Talented young people from all over the country gathered at Lochaber High School on Saturday for the Mod’s traditional musical events.
Chanter, fiddle and accordion players, pipers and pianists battled it out.
Hector Finlayson from Erbusaig, near Kyle of Lochalsh, won the gold badge in the chanter under-13 contest. The 10 year-old, who comes from a musical family, was placed top in the Gaelic air section.
He said: “I have been playing the chanter for two years and am now learning the bagpipes.
“I got new pipes as a present for my birthday in August.”
His dad, Ian-Ruari Finlayson, a pipe major in the Skye Youth Band, added: “This is Hector’s first time at the Mod although he has played in other competitions before.
“Playing the bagpipes is in the family as his grandad, Sandy MacKenzie, used to be pipe major in the Lochaber Pipe Band.”
The first prize for playing a march in the junior piping competition was won by Curran Stainthorpe, aged 12, who travelled with his family to the Mod from their home near Dumfries.
He was delighted to receive the Roderick Ross, Ferintosh, memorial trophy, saying: “I’ve only been playing the pipes for a year, so it’s great to win.
“I have started with the Dumfries Pipe Band which was just set up a few years ago for younger players.”
The Stainthorpes, who are staying at Banavie for the Mod, are hoping for a family double as Curran’s sister, Niamh, who is 10, will compete in the Highland dancing on Thursday.
Another first-time winner was Claire Frances NicNill from Fort William, who received the Roderick MacCallum memorial trophy in the fiddle music section.
Claire, 17, originally from Barra, won the award in the 13-18 age group for playing a slow Gaelic air and march followed by a Strathspey and reel.
The Lochaber High School pupil, who has been playing the fiddle for around 12 years, said: “I have played at the Mods in Stornoway and Oban before, but this is the first time I’ve won.”