PIPING MATCH REVIVAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1938, Page 11

PIPING MATCH REVIVAL

FIRST BRATACH GORM SINCE 1745 LONDON, February 28. An ancient Highland contest was revived for the first time since 1745 cn Saturday, when four pipers competed for the Bratach Gorm in the sixth annual piping and dancing competition, held at the London Scottish headquarters, Buckingham-gate, S.W.

It. 1 was the classic match of a competition lasting for 12 hours and including 13 events. The prize, a copy of the historic 15th-century banner of Alister Crotach, of the Clan MacLeod, was given by Dr. Calum MacCrimmon, whose family were for generations hereditary pipers of the. MacLeods. Dr. MacCrimmon was unable to be present on Saturday because of a serious motor accident. The last MacCrimmon piper was killed in battle in 1745 and the piping title has since been in abeyance. Pipe-Major J. B. Robertson, Second Battalion Scots Guards, the winner, was described as the finest pipe player in the world by Mrs Flora MacLeod of MacLeod, chief of the Clan MacLeod. After she had tied the banner to his pipes, he played again the classic MacCrimmon tune that won him the victory, the melancholy and beautiful “Lament for the Children.” PipeMajor Robertson is 32, and has played since he was 10. KING’S PIPER SECOND. The second prize was won by R. B. Nicol, the King’s Piper, who played another MacCrimmon tune, “MacDonell of Laggon.” He has played since he was seven and was “finished” by the veteran piper, Angus MacDonald.

Many of the pipers and dancers only left Scotland at midnight on Friday, and at the prize-giving it was found that several winners had returned to their native land.

A popular piper, who won many prizes, was Pipe-Major Angus MacAulay, of The Lovat Scouts, who was born in the Hebrides. Besides being expert in pibroch music, he specialises in tweeds and gives lessons' in Gaelic.

The dancing was won by Bertie Robertson, of Edinburgh, who won a first prize last year and before that the world championship.. He is only •19 and works for Edinburgh Gas Corporation. On Friday he will dance at the Robertson gathering at Edinburgh. The foursome reel was won by the Ist. Bn., King’s Own Scottish Borderers, the Challenge Cup for Amateurs going to the London Scottish. Women daincers in this competition lacked the controlled neatness of the men, except in the case of the diminutive Elizabeth MacLachlan, of the Scottish Dancers team, who was deservedly greeted with much applause.