William Boyle Memorial Foundation
In 1980 the untimely passing of PM Bill Boyle at 51 years of age shocked the piping fraternity. His contributions to piping and pipe bands was considerable and his reputation as an outstanding solo piper was recognised worldwide. He was a founding member of the Highland Piping Society of Canterbury and also Comunn na Piobaireachd and was a highly regarded adjudicator and tutor.
The William Boyle Memorial Foundation was incorporated as a trust in 1982 under the aegis of the Highland Piping Society of Canterbury Inc.
The structure of the WBMF Board of Trustees is:
The William Boyle Memorial Foundation was incorporated as a trust in 1982 under the aegis of the Highland Piping Society of Canterbury Inc.
The structure of the WBMF Board of Trustees is:
- One trustee is appointed by CNP (Greg Wilson)
- Two trustees are appointed by HPSC (Richard Hawke, Rosalie Hobbs - Chair)
- Two Board appointed trustees (Brian Switalla, Allan McKenzie - Secretary/Treasurer)
WBMF - Under 21 Competition
Each year the William Boyle Memorial Foundation holds an under 21 (years of age) competition, the overall winner receiving $1,500.00 (from 2025) prize money and a trophy.
The competition is made up of 10 different Under 21 events, spread across 5 different qualifying competition venues, each venue hosting two different qualifying events. For example, the Under 21 Piobaireachd and 2/4 March events at the Christchurch Labour Weekend competitions.
The qualifying competition venues currently are:
Notes
Only the best results for each competitor from 3 venues out of the 5 nominated competition venues will determine the winner. For example the most successful results for any one competitor may come from the combined results from the Waipu, Hastings and Nelson events.
Christchurch is a compulsory event, meaning the winner of the competition must be a competitor at the Christchurch Labour weekend competitions. It doesn't necessarily need to be a counting competition venue for any particular competitor in the overall result.
The winner will be determined on the following points system: 5 points (1st) - 3 points (2nd) - 1 point (3rd). This is determined from the event prizelist - not necessarily just those competitors qualifying for the WBMF prize.
In the case of a tie, the highest number of points gained (from the above system) for all qualifying Piobaireachd events over the year will decide the winner.
This competition can only be won once by any competitor.
Two tunes are to be submitted for each event (including Piobaireachd) for all competitions.
The trustees withhold the right to award the prize in any particular year if appropriate.
Competition Results Table
A table of prizewinners based on each of the qualifying competition results will be published on this website during the year.
Click here for the relevant competition table -
2025
2024 Final Result
WBMF - Grants
The WBMF invite any solo pipers to apply for a grant if appropriate under 2 different categories, category A or category B. (Typically, this WBMF Grant will be in the form of a return airfare to Scotland). The applicant must be a permanent resident of New Zealand.
Category A
Category B
Each year the William Boyle Memorial Foundation holds an under 21 (years of age) competition, the overall winner receiving $1,500.00 (from 2025) prize money and a trophy.
The competition is made up of 10 different Under 21 events, spread across 5 different qualifying competition venues, each venue hosting two different qualifying events. For example, the Under 21 Piobaireachd and 2/4 March events at the Christchurch Labour Weekend competitions.
The qualifying competition venues currently are:
- Waipu - 31st December
- Hastings - Easter Weekend
- Dunedin - Kings Birthday Weekend (June)
- Nelson - Young Piper of the Year (October)
- Christchurch - Labour Weekend (October)
Notes
Only the best results for each competitor from 3 venues out of the 5 nominated competition venues will determine the winner. For example the most successful results for any one competitor may come from the combined results from the Waipu, Hastings and Nelson events.
Christchurch is a compulsory event, meaning the winner of the competition must be a competitor at the Christchurch Labour weekend competitions. It doesn't necessarily need to be a counting competition venue for any particular competitor in the overall result.
The winner will be determined on the following points system: 5 points (1st) - 3 points (2nd) - 1 point (3rd). This is determined from the event prizelist - not necessarily just those competitors qualifying for the WBMF prize.
In the case of a tie, the highest number of points gained (from the above system) for all qualifying Piobaireachd events over the year will decide the winner.
This competition can only be won once by any competitor.
Two tunes are to be submitted for each event (including Piobaireachd) for all competitions.
The trustees withhold the right to award the prize in any particular year if appropriate.
Competition Results Table
A table of prizewinners based on each of the qualifying competition results will be published on this website during the year.
Click here for the relevant competition table -
2025
2024 Final Result
WBMF - Grants
The WBMF invite any solo pipers to apply for a grant if appropriate under 2 different categories, category A or category B. (Typically, this WBMF Grant will be in the form of a return airfare to Scotland). The applicant must be a permanent resident of New Zealand.
Category A
- Will be a regular A Grade competitor in New Zealand gaining meaningful placings in both Light Music and Piobaireachd.
- Will be having regular quality tuition in New Zealand on Piobaireachd and Light Music
- Will have a comprehensive Competition Repertoire appropriate for competing in Scotland.
- Will have firm arrangements for a minimum stay in Scotland of at least 6 months but preferably longer.
- Will have written confirmation from a Scottish Tutor for tuition for a minimum period of 6 months (20 sessions) with strong emphasis on Piobaireachd.
- Will hold a current Scottish CPA Grading of: C Piobaireachd and B Light Music or C Light Music and B Piobaireachd
- Will have intentions of competing in the Bronze or Silver Medal and/or B Grade Light Music at Oban/Inverness, if selected.
- Will compete in at least 3 CPA nominated B and C graded events in Scotland on the Games Circuit.
- A successful applicant for Category A can be awarded a further "Foundation Grant", but only under Category B.
- Will have demonstrated maturity in attitude and behaviour necessary to be a 1st class ambassador for the Foundation and New Zealand Piping.
Category B
- Will be a regular high achiever throughout the major competitions in New Zealand and or Scotland.
- Will hold a Scottish CPA grading of at least a B- in Piobaireachd and/or Light Music
- Will be seeking Bronze or Silver Medal selection and/or B Grade Light Music at Oban and Inverness as a minimum standard.
- Will submit a comprehensive CV with clearly stated achievements, objectives, with itinerary and any exam or tuition initiatives intended.
- Will deemed to be of good character and be a 1st class ambassador for the Foundation and New Zealand Piping.
- Notes:
- A "Foundation Grant" of either a category A or B criteria, can only be awarded to the same applicant twice, within their competitive piping career.
- Successful "Foundation Grant" applicants will be expected to pass on knowledge and experience gained for the benefit of New Zealand Piping generally. This is particularly important in the tuition area and the Foundation would expect a strong commitment and involvement in any Foundation led initiatives.
- The Trustees withhold the right to award any grant if deemed to be appropriate.
- Applications Close 28th February each year. Applications should be emailed to the Secretary of the WBMF ([email protected]) by 30th May.
Previous Winners of the Under 21 Competition are
1997 Ross Horsburgh
1998 Malcolm Gallaway and Callum Ferguson
1999 Stuart Easton
2000 Michael Redmond
2001 Angus Chisholm
2002 Daniel Milosavljevic
2003 Louise Weston
2004 Natalie Blackmore
2005 Ben McLaughlin
2006 Jamie Hawke
2007 Logan Greer
2008 Harrison Hawke
2009 Willaim Rowe
2010 Liam Kernaghan
2011 Benjamin Murray
2012 Blair Hodson
2013 Angus Hawke
2014 Scott Marshall
2015 Lewis MacDonald
2016 Anna Smart
2017 Hamish Reade
2018 Campbell Wilson
2019 Sebastian George
2020 Louis Davis
2021 Not presented due to restrictions associated with Covid19
2022 Logan Dale
2023 Nicholas Weston
2024 Sam Foote
1997 Ross Horsburgh
1998 Malcolm Gallaway and Callum Ferguson
1999 Stuart Easton
2000 Michael Redmond
2001 Angus Chisholm
2002 Daniel Milosavljevic
2003 Louise Weston
2004 Natalie Blackmore
2005 Ben McLaughlin
2006 Jamie Hawke
2007 Logan Greer
2008 Harrison Hawke
2009 Willaim Rowe
2010 Liam Kernaghan
2011 Benjamin Murray
2012 Blair Hodson
2013 Angus Hawke
2014 Scott Marshall
2015 Lewis MacDonald
2016 Anna Smart
2017 Hamish Reade
2018 Campbell Wilson
2019 Sebastian George
2020 Louis Davis
2021 Not presented due to restrictions associated with Covid19
2022 Logan Dale
2023 Nicholas Weston
2024 Sam Foote