Tartan Day on July 1 and Solo Piping in the Hawkes Bay

Tartan Day on July 1st

Solo Piping contest in Hastings over Matariki weekend

We were so pleased to attend this event. Held at Lindisfarne College in the beautiful Hawkes Bay, we set up our stand in the Atrium of the college's Auditorium, met up with lots of old friends and were treated to some fantastic solo piping and lovely weather (even if a bit crisp in the mornings!) The stand looked festive, and Graham stayed good and warm! His kilt is in Black Watch Weathered, from our new Wool Blend Tartan range and we have recently found a good source of Blue Bonnets as well. He's wearing a very simple tan leather day sporran - check out our other selections for both brown and black Day Sporrans, also Semi Dress and Dress versions. Our mannequin showcases a more formal look - one of our hire outfits, with a midnight blue tweed Braemar jacket & vest and Spirit of Scotland kilt.

Congratulations to all the pipers who competed, and of course the winners - who included: Brendan Eade (winner, Gold Clasp Piobaireachd); Liam Kernaghan (winner, NZ Championship Open Hornpipe & Jig, and the Lindisfarne Dirk & Sgian Dubh Double March, Strathspey & Reel); Greg Wilson (winner, Hawkes Bay Championship 6/8 March); and Callum Carn (winner, Gold Medal Piobaireachd). A fun new event was the "My Own Tune" contest, where pipers performed a piece of their own composition - amazing talent!

Happily, this whole piping event will be back in its usual place at the Hawkes Bay Highland Games at Easter in 2023. It looks as if many of the other Highland Games and Piping competitions are also going ahead over the coming summer, so check our Events Calendar and put them in your diary.