NOTES FROM PIPEY'S CORNER

Volume X Number 5 - November, 2002

TURKEY TIME!

As competition grinds to a halt this year with the Bratach Gorm this month and Thanksgiving rears its bloodied head, it's time to review some of the more important competitions of the season, and some of the policies involved in their organisation. In other words, sports fans, it's TURKEY TIME! Yes, time to see what the biggest gobblers are of the year:

STARTING WITH: Shark (Lark) in the Morning. This chain just sent me a wholesale catalog for their 'folk instument line.' Their WHOLESALE prices for Ian Murray and Gillanders and MacLeod bagpipes (all made by Ian Murray in Forfar) are higher than my RETAIL prices for the same items. I won't even go into their Paki crap pipes, which they claim to be "...made for some of the oldest and most respected Scottish pipe companies...these pipes were destined to have Made in Scotland and famous brand names stamped on them...." WHAT A RIP! Mickey Zeckley should be tarred and feathered for this garbage!

MOVING ON TO: The Angus MacDonald competition last month. This event was a real poodle screw this year. The scheduled judge wasn't able to make it, so they brought in a local judge, who did the best Seaton Gordon impersonation of the last twenty years; he practically slept through the whole competition, yawning repeatedly. As this was supposed to be the Western Championship qualifier for the USPF next year, I wonder why they let someone from Illinois compete - and win! Illinois hasn't been in the western US since the Louisiana Purchase! Competitors weren't able to file protests because the results were announced BEFORE the score sheets were available! Needless to say, they'd better clean up their act if they want money from me next year!

IN THE NON-TURKEY DEPT: The Glenfiddich, held October 26th at Blair Castle: congratulations and Well Done to Roddy MacLeod, principal of the Piping Centre and P/M of Scottish Power, on his win. Willie McCallum, who won last year, was second overall, with Alasdair Gillies third. We hear from two sources that the playing was brilliant, the tunes outstanding, and the competition closer this year than it has been for quite a while.

If YOU know of any more turkeys lurking in the Wonderful Woild of piping, email them to me and I'll add them to this year's list!

Quite a plethora of new drone reeds new on the market in the last few months - Geoff Ross' Omega has been quickly followed by two Rocket clones: Chris Apps' effort was full in the bass but lacking in the tenors; Rob and Rauncie Kinnairds' reeds will be in next week. I'll give them a try as soon as they come in and will post right after.

For all of you who live in the SF bay area, the annual Remembrance Day service at Grace Cathedral is Sunday November 10. If you haven't been to this moving tribute to those who gave their lives for their countries, I strongly urge you to attend. The service is co-sponsored by the British Legion and Grace Cathedra, and begins at 3 pm, 1100 California Ave. on top of Nob Hill in San Francisco.

BLACK PART SPEAKS - SOON!