The results of the 2022 Spring World Online Piping and Drumming Solo Championships were released over the weekend.

HBHS Old Boy Patrick Chen (Class of 2020) has done exceptionally well, being named as the overall individual champion across all categories and events, with three firsts and four seconds across the seven events he entered, on both bagpipes and drums, awarding Patrick the most aggregate points of any competitor. Patrick is the first Kiwi to achieve this result in the history of this competition, New Zealand has had two individuals gain second place in previous competitions but never a first place overall until now. Patrick was a founding member of the HBHS Pipe Band in 2017 and was the Drum Sergeant for four years. He is now the Drum Sergeant of the Hamilton Caledonian Pipe Band.

Current HBHS students have also done very well. Drummer Sam Gordon, a rower who just won two NZSS gold medals over the weekend at the Maadi Cup, has also gained second place in both the Grade 5 2/4 March and 4/4 March Snare events. Piper Major Rupert Nielsen placed 4th in the Grade 2 Piobaireachd event and 5th in the Grade 2 Piping Hornpipe event. Piper Kane Gordon placed 2nd in the Grade 5 Piobaireachd event, 5th in the Grade 5 2/4 March and 6th in the 2/4 March event for 13 and 14 year old competitors. Well done to these current and former students on these great results.