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The Champion hornpipe

Also known as Mike Leonard’s, Moonlight In Athlone.

There are 3 recordings of this tune.

The Champion has been added to 30 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Four settings

1
X: 1
T: The Champion
R: hornpipe
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
fe|:d2cB (3ABA FE|DFAd fAdf|gAeg fAdf|eAgf e2 (3ABc|
d2 cB (3ABA FE|DFAd fAdf|gAeg fAdf|1 eAce d2 fe:|2 eAce d2de||
|:(3fga df A2 Bc|d2 cB (3ABA FE|DFAd fAdf|(3ggg gf e2 de|
(3fga df A2 FE|DFAd fAdf|gAeg fAdf|1 eAce d2de:|2 eAce d2fe||
2
X: 2
T: The Champion
R: hornpipe
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmin
de|f=efg f_edc|BABc dBFD|EGce DFBd|(3cdc (3BAG F2 de|
f=efg f_edc|BABc dBFD|EGce dcBA|B2 d2 B2:|
AB|cf=ef afef|dg^fg bgfg|dbca BgAf|Gg^fg =f2 AB|
cf=ef afef|dg^fg bgfg|dbca BgAf|feca b2:|
↳ Added by X .
3
X: 3
T: The Champion
R: hornpipe
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmin
(ude)|f>=ef>g f>_ed>c|{c}B>AB>c d>BF>D|E>Gc>e D>FB>d|((3cdc) ((3BAG) F2(de)|
f>=ef>g f>_ed>c|{c}B>AB>c d>BF>D|E>Gc>e d>cB>A|B2d2B2:|
|:(uAB)|c>f=e>f a>fe>f|d>g^f>g b>gf>g|(db)(ca) (Bg)(Af)|
G>bg>=e f2(AB)|c>f=e>f a>fe>f|d>g^f>g b>gf>g|
[1 (db)(ca) (Bg)(Af)|G>bg>=e f2:|2 (db)(ca) (Bg)(d=e)|f>_ec>A F2(de)||
↳ Added by X .
4
X: 4
T: The Champion
R: hornpipe
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:Bc|d^cde d=cBA|GFGA BGDB,|CEGc B,DGB|(3ABA (3GFE D2 Bc|
d^cde d=cBA|GFGA BGDB,|CEGc BAGB|(3ABA GF G2 :|
K: Dmaj
|:FG|Adcd fedc|Be^de gfe=d|ca^ga ba=ge|(3dfe (3dcB A2 FG|
Adcd fedc|Be^de gfe=d|ca^ga b=gec|(3dcd ec d2 :|

Eight comments

The Champion (hornpipe writer)

The Champion is claimed to be by Northumbrian James Hill and was named not after a racehorse, but after a champion rower in Tyne keel boat competitions.

I agree with your sentiments about James Hill, Geoff, but this tune isn’t James Hill’s Champion hornpipe. David has transcribed this from the fiddle playing of Chuck Fleming and I’m wondering if he can tell us more about the tune…

…Or maybe I’ve just got my names mixed up. Tell us more, Jocklet!

Sorry both of you I *did* have 2 tunes mixed up - I’m thinking of the one on John Carty’s album “Last Night’s Fun”. This one David has submitted is the James Hill tune as Geoff said.

The Champion

No comment needed from me then.

No, not if you really don’t want to tell us where you first heard the tune or why you like it or why you decided to submit it or whatever.

Champion Hornpipe

X:2 courtesy of Bill Black, apparently after John Carty? This differs a bit from the original in X:3, which is lifted from the pages of Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, courtesy of Bob Puckette. Carty learned this from an old home recording of Lad O‘Bierne; over a century ago it was recorded on cylinder by Charles D’Almaine, house violinist for Thomas Edison’s recording company; D‘Almaine also recorded Minnie Foster’s way before traditional musicians took an interest and I’ve always wondered if fiddlers like O’Bierne or Cape Breton’s Angus Chisholm didn’t have the odd record of D’Almaine kicking around.

Posted by .

The Champion, X:4

Just found this setting on the Traditional Tune Archive, under the titles “Mike Leonard’s”, AKA as “Moonlight in Athlone”. It was recorded on “Passing Time” by Jim & Mary Coogan & friends.
The tune is originally from Mike Flanagan of the Flanagan Bros.
Enjoy !