Ulster Pipe Band Championships – Picture Parade

After a break of seven years pipe band contests returned to the seaside town of Newcastle, County Down, when 38 bands and 45 drum majors descended on the town to compete for the Ulster Champion title at Donard Park on Saturday 21^st July.  A Highland dancing competition held in a large marquee added to the Scottish flavour of the day in Newcastle. The Chieftain of the Gathering was Councillor Mark Murnin, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, who also distributed the prizes.

The McDonald Academy Pipe Band from Dromore, under the direction of Pipe Major Alan Gourley, made their competition debut: the band was formed in 2017 to aid with the progression into the main band.

During the finale, Piper Glen Baxter (Police Service of Northern Ireland Pipe Band) played a lament in memory of all that had passed away since the last Ulster Championships. 

Prior to the lament, Winston Pinkerton, President of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI) read a letter from the Capper family expressing thanks to Battlehill Pipe Band for their support to the family following Philip Capper’s recent tragic death.

Following the finale and prizegiving the bands and drum majors went on a spectacular street parade through the town returning to Donard Park along the promenade.

Full results by Gilbert Cromie:
Grade 1: 1st PSNI [also Best MSR, Medley, Pipes, Drums Bass Section and M&D],
Grade 2: 1^st Closkelt [also Best Pipes], 2^nd Ravara [also Best Bass Section and M&D], 3^rdManorcunningham, 4^th New Ross & District [also Best Drums].
Grade 3A: 1^st Marlacoo & District [also Best Pipes], 2^nd Drumlough, 3^rd Quinn Memorial [also Best Bass Section], 4^th Upper Crossgare, Best Drums Thiepval Memorial. Best M&D: Matt Boyd Memorial.
Grade 3B: 1^st St. Mary’s Derrytrasna [Best Pipes shared], 2^nd Battlehill [Best Pipes shared and M&D], 3^rdMajor Sinclair Memorial, 4^th Clogher & District. Best Drums: Tullylagan [also Best Bass Section].
Grade 4A: 1^st McNeillstown [also Best Pipes and Drums], 2^nd Kildoag, 3^rd McDonald Memorial [also M&D], 4^th Cullybackey. Best Bass Section: Lisnamulligan.
Grade 4B: 1^st Gransha [also Best Pipes, Drums and Bass Section], 2^nd Sgt Walker Memorial, 3^rd Broughshane & District, 4^th Ballyboley, 5^th Major Sinclair Memorial [Best M&D].

Drum Majors: Senior: 1^st Andrea McKeown, 2^nd David Brownleee, 3^rd Lauren Hanna, 4^th Alicia Dickson, 5^th Emma Barr.
Juvenile: 1^st Rachel Lowry, 2^nd Kathryn. McKeown, 3^rd Kara Gilmour, 4^th Lana Gibson, 5^th Emily Crooks.
Junior: 1^st Charlotte Ruddock, 2^nd Abigail Wenlock, 3^rd Louis Anderson, 4^th Kathy Hunter, 5^th Zara Cupples.
Novice: 1^st Louise Smiton, 2^ndCarys Graham, 3^rd Mia Buckley, 4^th Ben Dickson, 5^th Harry Mills.

Picture Gallery:

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