The CLASP

The World Amateur Champion of Champions Solo Piping Competition
Run by The CLASP. The CLASP Champion of Champions competition marks 20 years of The CLASP. To celebrate this, CLASP will feature the world’s top amateur solo pipers, worldwide, using a series of qualifying events both in-person and on-line. 

Competition date – 27th April 2024

The Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers (The CLASP) was set up by The National Piping Centre in 2003 to give adult amateur pipers a competition platform to compete on, through a series of grading competitions held yearly throughout Scotland and the UK. In its 20 years, CLASP has evolved, gaining a global membership base. To celebrate this 20 year milestone, CLASP is working with other amateur events across the world to create a premier solo piping competition. The inaugural World Amateur Champion of Champions Solo Piping Competition is an invitational contest, which will feature the top 10 amateur pipers selected from qualifying events across the globe. This event has been generously sponsored by David Naill Bagpipes, who have donated a set of engraved nickel DN2E Bagpipes as the prize for the overall winner of the event.

Whilst CLASP qualifying events are for CLASP members, 18 years and above, other qualifying events do not have an age restriction. For events out with the CLASP system, any qualifying competitor who is under 18 will be invited to take part.

To create a top level amateur competition, CLASP have set up an international panel, which will monitor and advise and ensure the top amateur pipers in the world can be selected from the appropriate qualifying competitions worldwide. Pipers will be required to play in both Piobaireachd and an MSR discipline. Special thank you to Bob Worrall who has assisted with the North American qualifying events.

Nine pipers accepted their invitation from the following qualifying events:

• Glengarry Highland Games, Maxville – North American Championships – 4th August 2023 (In-person event)  – Qualifier – Gillian Blaney (Canada)
• The World Solo Amateur Piping Competition @ Piping Live! 2023, Glasgow. – August 2023 (In-person event) – Qualifier – Jean-Sébastien Gamache (Canada)
• The Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Piping Competition – November 2023 (In-person Event) – Qualifier – Colin Forrest (Canada)
• George Sherriff Memorial Competition– November 2023 (In-person Event) – Qualifier – Cameron Bonar (Canada)
• The CLASP ‘Live Online’ November 2023 (Online) –  Qualifier – Brady Webb (Canada)
• George Sherriff Memorial Competition -November 2023 (In-person Event) – Qualifier – Henry Paluch
• The CLASP ‘Live Online’ 3rd Feb 2024 – Overall Grade 1 winner (Online Event) – Qualifier – Charles-David Mitchell
• Metro Cup – 10th Feb 2024 (In-person Event) – Qualifier – Ray Flanagan
• The “BC Indoor”, Annual Gathering Competition – April 2024- Overall Grade 1 winner (In-person Event) – Qualifier – Jack Martin (Canada)

For any duplicate winners, the panel will decide on the piper(s) who will fill the place and will look at other prize winners in the lists. For example we may look at an association’s overall league table where the standard has been particularly competitive.

The CLASP will host the event ‘live’ using a Zoom platform. Qualifying pipers will work with event organisers to set up a good quality audio stream to give audience members a good quality experience. The competitors will video record their ‘live performance’ and send it to theclasp@thepipingcentre.co.uk on the competition day.

The ‘Live’ event is open to CLASP Members only who can register in advance to watch the stream live through zoom on 27th April 2024. The event will be compered on the day by Bob Worrall and all performances will be available to the public a few days after the competition.

The results will be announced a few days after the event, live via The CLASP Facebook page.

Article Submitted by: the National Piping Centre