However how many can remember all the great bands who ‘only’ got second? Not a lot we think. Yet the effort and ability of these outfits on the given day should not be in question. They were, perhaps, just a little unlucky during their performance or on who was judging or in having their slightly weaker set chosen from the bag.
We thought it would be interesting to publish a list of some of the results from the recent past to see if it jogged a few memories or re-kindled some pride among those who – to use a footballing metaphor – ‘hit the crossbar’.
Pictured up top are Power of Scotland under P/M Harry McNulty, twice runners-up at the Worlds. The front rank features Tom Johnstone, Ronnie MacShannon and P/Sgt Jimmy Liddell. Behind Jimmy is P/M Joe Wilson.
The highly coveted Grade One title remained in Scotland until 1987 when the Canadian 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band became the first overseas band to win the award. It has subsequently travelled to Canada a further six times with Simon Fraser University, Northern Ireland 10 times with Field Marshal Montgomery, Australia with the Victoria Police Pipe Band in 1998, and the Republic of Ireland with St. Laurence O’Toole in 2010.
The most successful pipe bands in the competition remain the Strathclyde Police (known as City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band from 1912 to 1975) winning 20 times, and Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia winning 16 times.
Other multiple World Champions include Muirhead & Sons (eight times), the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band (eight times), and the Edinburgh Police Pipe Band (including Lothian & Borders’ win in 1975, eight times).
2015
1 Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia
2 St. Laurence O’Toole
3 Inveraray & District
2014
Inveraray prove they are a serious force to be reckoned with on the biggest stage of all.
1 Field Marshal Montgomery
2 Inveraray & District
3 St. Laurence O’Toole
2013
A great performance from Boghall and P/M Ross Walker. They may have been seven points behind FMM but were a clear ten in front of the Power.
1 Field Marshal Montgomery
2 Boghall & Bathgate
3 Scottish Power
2012
This was to be SFU P/M Terry Lee’s last big prize at the Worlds after a career most pipe majors would die for. Six Worlds wins – what a legacy he has left Western Canada.
1 Field Marshal Montgomery
2 Scottish Power
3 Simon Fraser University
2011
1 Field Marshal Montgomery
2 Simon Fraser University
3 Scottish Power [polldaddy poll=9339337]
2010
P/M Terry Tully, after a lifetime of effort, finally sees all his hard work and talent realised when SLoT at last made it to No1.
1 St. Laurence O’Toole
2 Field Marshal Montgomery
3 Simon Fraser University
2009
1 Simon Fraser University
2 Field Marshal Montgomery
3 St. Laurence O’Toole
2008
1 Simon Fraser University
2 Field Marshal Montgomery
3 Shotts & Dykehead
2007
1 Field Marshal Montgomery
2 Simon Fraser University
3 Shotts & Dykehead
2006
1 Field Marshal Montgomery
2 Simon Fraser University
3 Shotts & Dykehead
2005
1 Shotts & Dykehead
2 Field Marshal Montgomery
3 Simon Fraser University
2004
1 Field Marshal Montgomery
2 Simon Fraser University
3 Shotts & Dykehead
2003
1 Shotts & Dykehead
2 Field Marshal Montgomery
3 Simon Fraser University
2002
1 Field Marshal Montgomery
2 Simon Fraser University
3 Shotts & Dykehead
2001
1 Simon Fraser University
2 Shotts & Dykehead
3 Field Marshal Montgomery
2000
1 Shotts & Dykehead
2 Field Marshal Montgomery
3 Simon Fraser University
1999
1 Simon Fraser University
2 Shotts & Dykehead
3 Field Marshal Montgomery
1998
Brilliant performance from Nat Russell and his team at Vic Police, getting their just deserts after disappointment the previous year.
1 Victoria Police
2 Shotts & Dykehead
3 Field Marshal Montgomery
1997
1 Shotts & Dykehead
2 Simon Fraser University
3 Victoria Police
1996
1 Simon Fraser University
2 Field Marshal Montgomery
3 Shotts & Dykehead
1995
1 Simon Fraser University
2 Field Marshal Montgomery
3 Shotts & Dykehead
1994
Robert Mathieson’s first big win at Shotts a band restored to their former glory under his and L/D Jim Kilpatrick’s guidance. Second yet again for Ross Walker.
1 Shotts & Dykehead
2 Boghall & Bathgate
3 Victoria Police
1993
1 Field Marshal Montgomery
2 Shotts & Dykehead
3 Boghall & Bathgate
1992
Oh, oh. Who are these cheeky chappies from across the water? But no mistake, a major force had arrived on these shores from Northern Ireland and yes, the rest is history.
1 Field Marshal Montgomery
2 Strathclyde Police
3 Victoria Police
1991
Davy Barnes’ Polkemmet pushed ‘the polis’ all the way with their innovative ensemble arrangements.
1 Strathclyde Police
2 Polkemmet Grorud
3 Power of Scotland
1990
We easily forget the success P/M Harry McNulty brought to Scottish Power in his years in charge there where he won the Scottish Championships twice, Cowal, and runner up at the Worlds twice.
1 Strathclyde Police
2 Power of Scotland
3 ScotRail Vale of Atholl
1989
And look at the Vale. Two thirds in a row for P/M Ian Duncan with a band largely recruited locally with many pipers taught by the man himself. All things considered a remarkable achievement for a band that was never frightened of pushing the boundaries.
1 Strathclyde Police
2 Power of Scotland
3 ScotRail Vale of Atholl
1988
1 Strathclyde Police
2 Simon Fraser University
3 78th Fraser Highlanders
1987
1 78th Fraser Highlanders
2 Simon Fraser University
3 Strathclyde Police
1986
A fantastic six in a row for P/M Ian McLellan and L/D Alex Connell and their band. 78ths threatening…
1 Strathclyde Police
2 78th Fraser Highlanders
3 Boghall & Bathgate
1985
P/M Johnny Barnes had a great band at Polkemmet but Robert Mathieson turned them into an innovative and exciting outfit to listen to. Third at the Worlds made everyone take them seriously.
1 Strathclyde Police
2 Simon Fraser University
3 Polkemmet Grorud
1984
Rumblings from across the pond as the Frasers assert themselves.
1 Strathclyde Police
2 Shotts & Dykehead
3 78th Fraser Highlanders
1983
Yet again the Boggies push the police all the way. In any other era mightn’t they have taken the coveted title?
1 Strathclyde Police
2 Boghall & Bathgate
3 Shotts & Dykehead
1982
The last major prize for P/M RT Shepherd MBE twice winner of the Worlds in the 70s and a man who has done so much for the pipe band movement.
1 Strathclyde Police
2 Boghall & Bathgate
3 Dysart and Dundonald
1981
Here on in there was no holding Strathclyde Police.
1 Strathclyde Police
2 Shotts & Dykehead
3 Boghall & Bathgate
1980
1 Shotts & Dykehead
2 Strathclyde Police
3 Polkemmet Colliery
For other years going back to the start of the RSPBA’s World Championship in 1947, click here. If you have any memories or photographs of the Worlds you’d like to share please email pipingpress@gmail.com.
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