Solo piping set to make return to Blackford

A solo piping competition is to make a return to this year’s Blackford Highland Games after more than 80 years.

Organisers recently announced that Games Day would be making a return to the village after an enforced twoyear break as a result of the Covid-19 crisis on Saturday, May 28.

Three competitions will be held in total – a practice chanter for primary school pupils, and a junior 2/4 march and a junior piobaireachd, both for those 16 or under.

The latter two classes will be judged by Roddy MacLeod MBE, a well-known figure in piping circles.

David Robertson is secretary of the volunteer-led Blackford Highland Games committee.

He said: “2020 should have been our 150th anniversary. To celebrate we intended to pay homage to our history by introducing junior piping competitions.

“Now we hope, in 2022, we will have a competition and re-awaken piping at Blackford after the decades of slumber.

“The competition is initially limited in scope – this is deliberate on our part.

“It is our intention to ‘test the waters’ with these events.” Solo piping was last held at Blackford on August 12, 1939, when John Wilson of Edinburgh was crowned overall champion and received the Captain Moray Challenge Cup for most piping points.

David added “Solo piping and the cup never returned to Blackford after the world was plunged into another war.

“Now 83 years later, in celebration of our 150th gathering, Blackford has re-introduced solo piping.

“We start back with a modest junior programme of three events, which have been supported by the National Lottery Fund.”

Applications must be in by May 14 and entry is free. To enter, email secretary@blackfordhighlandgames. co.uk or see the Blackford Highland Games website or Facebook page.