Ottawa Branch Open Amateur Contest – Allan Quinn Memorial Trophy

The first Allan Quinn Memorial Contest was held Saturday 06 December 2003, in remembrance of Pipe Major Allan Quinn who was well known for his tremendous influence on Ottawa area pipe bands and piping students over many, many years (see Mar 03 and Nov 03 Ottawa Branch newsletters). The Allan Quinn Memorial will be an annual event, to be contested by the top amateur pipers in the Ottawa Branch area. The trophy was very graciously donated by Pipe Major Ermis Durofil of the Fraser Highlanders of Ottawa.

The winner of the first Memorial Trophy was Bobby Smith, Pipe Major of the Arnprior-McNab Pipe Band. The trophy was awarded by judge Andrew Hayes. This victory was all the more impressive as Bobby had been outdoors with the band earlier that evening doing a Santa Claus parade in some extremely cold
temperatures. In attendence of the inaugural event was Allan Quinn’s wife, Bev, and his son, Allan.

The Allan Quinn Memorial Trophy, donated in 2003, will be awarded to the winner of the Ottawa Branch Open Amateur Contest.

The tune requirements are a March, Strathspey, Reel set of the competitors choice. The MSR is to be a minimum four parts each tune (two-parted tunes will be accepted).

An autobiography can be found in the March 2003 issue of the PPBSO Ottawa Branch newsletter. A biography written by Allan’s wife, Bev, can be found in the November 2003 issue.