Glenfiddich Piping Championships welcomes youngest ever finalist

Faye Henderson, 18, is only the second female piper ever to reach the finals of the 37-year-old event after winning the Highland Society of London's Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in August.

The Glenfiddich Piping Championships, established in 1974, will culminate on October 30 when the elite pipers will descend upon Blair Atholl Castle in Perthshire.

Other finalists include returning champion Stuart Liddell of Inveraray who has won numerous competitions over the last 12 months.

Faye said that she is looking forward to testing herself against some of the best in the business.

"The Glenfiddich is the championship that everyone in the piping community looks up to, she said.

"There is no more prestigious event. With that comes the knowledge that it is also the toughest piping championship out there so it is not going to be easy. I have great admiration of all who compete and I am just incredibly honoured to be invited this year".

The Championships were established to "inspire and stimulate the world's finest individual pipers" and to seek the best overall exponents of the legendary ceol mor or piobaireachd (the great music) and ceol beag (the little music).

Peter Gordon, Chairman of William Grant and Sons Limited, said: "This is the 37th year of the Glenfiddich Piping Championship and it is unbelievable to think how far we have come and the status the championship has earned over the years.

"Every year, the standard of competition is just so incredibly high and whilst it is an incredibly serious competition for competitors and spectators alike, the community spirit and support we receive towards the championship is ultimately humbling and has provided a significant credit to the overall success of the event over the years."

The full list of this year's Glenfiddich Piping Championship finalists:

BRUCE GANDY - Halifax Nova Scotia

ANDREW HAYES – Ontario, Canada

FAYE HENDERSON - Kirriemuir, Angus

JACK LEE - Vancouver, Canada

STUART LIDDELL - Inveraray

WILLIAM MCCALLUM - Bearsden, Campbeltown

ANGUS MACCOLL - Benderloch, Oban

DR ANGUS MACDONALD - Braes, Isle of Skye

RODERICK MACLEOD - Glasgow

IAIN SPEIRS - Edinburgh