AN INVERNESS student made history at the Royal National Mod in Airdrie
yesterday when he succeeded his father as Gaeldom's top singer.
James Gunn, an 18-year-old travel and tourism student at Inverness
College, won the men's Gold Medal in his first year competing at senior
level. His father George, a civil servant in the Inverness JobCentre,
won the medal at Oban last year.
James is one of the youngest medallists yet, but father George was not
in Airdrie Town Hall to share his son's triumph -- he was travelling
down from Inverness. James's mother, Mrs Andrea Gunn, was there to give
him a kiss as he came off stage.
''It hasn't sunk in yet,'' he told her.
James, who has regularly won prizes at the junior Mod, was 11 points
clear of his nearest rival in yesterday's final, Norman MacKinnon, of
Campbeltown. Both James and his father will be singing with Inverness
Gaelic Choir in today's choral competitions.
The women's medal was won by Margaret Stewart-Harding, 38, from Back,
Lewis, who now lives in Great Yarmouth. Her husband, Timothy, who works
in the oil industry, was in the audience with their 18-month-old
daughter, Eilidh.
Margaret's success, 16 points clear of Inverness primary school
teacher Maggie Macdonald, is one of the most convincing Gold Medal wins
of recent years -- despite the fact that she fluffed her lines in one of
the songs.
The audience groaned in sympathy when Margaret made a mistake and had
to start again. She said later: ''I thought I had blown it, but my
singing was more relaxed after that and I really gave it laldy.''
Music adjudicator Kathryn Black said Margaret' performance had left
the judges spellbound.
RESULTS
Oral (fluent speakers) Poem: 1. Peggy Miller, Spean Bridge; 2.
Christina Cunningham, Cumbernauld; 3. Mairi NicMhaoilein, Uidhist a
Deas.
Prose: 1. Peggy Miller; 2. Alison Cowey, Cardross; 3. Christina
Cunningham.
Reading at sight: 1. Christina Cunningham; 2. Alisown Cowey; 3. Mairi
NicMhaoilein.
Glasgow Skye Assoc. Gold Medal/Cardonald Highlanders Association Cup:
Peggy Miller.
Folk Tale (Anglo-Chilean Trophy): 1. Fionnlagh MacAoidh, Goillspidh; 2
Peggy Miller; 3. Christina Cunningham.
Speech: 1. Fionnlagh MacAoidh; 2. Peggy Miller; 3. Christina
Cunningham.
Oral (learners); 1. Wilma Slattery, Alexandria.
Prose: 1. Wilma Slattery.
Reading at sight: 1. Wilma Slattery.
Speech: 1. Wilma Slattery.
Dr John Cameron Quaich: Wilma Slattery.
Clarsach (solos, under-18 with Gaelic song (Glendale Quaich): 1.
Lynsey Joss, Lomond School. 2. Claire Telford, Aberdeen.
Intermediate: 1. Eilidh Macleod, Portree High School; 2. Isla McRae,
JLomond School; 3 (equal). Karen Connor, JLomond School, and Rachel
Young, Lochbroom.
Elementary (Florence Wilson Trophy)
1. Emma Chisholm, Tain.
Advanced (Catherine L. MacDonald Prizes): 1. Jennifer Campbell,
Gorebridge; 2. Catriona Mackay, Dundee; 3. Jamie Allen, Edinburgh.
Open: Accompaniment (Jean Campbell Trophy): 1. Catriona MacKay,
Dundee.
Original Composition (Margaret Balfour Award): 1. Eilidh McRae, Lomond
School.
Duets: 1. Catriona MacKay/Jennifer Campbell, Dundee.
Ensembles: 1. Sgoil Laomuinn.
Vocal solos: Gold Medal Finals (Women): 1. Mairead Stiubhart-Harding,
Am Bac; 2. Maggie Macdonald, Inverness.
(Men): 1. Seumas Gunna, Inbhirnis; 2. Norman MacKinnon, Campbeltown.
Clan MacLean Association Prizes (Women): 1. Mairead Stiubhart-Harding;
2. Maggie Macdonald; 3. Jean Mackay, Inverness; 4. Dierdre Nic an
t-Sagairt, Port Ellen.
(Men): 1. Seumas Gunna; 2. Norman MacKinnon; 3. Alasdair Barnett,
Oban.
4. Seumas Mac an t-Sagairt, Port Ellen.
Traditional Final (Women): 1. Maeve MacKinnon, Glasgow; 2. Margaret
Campbell, Castlebay; 3. Margaret Maclellan, Mingarry
(Men): 1. Ronald Gillies, Glasgow; 2. Iain Macaulay, Point; 3. Donald
Maclennan,JLargs.
Scotia Trophy -- (equal) Maeve MacKinnon and Ronald Gillies, Glasgow.
Donald Thomson Award for Gaelic (Men): 1. Norman MacKinnon; Seumas
Gunna.
Women: Mairead Stiubhart-Harding; 2. Maggie Macdonald.
Gilbert MacPhail Prize for Music: 1. Seumas Gunna; Norman MacKinnon;
3. Alasdair Barnett, Oban.
John MacArthur Memorial Trophy: Maggie MacDonald.
Silver Pendant Final (Learners)
Men: John Shirreffs, Lothian Gaelic Choir; 2. Iain MacLean, Tobermory.
Women: 1. Kirsteen Menzies, Dingwall; 2. Jennifer Pratt, Oban.
Rural choirs (Lorn Shield): 1. Strath Gaelic Choir; 2. Melvich Gaelic
Choir; 3. Coisir Sgire aU Bhac.
Dalriada Cup for Gaelic: Strath Gaelic Choir.
Mrs Catherine C. MacDonald Silver Baton: Kayren MacRae.
Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Quaich: 1. Lairg Gaelic Choir; 2. Moray
Gaelic Choir; 3. Isle of Mull Gaelic Choir.
Selma Shield for Gaelic: Lairg Gaelic Choir.
Grace Robertson Baton: Lairg Gaelic Choir.
Grampian TV Trophy (Women): 1. Coisir Sgire aU Bhac; 2. Strath Gaelic
Choir; 3. Lochs Gaelic Choir.
Port-a-Beul (Aline MacKenzie Trophy): 1. Lochs Gaelic Choir; 2. Coisir
Sgire aU Bhac; 3. Melvich Gaelic Choir.
Hamish Graham (Strath) Memorial Trophy for Gaelic: Coisir Sgire a'
Bhac.
Sandy Heron Memorial Cup: (equal) Strath Gaelic Choir and Coisir Sgire
a' Bhac.
Duets (Neil MacLean and Jennie M.B. Currie Trophy): 1. Riona
Whyte/Iain Maclean, Tobermory; 2. Janet Campbell/Joyce Hunter, Bearsden.
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