We have learnt of the untimely passing of Lady Ruth McKay.

From http://piobaireachd.org.nz Lady Ruth, the wife of the Rt. Hon Sir Iain McKay (past President of Comunn na Piobaireachd NZ and world authority on Piobaireachd), died suddenly last Saturday at home surrounded by her family. Lady Ruth is well known in New Zealand piping and pipe band circles as an unstinting supporter of Ian McKay’s many piping activities and a keen spectator at piping events.

On behalf of pipers and pipe bands people everywhere, we extend our sympathies to Dame Ruth’s family and friends at his sad time.

Comunn na Piobaireachd has released its piobaireachd list for 2011, reintroducing the 8 set tune list and departing from the own choice event which was held in 2010.

List available at http://pibrochnz.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/2011-cnp-clasp-gold-medal-tunes-announced/

Murray Mansfield and Stuart Easton took top honours at the Colin Craig Claidhmor and Targe on Saturday. (more…)

  The draw for the invitational Claidhmor competition is out. (more…)

Courtesy of Piobaireachd.org.nz, the Silver Medal Tunes have been made available to players. (more…)

Greg Wilson and Brian Switalla both enjoyed significant wins at the annual Hastings Highland Games in the weekend. The 60th Anniversary of the Games peaked with record numbers entering in all piping events. Wilson won the Gold Clasp (for former winners of the Gold Medal) on the Friday evening, with Switalla the runner up. Switalla also won most points A Grade throughout the weekend. The Gold Clasp field was the largest in many years. (more…)

Updated: Recordings now available. Auckland and Districts won the Grade 1 Set and Medley to take the Grade 1 Aggregate at the National Pipe Band Championships in Masterton on the weekend. They received the Drumming Prize and the Ensemble Prize. Manawatu were runner up. Canterbury Caledonian won the Street March and the Kitto Cup for Flourishing. (more…)

Manawatu Scottish Society claimed the Turakina Highland Games in the weekend, pipping NZ Police at the post in both Piping and Drumming. More results available in the read more section. (more…)

PBNews congratulates Stuart Easton and Shelley Easton (nee Reid) on their marriage in the weekend.

Over 200 pipers and drummers will descend on Christchurch for 2010 National Summer School, held at Christchurch Boys High School over the next week. (more…)