Local pipers with the Innisfail Legion Pipe Band shone at the Ogden Legion Indoor Highland Games this spring.
The event took place in Calgary on April 30 and included four first-time competitors from the Innisfail pipe band.
“They did very well. In the one competition where three of them competed, they came away with first, second and third place out of a field of 10 (competitors),” said Marion McLetchie, pipe major for the band.
Students Duncan Scott, Jonas Bystrom and Sean Barton won first, second and third place respectively in the Grade 5 march competition, while Jonas Bystrom took first place and Duncan Scott third in the Grade 5 slow air competition.
Clara Allen competed in the beginner novice chanter category and won gold in the slow air, and silver in the quick march competitions.
The four students are instructed by Marion and Michael McLetchie of Innisfail.
“There's a quick march and a slow march for Grade 5 level students who are competing on pipes,” said Marion. “As you move up in grades there's different competitions.”
It was the first big event for all four Innisfail pipers and all of them placed in every competition they entered, winning a total of three gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
The Innisfail Legion Pipe Band has had much success at pipe competitions over the years, noted Marion, adding the band regularly participates in competitions every year across Alberta.
“When your students get first, second and third in a competition like that, the first time they ever competed, it's quite an accomplishment,” said Marion. “They (have to) put a lot of work into it on their own.”
Marion McLetchie
"When your students get first, second and third in a competition like that, the first time they ever competed, it's quite an accomplishment."
