The first weekend of pipe band competition in the 2017 season saw wins for Field Marshal Montgomery in Grade 1 at Bangor in Northern Ireland, MacKenzie Caledonian in the city centre contest at Dundee, Buchan Peterson in Grade 1 at Banchory, Inveraray at Gourock in the west of Scotland and Fife Police (Grade 1) and Grampian Police (Grade 2) at Dunbar.
Though the weather was not as good in Scotland as it has been hitherto, contests all ran smoothly despite the odd deluge. Our correspondent reported from the mixed sunny and cloudy skies of Dundee, more specifically the granite paved square outside the Caird Hall which provided a compact venue with most bands gathering in the grounds of Dundee High School and when called, marching the 200 yards to the Caird Hall Square, where the circle and judges waited. An interesting set up and different acoustics with the amphitheatre effect of buildings on three of four sides and the hard floor.
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In Dundee there were competitions in Grades 4, 3 and 2 with some bands playing up. Grade 2 result:
| Mackenzie Caledonian | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 EP |
| City of Discovery | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Methil and District | 3B | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 3 |
Get full results here. The picture up top is of Grade 4B Badenoch & Strathspey PIpe Band and below RAF Central Scotland kicking off 4A.
Still in the north-east there were contests for Grade 4 (plus a G4 MSR), 3, 2 and 1 at Banchory. As expected, Buchan Peterson took the Grade 1 title from Grampian Police. Here is the result in Grade 2:
| Grampian Police Scotland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Portlethen and District | 3A | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 2 |
| Deeside Caledonia | 3A | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 3 |
| 2622 (Highland) Squadron R.A.F | 3A | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 4 |
Full results from Banchory here. Over at Gourock, four bands played in Grade 1. There was a late call-off from Glasgow Police. Grade 1 saw P/M Stuart Liddell’s Inveraray & District win on an ensemble preference from Scottish Power:
| Inveraray and District | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 EP |
| Scottish Power | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Johnstone | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 3 |
| The Glasgow Skye Association | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 4 |
Glasgow Skye Association won all four categories in a dominating performance in Grade 2. Full results from Gourock here.
All results are supplied courtesy the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. This Saturday sees the first major championship of the season, the British at Paisley. Stay tuned to Piping Press for the latest news and comment. Here’s how to get to the St James Playing Fields, the venue:
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