The Southland Piping and Drumming Development Trust has confirmed it has appointed Alasdair Mackenzie from Scotland as their Principal Pipe Tutor.
In a statement released by Allister Macgregor, Chairman of the Trust, the Trust is now “pleased to advise that Alasdair (Ali) Mackenzie from Glasgow has been appointed to the role of fulltime Piping Development Tutor.”
“Ali is 23 and plays in the front rank for Scottish Power and Queensland Highlanders. He began learning the pipes when he was eight and comes to us with very strong references.
Ali will assist all Southland Bands associated with the our Trust, be charged with helping create a vibrant solo piping scene in Southland and, with Scott Birrell our Drumming Development Tutor, be heavily involved with marketing and prompting the culture in Southland.
Ali will also be Pipe Major for the top ranked band under the emerging City of Invercargill Highland group of pipe bands.
Ali will start with our Trust in May 2009 but will travel back to compete at the World Championships with Scottish Power. Scott Birrell will do likewise with Boghall and Bathgate.”
The City of Invercargil Pipe Band, the pinnacle band of the region, won the Grade 3 NZ National Pipe Band Championships in 2009 after a hiatus for some time, and is expected to play in Grade 2 this coming season.
The Claidhmor and Targe
The Annual Claidhmor and Targe competition, held at the Celtic Inn in Palmerston North, will be held on the 23rd of May. The competitors for the contest are;
Richard Hawke, Marion Horsburgh, Thomas McGirr, Martin Frewen, Geoff Halberg, Jamie Hawke, Iain Robertson, George Mason, Murray Mansfield
PBNews is pleased to announce it will be updating and providing results from all the major Highland Games around New Zealand. Prompted by members of the greater Piping community to provide a resource to locate and read the latest results from Hastings, Christchurch, Waipu and Dunedin, PBNews feels obliged to provide such a resource.
This can be viewed on the Solo Database.
The 2010 Comunn na Piobaireachd (NZ) tune list was released this morning by Greg Wilson, Secretary of the organisation, showing the current trend of some piobaireachd societies around the world allowing “own choice” in the higher competitions.
Both the Clasp and the Gold Medal are now “own choice”, however the amount of piobaireachd needed to be submitted have gone up from 3 to 4 for the Gold Medal, and 4 to 6 for the Clasp.
The Silver Medal List is as follows;
Silver Medal Competition
1. The Garden of Roses DM Bk 1
2. Lament for the Rowan Tree DM Bk 1
3. Weighing from Land PS Bk 2
4. You’re Welcome, Ewen Lochiel PS Bk 2
5. Fair Honey PS Bk 9
6. Corrienessan’s Salute PS Bk 8
Ian Lyons (Australia) won the coveted Comunn Na Piobaireachd (NZ) Gold Medal at a hot and sunny Hastings Highland Games today. In a field of around 10, Ian Lyons managed to prevail after a few years of near misses and 2nd places.
Brendan Eade won his first Clasp on Friday night in front of a packed audience. The Judges for both events were Bain McGregor and John Hanning.
In the light music, Richard Hawke won most points in the A Grade, closely followed by Stuart Easton and Ian Lyons. Richard Cox (Dunedin) won all the B Grade Events, and Jamie Hawke won both the Under 21 Strathspey and Reel, and the Under 21 Piobaireachd.
2nd – Ian Lyons
3rd – Stuart Easton
4th – George Mason
A Grade Double Marches
PBNews is happy to receive any feedback on any items we bring to you. What do you think?
