Inveraray & District Pipe Band picked up their second major title of the season when they took first place at the Scottish Championships Grade 1 contest held today at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton.
Previously P/M Stuart Liddell’s band had won the first major of the season, the British at Paisley. Today, a total of 141 bands competed on what was a briefly showery but cold day on the banks of the River Leven. The weather affected the quality of the instruments and many bands struggled with sound.
The Grade 1 contest was a mixed bag of March, Strathspey and Reel playing, said PP Editor Robert Wallace who listened to the whole contest.
‘Some bands were clearly caught out by the cold and damp; others just hadn’t done enough work on their unison playing. Once more the MSR sorted out the good from the really good.
‘Does Inveraray’s win make them favourites for the Worlds in two weeks? I don’t know. Any of the top four bands today could lift the big one – and remember it is over two disciplines Medley and MSR with eight judges involved in the final. Everything is different at Glasgow Green, but there is no doubt that the winners today will get a lift going into the Worlds.’
In second place came St Laurence O’Toole from Dublin with current World Champions Shotts third. The drumming prize went to Inveraray.
The full result in Grade 1 was:
1 Inveraray (pictured going into the circle today)
2 St Laurence O’Toole
3 Shotts & Dykehead
4 Field Marshal Montgomery
5 Scottish Power
6 Fife Police
Grade 2 again went to the all-conquering Police Service of Northern Ireland, Grade 3a to Aughintober (N Ireland), 3b to Marlacoo (N Ireland) , Juvenile to Boghall Juveniles , 4a to Ullapool, 4b to Johnstone, Novice A to Dollar Academy and Novice B to Kintyre Schools. Read the full results here. Check Piping Press later for a critique of Grade 1 from the editor.
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