VISITORS from across the globe headed to Inverness for the return to the city of the European Pipe Band Championships. 

Organisers of Piping Inverness 2019 estimated a crowd of around 20,000 watched just over 100 bands taking part at the city’s Bught Park on Saturday – including eight groups from Australia, two from America and one from Sweden. 

It was the first time in 12 years the event had been held in the city. Brollies and Inverness capes were needed during the afternoon as the weather took a turn for the worse, but enthusiastic players and supporters kept smiling throughout. 

After a toughly-fought competition, Inverary and District pipe band retained their Grade 1 title. 

Among those attending on the day was USA attorney general William Barr, a piping enthusiast who began playing at the age of eight. 

“I am over in the UK so I decided to come by,” he said. 

“I’ve been to many of these competitions and this is a great one – it’s a very high standard. Piping is getting bigger and bigger and it’s great to see.” 

Wilna Van Der Merwe had also travelled all the way from Melbourne in Australia to watch her son, 17-year-old Christian, compete with Haileybury Pipes and Drums Band. 

She said afterwards: “They played really well and they really enjoyed participating. 

“It’s a great experience to compete against the best bands in Scotland.” 

Her husband, Burger Van Der Merwe, said pipe bands were popular in Australia but Piping Inverness was a much bigger event than anything in his homeland, including the national championships. 

Yvonne Tough attended from closer to home, in Inverness’s Westhill, and said she had been to the championships previously, when they were held in Forres. 

However she felt the Highland capital was a more “centralised” location for the event. 

“I think it brings a lot of money into the area,” she said. 

John Hughes, chairman of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, said he was pleased it had not been too hot on the day, because heat affects the tuning of the pipes. 

Provost Helen Carmichael, the chieftain of the championships, said she thought it had been an “amazing” day in an ideal location. 

Les Kidger, a director with event organisers LCC Live, said it had been a “fantastic” day and people had come out in their thousands to witness a “magnificent” spectacle of music, entertainment and fun. 

He added: “The whole city and the whole of the Highlands have benefited. We are just excited now going forward and working on 2020 – welcoming the public and the pipe bands back.”

From the Inverness Courier on Tuesday, July 2, 2019 and the Highland News on Thursday, July 4, 2019.