Double hat-trick for Skye piper

A young Skye piper achieved a remarkable double hat-trick at The Iain Dall Young Pipers Festival.

Archie Maclean, of Edinbane, was awarded the John Burgess Memorial Award and oneweek’s tuition at The Ullapool Bagpipe Specialists for Best Overall Under 15.

The talented 13-yearold had already won The Iain Dall Chanter, presented by the Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland and the UK, for under-15 piobaireachd and the under-15 march, Strathspey and reel at the festival held at Gairloch High School in Wester Ross on Saturday.

His winning streak continued in the final open competition, when his composition Stand by To Gybe won The Ishbel MacAskill Memorial Prize for an Original Tune.

“Congratulated the young pipers on their enthusiasm”

This was the third time he had won this award as he received it in 2015 with Pulling Ragwort and in 2014, aged 1 1 , with The Dragon’s Apprentice – subsequently recorded by The Peatbog Faeries.

John Burgess Award for Best Overall under 18 went to Angus Macphee, Inverness and the quaich for under-18 piobaireachd, presented by North Highland Connections, was won by John A Maclaren, Invergordon.

Calum Mackenzie, of Inverness, won The Flower dale Cup donated by John Mackenzie, of Gairloch, for best novice and Ruaraidh Drennan, Drumnadrochit, took gold for primary chanter.

Judge Bruce Hitchins congratulated the young pipers on their enthusiasm but also the very high standard particularly, this year, of piobaireachd.