The GDMT has supported this competition since 2013 and this year 2026 was the 30th year of this very special competition. PM Donald MacLeod was born in Stornoway in 1916 and was one of the most famous pipers of the 20th Century. He was also a prolific composer of pipe tunes, not unlike Gordon Duncan himself.

This was a special day of music on a par with the Glenfiddich Competition but with a ceilidh setting and atmosphere. Where one of the players had ‘Happy Birthday’ sung to him by the audience before he played his hornpipe and jig! And won that competition!

The eight competitors this year were Callum Beaument, Ben Duncan, Alasdair Henderson, Finlay Johnston, Steven Leask, Stuart Liddell, Angus MacColl and Brodie Watson-Massey. The winner this year, of both the Ceol Mor and the March, Strathspey and Reel was Finlay Johnstone. The winner of the Hornpipe and Jig was Ben Duncan. The judges this year were Patricia Henderson, Murray Henderson and Alan Forbes and the Fear-an-Taighe was John Wilson. The trophies were presented by Pipe Major Donald MacLeod’s daughters, Susan and Fiona. Both with wonderful tunes named after them.

A superb competition which the GDMT are proud to support.