Northern Irish Band Season Ends with a Flourish at Portrush

Gilbert Cromie reports…The curtain came down on the 2018 NI Branch contest season at Portrush on Saturday and despite the many reservations about the venue, the Lansdown Road Car Park, everything went smoothly. Despite the adverse weather in other parts of the country we enjoyed a pleasant day which contributed to the large crowd who attended.

I would like to echo the sentiments of the Chieftain of the Day, Councillor Brenda Chivers the Mayor of the Causeway Coast and Glens Council, who congratulated the NI Branch on their superb organisation of the contest. Prior to the announcement of the results the Thompson family presented a trophy to the NI Branch in memory of Ian a former piper with the Major Sinclair Memorial. Both the NI Branch and the Council made presentations to the visiting New Zealand Police Pipe Band with their representative mentioning in his Maori and English response that this was the sixth time that the band had come to Ireland.

Much to the disappointment of the crowd the PSNI had withdrawn from the Grade 1 contest a few days earlier leaving the impressive New Zealand Police to have a comprehensive victory although all credit to the Grade 2 Closkelt for putting on a good show. All season five bands have dominated Grades 2 to 4B, however only McNeillstown (Grade 4A) could maintain their record.

Grade 2 Champion of Champions Closkelt were pushed into second place in Grade 2 by a super showing from Ravara [pictured top] while in Grade 3A Quinn Memorial took the honours over Marlacoo & District and into the bargain snatched the Drum Corps Champion of Champions title from them. St Mary’s Derrytrasna have dominated 3B and rightly claimed the Champion of Champions titles for band and drumming, however Clogher & District were very deserving of their win in the grade. This youthful band is definitely one to watch out for next year.

As I mentioned earlier McNeillstown won 4A with yet another solid performance which saw them crowned Champion of Champions, although Raphoe Ulster Scots did take the drumming honours on the day. Gransha have had a brilliant season lifting the Champion of Champions crown for all three sections in Grade 4B however at Portrush a super piping performance from Scottish Champions Bessbrook Crimson Arrow won the day.

In the drum major competitions winners Lauren Hanna (Adult), Kathy Hunter (Junior) and Louise Smiton (Novice) also claimed Champion of Champion titles. The other winner was Kathryn McKeown (Juvenile) with Jamie Cupples taking the Champion of Champions title for that section.

Results:
Grade 1:1^st New Zealand Police (also Best Pipes, Drums, Bass Section and M&D), 2^nd Closkelt.

Grade 2: 1^st Ravara (also Best Pipes (shared), Drums and Bass Section and M&D), 2^nd Closkelt (also Best Pipes), 3^rd Colmcille, 4^th Manorcunningham.

Grade 3A: 1^st Quinn Memorial (also Best Pipes, Drums and Bass Section) 2^nd Marlacoo & District (also M&D), 3^rd Thiepval Memorial, 4^th Matt Boyd Memorial.

Grade 3B: 1^st Clogher & District (also Best Pipes, Drums and Bass Section) 2^nd St Mary’s Derrytrasna, 3^rd Major Sinclair Memorial, 4^th Tullylagan. Best M&D: Raffrey.

Grade 4A:  1^st McNeillstown (also Best Pipes AND North West Band), 2^nd McDonald Memorial, 3^rd Kildoag, 4^th Cullybackey (also Best M&D); Best Drums & Bass Section: Raphoe Ulster Scots.

Grade 4B: 1^st Bessbrook Crimson Arrow (also Best Pipes), 2^nd Gransha (also Best Drums), 3^rd Sgt Walker Memorial, 4^th Ballyboley, 5^th Broughshane & District. Best Bass Section: Altnaveigh Memorial.

2018 Champion of Champions:
Grade 1: PSNI (Band, Drum Corps & Bass Section).
Grade 2: Closkelt (Band, Drum Corps & Bass Section),
Grade 3A: Marlacoo & District [Band], Quinn Memorial (Drum Corps and Bass Section).
Grade 3B: St Marys Derrytrasna (Band and Drum Corps). Tullylagan (Bass Section).
Grade 4A: McNeillstown (Band and Drum Corps). Tamlaght O’Crilly (Bass Section).
Grade 4B: Gransha (Band, Drum Corps & Bass Section).

Drum Majors: Adult: 1^st Lauren Hanna, 2^nd Alicia Dickson, 3^rd Andrea McKeown, 4^th Emma Barr, 5^th James Kennedy. Juvenile: 1^st Kathryn McKeown 2^nd Kara Gilmour, 3^rd Jason Nicholl, 4^th Rebecca Hamilton, 5^th Rachel Lowry. Junior: 1^st Kathy Hunter, 2^nd Abigail Wenlock, 3^rd Zara Cupples, 4^th Leanne Crooks, 5^th Charlotte Ruddock.. Novice: 1^st Louise Smiton, 2^nd Mia Buckley, 3^rd Carys Graham, 4^th Katie Clarke, 5^th Jamir Lee Wilson.

2018 Champion of Champions: Adult: Lauren Hanna, Juvenile: Jamie Cupples. Junior: Kathy Hunter. Novice: Louise Smiton.

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