Harpenden 2008

We had a good entry for the competition at Harpenden, and were lucky enough to get a window of good weather in an awful summer. I am very grateful to Judge Roddy Livingston for his views on the competition, some of which are reproduced below. As usual, click on the smaller pics for a larger image.

A good entry but the standard of playing was rather average. Most players seemed hampered by problems with instruments. Tunes played
included:-
MacIntosh's Banner
The Little Spree
The Company's Lament
Glengarry's Lament
Lament for Mary MacLeod
The Marquis of Argyll's Salute
Lament for Sir James MacDonald of the Isles

It was good to see that despite it being an 'own choice' competition, no tunes were repeated.

Amateur Hornpipe and Jig

Some nice playing here but rather inconsistent. Some competitors were taking on tunes which were beyond their capabilities. Good solid fingering by Kieron Cooney secured him the top prize in this event.

Senior Piobaireachd

Alisdair Smith - The Glen is Mine (2nd Prize)

A good tune on a nice bagpipe (apart from a slightly sharp F).
Variation 3 was slightly clipped and the crunluath a mach a little rushed.

John Angus Smith - The King's Taxes (Ist prize)

This is a difficult tune which John handled well. The 1st variation was a little slow for my taste but the timing was spot on. This is a very difficult variation to play well as it sets the rest of the tune up. A good pipe but with a slight tendency for the chanter to 'chirp' when a G gracenote was played on the low G. Due to the nature of the tune, this became noticeable in the Taorluath variation.

Joseph Westwater - The Groat

I was told later that Joe is fairly new to the South of England piping scene and had travelled some distance (Gloucester may have been
mentioned) by public transport to attend this event. Well done for making such an effort! The tune was generally well played, only marred by some of the phrasing in the ground and some weak technique in the later variations. Joe's instrument showed a great drone sound although the chanter was not quite balanced.

Roger Huth - Lament for Mary MacLeod (3rd prize)

Roger had been busy with his band for much of the day. He came on with what sounded like a very good pipe. His timing of the hiharin movements in the ground was unconventional but not unpleasant. The high G which is all important in this tune proved to be the point where Roger was let down by his bagpipe. Also there were some inconsistencies in timing in the variations.

Steve Watterson - Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg

Steve had rendered sterling service all day piping for the highland dancing contests (about six hours playing in all) before reporting for the open piobaireachd. He started his tune on the best pipe heard all day and made a fine job of the ground and early variations.
Unfortunately, in the taorluath he missed a cadence and played the relevant bar from the doubling of this variation instead. Steve immediately realised his mistake and decided to call it a day which was a great shame for all listeners.

The contest was well organised by the SPSL people, but the comings and goings of large motorcycles nearby was most off putting. What relevance Harley Davidson's have to a Highland Gathering I am yet to work out, but perhaps next year the Lions Club can put a little more thought into what goes where!

Cheers

Roddy

Amateur
Piobaireachd
1st Andrew Park
2nd Lachlan MacDonald
3rd Kieron Cooney

MSR
1st Kieron Cooney
2nd Allan Rouse
3rd Bob Porteous

Hornpipe & Jig
1st Kieron Cooney
2nd Andrew Park
3rd Hamish MacLeod

Juvenile
2 Parted March
1st Sean Tracey

Open
Piobaireachd
1st John Angus Smith
2nd Alasdair Smith
3rd Roger Huth

MSR
1st John Angus Smith
2nd Roger Huth
3rd Steve Watterston

Hornpipe & Jig
1st Steve Watterston
2nd Roger Huth
3rd John Angus Smith

Results for the Harpenden competition 13th July 2008