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| Piping hot for world's best 31 August 2010 | |
| NEW piping convenor for the Northern Meeting annual piping competition, Alan Forbes, is no stranger to the prestigious contest. "I've been going for many, many years," Edinburgh based Forbes said. "It's one of the best piping competitions of all and it's nice to be asked to take over the role of piping convenor." A director of the National Piping Centre in Glasgow, Forbes has been playing the pipes since the age of seven and though he does not compete in events, he remains an active amateur player. He does, however, have 30 years' experience as a judge, along with a 25-year association with the Northern Meeting, one of the world's most important piping contests and one which attracts the leading soloists from as far away as New Zealand and Canada. He takes over the title from Inverness resident Richard Cameron, who stepped down last year after a decade as piping convenor. Forbes paid tribute to the work of his predecessor, whose tenure included the Northern Meeting's temporary relocation from its usual home at Eden Court to Aviemore for three years while the Inverness theatre was undergoing refurbishment. "We are all greatly indebted to him for his organisation, enthusiasm and commitment in keeping the traditions and high standards of this wonderful event," he said. "We've not made any major changes. Thanks to Richard, it all runs pretty well." However, the 2010 competition, which gets under way on Thursday and continues on Friday, will have a few differences from past competitions. After their relocation across the Ness to the Territorial Army barracks on Gordonville Road, the junior competitions have returned to Eden Court, putting all the Northern Meeting events back under one roof. "Eden Court have been very helpful to us in getting us tuning rooms and helping get the temperatures right," Forbes said. Other changes have also been introduced. "We have also reduced the number of competitors in pibroch," Forbes said, revealing the number of entries in the gold and silver medal competitions would be capped at 25. One of the reasons for that is that the gold medal precedes one of our most attractive competitions, the former winners' march strathspey and reel," he explained. "If the Gold Medal goes on too long, then that gets pushed back." The restrictions on numbers has led to the introduction of a qualifying competition for silver medal entrants held at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow earlier this month. The change comes at a time when entries for the Northern Meeting's junior competitions have been on the increase, reflecting a renewed interest in piping in Scotland. "Piping is very competitive at the moment," Forbes said. "We've had Canadians winning the gold clasp over the last two years, so it will be interesting to see who pulls the stops out this year. "One thing we would like is to get more of the general public along. Unfortunately the audience for the Northern Meeting tends to be more piping aficionados. It is not something that is aimed at tourists, but I think if people came along, because standards are so high, they would enjoy it or at least parts of it as the competitions go on all day." As a taster to the start of competition on Thursday, the skirl of the pipes will be heard on Inverness High Street tomorrow as a pipe band marches to the Town House where Provost Jimmy Gray is hosting a reception marking the competition's return. The 158th Northern Meeting Competition will again feature the cream of piping talent from around the world. Among the best known participants this year are previous Northern Meeting gold medal and clasp winner Angus MacColl, who will return to Eden Court next week for the Blas Festival's classical piping concert on Thursday 9th September; former Battlefield Band piper Duncan MacGillivray from Tain; four members of Canada's famous Lee family, Jack, Colin, Andrew and Alastair; Inverness's own Euan MacCrimmon; Dr Angus MacDonald from Skye and 2007 and 2009 gold medal winner Stuart Liddell from Inverary, along with competitors from Australia, New Zealand, France, the USA, Germany and Ireland. The gold medal and silver medal pibroch competitions have been scheduled for Thursday morning, while the evening is devoted to the former winners' march, strathspey and reel competition. The gold clasp pibroch competition, which is open only to former winners of the gold medal, take place on Friday and the adult competitions conclude with the hornpipe and jig competition on Friday afternoon. Also at stake is the Northern Meeting Quaich, made by local silversmith Alan Baillie, which is awarded to the player who achieves best overall performance in the gold clasp and former winners' march, strathspey and reel contests. The junior competitions also take place on Friday. |
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