Belfast once again hosted the United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships and the spacious cricket pitch at the Civil Service Playing Fields at Stormont provided a perfect venue. It was outstanding day for St Laurence O’Toole from Dublin (pictured above) who took first in G1 and the drumming
P/M Alen Tully said: ‘After the disappointment of Paisley the band was outstanding today. We are delighted.’
The full result in Grade 1 was:
1 SLoT
2 Inveraray
3 FMM
4 Scottish Power
5 Fife Police
6 Shotts
Drumming: SLoT (1,2,1,3)
In Grade 2 the top places went to in form bands including US band Worcester Kilties.
Grade 2
1 MacKenzie Cal
2 Closkelt
3 Worcester Kilties
4 Ravara
5 Manorcunningham
6 Isle of Islay
Drumming: New Ross
[wds id=”6″]
Grade 3a
1 Annan
2 Uddingston Strathclyde
3 Highlanders 4 Scots
4 Marlacoo
5 St Joseph’s
6 Drumlough
Drumming: St Joseph’s
[/caption]Grade 3b
1 St Mary’s Derrytrasna
2 Johnstone
3 Clogher
4 Battlehill
5 Carnoustie
6 Denny
Drumming: St Mary’s
Juvenile
1 G Watson’s
2 Dollar
3 G Heriot’s
4 Boghall
5 Prestonlodge
6 W Lothian
Drumming: Watson’s
Grade 4a
1 MacNeilstown
2 MacDonald Mem
3 Lochryan
4 Cullybackey
5 Kildoag
6 Ballycoan
Drumming: Lochryan
[polldaddy poll=10029688]
Grade 4b
1 Gransha
2 Mid Argyll
3 Wicklow
4 Camelon
5 Strathendrick
6 Bessbrook
Drumming: Gransha
Novice A
1 Dollar
2 Oban
3 G Watson’s
4 Lochalsh Jnr
5 Stirling Schools
6 G Heriot’s
Drumming: G Watson’s
Novice B
1 Troon BB
2 Boghall
3 Prestonlodge
Drumming: Boghall
Get full summaries here. Thanks to John Kelly and Peter Hazzard for the photographs.
[wds id=”6″]
The O’Tooles, of course, may have had unfair advantage in having some supernatural help. The heart of St Laurence O’Toole, stolen from Christchurch Cathedral in 2012, was discovered and returned in April this year. It was rumoured that the thieves, who were said not to have been Irish, were spooked after members of their extended family suffered heart-attacks in the aftermath of the theft, and they left the heart for police to find.
Perhaps, St Laurence donned the green kilt for the day, and may continue to do so throughout the season.
When are the SPBA going to sort out the judging theres no way SLOT should have won that on Saturday people are fed up with this.
Thanks for your support Andrew it’s much appreciated.
Yeah thanks Andrew; fair play , what band do you play with?
What a crackin’ name…Worcester Kilties