interesting hybrid bespoke sporran

**OC Richard** · 4th June 10, 04:14 AM

I spent last weekend at our largest local Games, at Costa Mesa.

It's interesting, at Pipe Band and solo piping and drumming competitions, to see the dress of the various judges.

Though these people have spent most of their lives playing in Pipe Bands their dress is not Pipe Band dress per se, because the judges are either retired from playing in bands, or if they are currently playing in a band they avoid wearing the band uniform while judging.

These people will go out and obtain an entire outfit, kilt and all, that they wear primarily for judging.

In any case the sporran worn by Canadian judge Jamie Troy caught my eye. It's the cantle from a Gordon Highlanders officers' horsehair sporran put onto a plain leather Day sporran. Very nice. The front of the sporran has three riveted flaps like those on a Hunting Sporran. His kilt is lovely as well. You probably wouldn't see any Pipe Band going with kilts like that.

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 4th June 10, 05:19 AM

Interesting uhm... chain? I think it's quite nice for a formal look.

I love the Henderson weathered kilt though.

**OC Richard** · 4th June 10, 05:40 AM

Originally Posted by Hothir Ethelnor

Interesting uhm... chain? I think it's quite nice for a formal look.

I love the Henderson weathered kilt though.

Those fat ornate ostentatious blingy chains are all the rage with Pipe Bands nowadays. Usually links that have Celtic knotwork alternate with links having the St Andrews Cross, or even bespoke with the Band's own logo/badge.

**artificer** · 4th June 10, 06:52 AM

It is interesting, but it seems a bit top-heavy to me.

The cantle seems to be to big for the bag -it may just be the angle the pic was shot at. However, when you figure that a large horse hair bag would require a large cantle to balance out visually, the formula of putting on a modified hunting sporran to that cantle would, to me at least, yield that result as well.

I'd make the bag ~15% larger and then it would probably work better (at least for me- but I'm new to highland style

).

**davidlpope** · 4th June 10, 07:02 AM

I take it, then, that he served as an officer in the Gordans? I hope so.

**Macman** · 4th June 10, 11:47 AM

I have the honour to wear the same cap badge.

I like his Weathered Henderson as well.

**mrtackytn** · 4th June 10, 02:32 PM

That kilt, sporran, hose and glengarry are spot on !! Very sharp outfit!! I also like
the heavier weighted chain in the belt, much like what I have on my dress sporran.

**OC Richard** · 5th June 10, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by Macman

I have the honour to wear the same cap badge.

I like his Weathered Henderson as well.

What is that badge? It looks to be a Canadian military or police badge.

My understanding is that Jamie now lives in Scotland, having bought/taken over a reedmaking business there. Father and son, both Jamie, both prominent pipers, I think.

**Macman** · 7th June 10, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

What is that badge? It looks to be a Canadian military or police badge.

My understanding is that Jamie now lives in Scotland, having bought/taken over a reedmaking business there. Father and son, both Jamie, both prominent pipers, I think.

Richard, it's the badge of the Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band. Both Jamies live in Victoria, B.C. and Jamie Sr. is the Pipe Major of the band. Jamie Jr. pipes at the professional level, plays in the band, and his dad is our piping instructor.

http://www.gvppb.ca/

They moved the reedmaking business from Scotland to Victoria and make the reeds here now.

http://www.jwtreeds.ca/

**OC Richard** · 8th June 10, 05:46 AM

thanks for the info!

You wouldn't happen to know Colin Gemmel then? Or Judy Morrison or Sue Arbethnot or Dan Deisner or Rene Cusson? Some of those might have played in that band, or maybe it's another band in that area I'm thinking of.