Manawatu started the weekend with wins in all sections, apart from one, tying with the New Zealand Police Pipe Band for best drum corp. Canterbury Caledonian spent Sunday in Ashburton in overcast, cool conditions, winning both the Set and Medley.

Full results available soon.

Music Judges

Piping:              Brendan Eade, Nigel Foster, Brian Niven, Brian Switalla

Drumming:  Stuart Eeles, Robert Turner

Ensemble:     William Livingstone, Craig Meinsmith

Other non music judges have also been appointed for the event and they are :

Drum Major’s competition Robert Buckton

Dress                                                    John Agnew

Mace Flourishing                       Rod Millar

Marching                                          Peter Eeles, Rod Millar, Jill Vincent

Display                 Ensemble          tba

     Non-Music       Malcolm Irving

     Guest                  Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby

Kitto Trophy:                                 tba

Numbers this year are reportedly down, and as a result fewer tutors than usual have been employed. This is not taking away from the experience this week, with several interesting workshops and evening activities planned.

The Foundation Youth Pipe Band is attending the week, and will be spending the afternoons working on their intensive competition and concert repertoire. On Wednesday night they will be practicing under the direction of Jack Lee, Reid Maxwell and Tyler Fry.

Tonight is the annual Tutors Recital, with special appearances from groups and soloists. This is $10 and begins at 7pm at Christchurch Boys “Big Room”.

The week will culminate with a Students Recital on Thursday, where all students will perform; including the Youth Band.

PBNews will be on hand all week, taking photos and videos and will be uploading them as available. Stay tuned for more news from the 2012 National Summer School.

It is a voluntary position which has very few demands; the only one being that you deliver the news fast, efficiently, and to the best of your ability. Occasionally you may be asked to write specific articles for specific purposes, but most often it will be up to you.

We want people with a passion for piping and drumming and who have a bit of a way with words.

If you’re interested, contact either the Owner or Editor with expressions of interest.

Manawatu Scottish Medley

Canterbury Caledonian MSR

Canterbury Caledonian Medley

Auckland and District MSR

Auckland and District Medley

NZ Police MSR

NZ Police Medley

Pipe Band Club MSR

Pipe Band Club Medley

A Hogmanay to Remember

I’d only been to Waipu a few times before for the New Year (15+ years ago; gulp!) and had planned just to have a quiet one with a few cans and a few friends. When I got the call up to join in with a few others in a road-trip from the Central North Island, I couldn’t say no. And I’m glad I didn’t. Attending arguably the best highland games in the country was such a treat and an insight not only into the world of solo piping, but the world of solo drumming.

We set off for Auckland on the 31st and were to meet several others who were, like me, road-tripping to Auckland. A few young lads in one car, a female or two in another, and a few already there meant my first New Year in Auckland was a bit of a highlight. The chat was piping and the focus was clear… but serious chat was left for another day, and just for one night we let our hair down… or so I thought.

Waking up onto the 1st day of 2012 and the travel from Auckland to Waipu took a different turn – all cars in the “Te Hikoi” convoy dressed up in patriotic flag attire and blasted the Dave Dobbyn and Six60. The Swat Team led the front, and with all the rest of us falling behind, we set off to the township of Waipu, just short of Whangarei, and home to the legend of Bain McGregor and his onslaught. Several stops for photo opportunities and public consumption were just part of the magic that was Te Hikoi Ō Te Āninu Māhunga Kaiwhakatangitangi Te Waipū.

There is an annual memorial medley competition, recognising the life of Bain’s late wife Helen, and the love she had for piping music. 6 pipers took to the stage – apparently down on last year where they had a record 22 compete – and what a musical spectacle it was. Bain did note although the numbers were down, the standard was high. The highlights were definitely a rendition of Davey Websters 40th, a Fred Morrison horn-reel, an amended John Pattersons Mare, and a modern Breton Dance followed by a few jigs from Paul Hughes. The night ended with Martin Frewen being announced the winner, the two stews/stus finished second and third, and Liam Kernaghan finishing off the prize list. A few drams, a catch up with some old friends, and the end to the first night of what undoubtedly was going to be a cracker start to 2012.

The next day brought about some early rain but the skies cleared and we were treated to a beautiful day under the scorching Northland sun. We arrived just after 9, and already the A Grade March and the A Grade Strathspey and Reel were under way, as were the lower grades. We parked up at the Open board and spent the day walking back and forth between the drumming and the piping. One of the great things about Waipu is that the boards – although well spread out – are not that far away, and the ease in which we could watch a competitior in the A Grade MSR on the Drumming board and jump down to the Under 21 piobaireachd was especially comforting, considering any form of physical exercise on this day was sure to enduce some major sweats.

The Drumming Solos were well attended, but again, apparently down in numbers on last year. I wish I’d got my sticks out and competed, because the relaxed atmosphere which was conducive to such musical performances would have been a fun way to start the year. However, I sat and enjoyed a few good tunes on the drumming board for parts of the day and would encourage anyone and everyone to give it a go some day.

In comparison, it was clear the piping board was full of formality.. and rightly so. The names of the competitiors playing, according to the lady sitting beside me, was “first class.. undoubtedly a very high standard”. There were 12 open piping competitors, all names even I recognised as a drummer. The professionalism and the music was outstanding all day, with pipes to match. One of the judges reported the standard of the pipes at the contest was very high. What would I know though.

The lunchtime spectacle was something that I will forever remember and enjoy; the annual pipers march. All the pipers – regardless of grade – and some drummers lined up and march around the field with clans and supporters in behind, playing such favourites as Green Hills of Tyrol, Bonnie Dundee, Orange and Blue and the Flower of Scotland. Under the sun and the climbing heat, at least 40 pipers stood and played for the masses, with highland dancers dancing to the strathspeys. A visual treat for the masses which culminated in several thousand people crowding around to see what was happening.

As the day draw nearer to sun-set, the piping board became more populated. The drumming solos had finished and with the prize giving having been completed, we set off to the piping, and we sat down to my highlight of the day – the A Grade Hornpipe and Jig. At least 60 people were watching this display of excellent music which was without doubt the “crowd-pleaser”. To say there were several highlights would be to do injustice to the high level of competition in this event… but there were some tunes which even the older generation had their feet tapping along to.

The Prize Giving happened, with each of the prize winners being recognised for their performances and presented with the ever-important prize money. There was a tribute delivered by Allan Cameron to the late Lewis Turrell MBE, who passed away just before Easter in 2011, and who was a major contributor to piping and a staunch advocate for the Waipu Highland Games. The day at the park finished with a few more drams, a bit of chat and some more catching up. It was about 7:30 that we ended up returning to Bain’s house for a BBQ, some tunes, and a fantastic night.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Waipu 15 years on… but now I know I’m never doing another New Years again. Waipu was without question perhaps the greatest way to herald in the new year.

A Grade Piobaireachd

1st Greg Wilson, Scarce of Fishing

2nd Stuart Easton, The Unjust Incarceration

3rd Jamie Hawke, The Lament for the Earl of Antrim

4th Martin Frewen, Glengarry’s March

Judges – Brian Switalla, Iain Hines

A Grade March

1st Martin Frewen

2nd Greg Wilson

3rd Stuart Easton

4th Callum Gilchrist

Judge – Iain Hines

A Grade Strathspey and Reel

1st Liam Kernaghan

2nd Greg Wilson

3rd Stuart Easton

4th Stewart McKenzie

Judge – Brian Switalla

A Grade MSR

1st Martin Frewen

2nd Greg Wilson

3rd Stuart Easton

4th Jamie Hawke

Judges – Brian Switalla, Iain Hines

A Grade Hornpipe and Jig

1st Liam Kernaghan

2nd Martin Frewen

3rd Stuart Easton

4th Jamie Hawke

Judges – Brian Switalla, Iain Hines

Helen McGregor Memorial Medley

1st Martin Frewen

2nd Stewart McKenzie

3rd Stuart Easton

4th Liam Kernaghan

Judges – Brian Switalla, George Mason, Iain Hines

The Under 21 results were mixed, with William Rowe, Scott Marshall and Blair Hodson winning the Under 21 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel and Piobaireachd respectively.

A Grade Hornpipe and Jig

This year, we have added an additional poll – the Greatest Pipe Band Moment of the Year – which is open to international as well as domestic events.

Polls close on the 10th of January.

Click here to take survey

Grade 1 MSR

1st Manawatu Scottish (1,1,1,1)

2nd Canterbury Caledonian (2,3,2,4)

3rd Auckland and District (3,2,3,2)

Grade 1 Medley

1st Canterbury Caledonian Society (2,2,2,1)

2nd Manawatu Scottish Society (1,1,1,5)

3rd Auckland and District (3,3,3,2)

Full results available here

Grade 1

MSR

1 Canterbury Caledonian Society (1,1,2,1)

2 NZ Police (2,2,1,2)
Medley

1 Canterbury Caledonian Society (1,1,1,1)

2 NZ Police (2,2,2,2)

Drumming – Canterbury Caledonian Society.

More results to come as they become available.