors must submit 3 Marches, 3 Strathspeys and 3 Reels.

Apply to enter hereR
A & B March, A & B Strathspey & Reel

MARCHES

Prizes: 1st Prize (A grade) The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society Bronze Star and The Maclaine of Lochbuie Trophy (to be held for one year )

Cash Prizes: Money prizes for both competitions (A grade presented by MacLaine of Lochbuie):

March A: 1st £130, 2nd £100, 3rd £75, 4th £60, 5th £50, 6th £30
March B: 1st £90, 2nd £65, 3rd £55, 4th £45, 5th £35

Eligibility: Open to all in each of Grades A and B who have not won this Competition at the Argyllshire Gathering, and who have been notified of their eligibility to compete by the Joint Committee of the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting in the year of the competition.

Tunes: Competitors must submit with their entries the names of SIX Marches, any of which they may be called upon to play.

STRATHSPEYS AND REELS

Prizes: 1st Prize (A Grade) The Argyllshire Gathering’s Silver Medal and the Angus John MacNeil of Barra Memorial Cup (to be held for one year).

Cash Prizes:  Money prizes for both competitions (A grade presented by Maclaine of Lochbuie).

Strathspey & Reel A: 1st £130, 2nd £100, 3rd £75, 4th £60, 5th £50, 6th £30

Strathspey & Reel B: 1st £90, 2nd £65, 3rd £55, 4th £45, 5th £35

Eligibility: Open to all in each of Grades A and B who have not won this Competition at the Argyllshire Gathering. Entry is restricted to those already notified of their eligibility to compete by the joint Committee of the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting in the year of the competition.

Tunes: Competitors must submit with their entries the names of SIX Strathspeys and SIX Reels, any of which they may be called upon to play.

Apply to enter hereR
JIG COMPETITION

Prizes: The Donald Ramsay trophy

Cash Prizes:  1st £85, 2nd £60, 3rd £50, 4th £40, 5th £30

Eligibility: Open to all competitors ruled eligible to compete in the A or B light music competitions.

Competition: Competitors must submit with their entries the names of SIX Jigs, any of which they may be called upon to play.

Apply to enter hereR
JUNIOR MARCH, STRATHSPEY AND REEL (LOCAL)

Prize: 1st Prize, the President’s Silver Gilt Medal and a bursary in memory of the late 12th Duke of Argyll; 2nd Prize, Silver Medal; 3rd Prize, Bronze Medal.

Eligibility: Confined to boys and girls under 16 years on the day of the Competition (see Rule 16) who comply with any of the provisions of Rule 12 (as proved to the satisfaction of the Stewards).

STRATHSPEY AND REEL (LOCAL)

Cash Prizes: 1st £60, 2nd £50, 3rd £40, 4th £30

Tunes: Competitors must submit with their entries the names of THREE Strathspeys and THREE Reels, any of which they may be called upon to play.

A Cup donated by the late Major George Melville Duncan O.B.E. of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, to be held for one year, will be presented for the best performance in the Local piping competitions (events 5 and 6): a First counting 3½ points, a Second 2 points, and a Third 1 point.

N.B. Competitions 5, 6 and 7 are restricted to those eligible under Rules 12, 13 and 16.

MARCHES (LOCAL)

Cash Prizes: 1st £60, 2nd £50, 3rd £40, 4th £30

Tunes: Competitors must submit with their entries the names of THREE Marches, any of which they may be called upon to play.

Entry: Pipers sign up to enter on the field on the day at the Oban Games.

GENERAL RULES

Click below to see the General Rules for the Piping Competition (excludes the MacGregor Memorial Competition, the Rules of which are issued by the Highland Society of London - see MacGregor Memorial entry above). You can also download a copy here>.

PIPING COMPETITION GENERAL RULES

1. Any piper who has entered and has been accepted for any competition at the Argyllshire Gathering who fails to attend or compete without having given the stewards prior notice of their absence then an application to enter in the following year may be rejected.

2. The March, Strathspey and Reel (intermediate) competition shall be open to only those who have competed in the MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd competition held on the first day of the competition.

3. After a Competitor has been called on to play, tuning of Pipes must be kept to a minimum as the Judges or Stewards may determine. Where lights or an alternative are in use, competitors must abide by the timing issued by judges.

4. Any Competitors misconducting themselves or acting contrary to the Rules of the Gathering or the orders of the Judges or the Stewards shall be excluded from the Competitions and Prizes, and may be removed from the Games ground or competition halls.

5. The Judges of the piping competitions shall be entitled to stop any Competitor whilst playing if in their opinion, he or she has no longer any chance of winning a prize.

6. In all cases, the decisions of the Stewards will be final, and they may postpone or abandon the Competitions or any of them if necessitated by the weather or any other circumstances, or alter the timing of particular events, or the order in which Competitors compete, of all of which they shall be the sole determinants. Extra events may be added to the programme at the discretion of the Stewards.

7. All Competitors must appear and compete in Highland Dress or uniform. Bonnets should be worn but jackets need not be.

8. Only Competitors taking part in the particular events in progress will be allowed inside the ropes at the Games ground.

9. The order of competing in all Piping Events will be decided by ballot, drawn by the Stewards after 30th June. Competitors will be able to view the order of play via www.obangames.com. Order of play and locations can be seen at the Secretary’s Office on the Tuesday evening prior to the competitions and will be displayed at competition venues on the Wednesday.

10. There must be more Competitors than prizes, or part of the prizes may be withdrawn. No first prize may be awarded unless there are at least two Competitors.

11. Prizes are normally presented on the Wednesday after the Former Winners’ March, Strathspey and Reel in the evening. Any prize-winners who cannot be present for the prize-giving may claim their prizes earlier. On the Thursday, prizes will be presented to the winners by the Piping Steward after the conclusion of the respective competitions. It remains the responsibility of all prize-winners to claim their prizes, and neither the Argyllshire Gathering nor any of the Stewards or officials of the Gathering shall be responsible for any prize not claimed.

12. For the purposes of Local Events and eligibility for the Local prizes in other events (if any), a “Local” Competitor is one who (a) is a Native of, or (b) has been resident for the last two years in the County of Argyll, or (c) is currently serving in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, or (d) who can satisfy the Stewards that they have any other comparably close links with Argyll. Intending Competitors must enter their qualifications to play in Local Competitions on their Entry Form.

13. No competitor may win local events (Events 5, 6 and 7) more than three times. Local Prizes will be awarded, or withheld at the discretion of the Judges based on the Entrant’s merit.

14. Competitors in Events 1, 2 and 3 intending to play a setting of any tune not contained in the staff or editorial notes of the Piobaireachd Society’s Books or the Kilberry Book should give notice of the setting which they intend to play at the time of submitting their Entry Forms.

16. Competitors must be over 16 on the day of competition for the Open events. Only competitors under 16, and who must be 12 or over on the day of competition, may compete in Event 5. (A piper under 12 may exceptionally be considered for entry by the Stewards.)

17. Entries for the open competitions must be lodged according to the published timetable, the critical date being 30 January each year for requesting a Ruling on Eligibility from the Joint Committee. Late entries will not be accepted.

18. Competitors cannot compete in both MacGregor Memorial and Silver Medal. If selected for both they can choose which competition they wish to play.

NOTES:

a) Intending Competitors must enter via the  website in the year of competition. Juniors and Locals can enter on the field!!

b) A single entry fee of £40.00 is payable by each Competitor entering for the Piping Competitions, and will be collected prior to their being able to play in their first competition at the Gathering. No entry fee is required from competitors in the Local Competitions or the Junior March, Strathspey and Reel.

On the Thursday morning of the Gathering all competitors are requested to form a Pipe Band to accompany members to the Games field. Pipers are to assemble under the Pipe Major-ship of the previous day’s Gold Medal winner in Station Square at 10.15am. A van will leave Oban station carrying pipers’ gear to the Games field.

Torquil Telfer, Piping Steward
On behalf of the Argyllshire Gathering

Photos from the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition Photo Gallery

Photo GALLERYR

Photos from the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition Photo Gallery
Photos from the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition Photo Gallery
Photos from the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition Photo Gallery
Photos from the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition Photo Gallery
Photos from the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition Photo Gallery
Photos from the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition Photo Gallery
Photos from the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition Photo Gallery
Photos from the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competition Photo Gallery

The Argyllshire Gathering

Founded in 1871, the Argyllshire Gathering's members work to promote Argyll both locally and in the wider world. Find out more at theargyllshiregathering.comR

The Piping Competition forms just one aspect of the work of the Argyllshire Gathering.

The Gathering's Piping Trust supports piping and especially younger pipers across Argyll; the Argyllshire Gathering Oban Games are one of Scotland's leading Highland Games and a highlight of Oban's year.

Find out more about The Gathering's work at the links below.

ARGYLLSHIRE GATHERINGR
PIPING TRUSTR
Supporting piping across Argyll
ARGYLLSHIRE GATHERINGR
OBAN GAMESR
A true Highland Games spectacular

PIPING COMPETITION

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