Lochgelly High School

The Glasgow Highland Club’s Annual Competitions for schools’ pipe bands and individual pipers and drummers was held at Hutchesons’ Grammar School on Sunday 22 February 2026.

Entries  –  there was a very good entry with 7 pipe bands competing across the 3 grades, and over 100 pipers and drummers entering the solo competitions.  In total, 26 schools took part with soloists coming from far and wide across Scotland.

The school pipe bands competing this year were:
Dollar Academy,  Hutchesons’ Grammar School,  Lochgelly High School, West Lothian Schools.

Their soloists were joined by a host of individual entries from:
Annan Academy, Arran High School, Arran Music School, Dumbarton Academy, Dunoon Grammar School, Falkirk High School, George Heriot’s School, George Watson’s College, Glasgow City Schools, Glenalmond College, High School of Glasgow, Johnstone High School, North Lanarkshire Schools, Oban High School, Preston Lodge High School, Robert Gordon’s College, Renfrewshire Schools, St Columba’s School, St Columba’s Primary School, Stewarton Academy, Strathallan School, The Glasgow Academy.

Results – Pipe Band Contests

Senior Bands:
1st       Dollar Academy
2nd      Lochgelly High School
3rd       West Lothian Schools
Best Corps of Drums:     Dollar Academy

Intermediate Bands:
1st       Lochgelly High School
2nd      Hutcheson’s Grammar School
Best Corps of Drums:     Lochgelly High School

Junior Bands:
1st      Hutcheson’s Grammar School
2nd     West Lothian Schools
Best Corps of Drums:    Hutcheson’s Grammar School

Dollar Academy – winners of the Senior Band Grade and the Best Corps of Drums

Results – Solo Competitions (photographs below)

Senior Piping:
1st      Charlie Mack                Preston Lodge High School
2nd     Paul Mackay                Dollar Academy
3rd      William Muirhead         George Watson’s College
4th      Rory Menzies               Strathallan School
5th      Morla Bruce                  Glenalmond College
6th      Lily Robertson              Oban High School

Intermediate Piping:
1st      Toby Chapman             Dollar Academy
2nd     Sam Donnelly              West Lothian Schools
3rd      Cailean Acamovic        Preston Lodge High School
4th      Cash Mcleay                Preston Lodge High School
5th      Ben McGuaghie           Dollar Academy
6th      Shay McInarlin             North Lanarkshire Schools

Junior Piping:
1st       Abhiram Rao                            West Lothian Schools
2nd      Larry Presslie                           Robert Gordon’s College
3rd      Travis McKenna-Johnston        Annan Academy
4th      Shaun Weir                               Johnstone High School
5th      Finlay Thompson                      George Watson’s College
6th      Kendrick Smith                         The Glasgow Academy

Senior Drumming:
1st      Caelyn Mathieson         Lochgelly High School
2nd     Flynn Bryson                North Lanarkshire Schools
3rd      Eliza Dibley                  Dollar Academy
4th      Ga Yeon Oh                 George Heriot’s School
5th      Magnus Binns              George Heriot’s School
6th      Harry Roemmele          Dollar Academy

Junior Drumming:
1st      Gregor Morrow             Renfrewshire Schools
2nd     Renny Bell                    Lochgelly High School
3rd      Nathan Paul                 Dunoon Grammar School
4th      Aaron Scott                  Preston Lodge High School
5th      Oliver Lee                    The Glasgow Academy
6th      Logan Waters              North Lanarkshire Schools

A very good day was enjoyed by all  – there was considerable talent and a great deal of developing potential on display; fantastic music and confident performances shone throughout the events; and a great day of fellowship was enjoyed by all.  Of particular note:

• Spectator numbers were strong with over 150 visitors enjoying the band and solo performances through the day.
• Solo entries were at an all-time high with competitors coming from as far afield as Aberdeen, Oban, Dunoon, Arran and Annan.
• In each band grade there was a trophy for the Best Corps of Drums; Sponsor prizes were awarded to all those placed 1^st to 6^th in the solo events; and Certificates were presented to all bands and individuals who were placed.
• This year there were additional band prizes of a visit to McCallum Bagpipes or the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming.
• The Kettlewell Medal, for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd in Junior (U14) Piping, was presented for the first time.  In recognition of his friendship with David Kettlewell, Kenny MacLeod presented a set of McCallum bagpipes to the winner of the Junior (U14) Piping for 2026.
• The winners of the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Piping competitions will have a piping lesson with a Gold Medallist tutor – either our former Club Piper, John Wilson, or our current Club Piper, Roddy MacLeod MBE.
• There was increased overall sponsorship and a greater number of prizes received from our Sponsors – for which we, and competitors, are very grateful.
• Full gloss printed programme (listing all the competition draws) was again available – a great keepsake and memento of the event.

Sponsors  –  The Glasgow Highland Club is extremely grateful to our Sponsors for their generous support to the event.  Their support, and encouragement, enabled us to deliver a very enjoyable, instructive and rewarding day.  Our very grateful thanks go to:

Background  –  this is a long-standing annual competition, run by the Glasgow Highland Club, to encourage and support the development of school pipe bands and individuals.  The premier prize in the Pipe Band Contest is the Glasgow Highland Club’s Highland Shield Challenge Trophy.  Originally presented to Glasgow Battalion the Boys’ Brigade for band competition, Juvenile bands have competed for the Highland Shield since 1909, making this one of the oldest competitions that encourages and develops Juvenile and developing bands.

West Lothian Schools