Cullybackey Solo Piping & Drumming

Cullybackey College on April 6th was the setting for the 32^nd Cullybackey Pipe Band Solo Piping and Drumming Championships which had an entry of eighty three across the twenty one sections. This event has traditionally provided competitors with an opportunity to warm up ahead of the Ulster Solos, which take place on the April 20^th, however many of the senior players particularly the drummers didn’t enter as they usually would.

This left the way for the cream of the NI Branch’s young players to strut their stuff and there was stiff competition amongst them. The following was the results of the adjudicator’s deliberations. 

Piping Competition: Novice Practice Chanter: 1^st Samuel Rooney [McDonald Academy], 2^nd Josh Anderson [Cleland Memorial], 3^rd Jacob Tate [Syerla].

Advanced Practice Chanter. 1^st Shaun Townsley [Cleland Memorial], 2^nd Jake McAlister [Matt Boyd Memorial], 3^rd Charlie McAlister [Matt Boyd Memorial].

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Novice Piping (Pipe Chanter) 1^st Sam Purvis [Tullylagan], 2^nd Logan Steenson [Syerla], 3^rd Tyler Gillespie [RSPBA].

Juvenile Under 14 Piping 1^st Reece Doherty [Colmcille] 2^nd Adam Brimage [Matt Boyd Memorial], 3^rd Ewan Mitchell [Ballybriest].

Juvenile Under 16 Piping 1^st Emma Ferguson [Matt Boyd Memorial], 2^nd Jake McConnell [Matt Boyd Memorial], 3^rd Lauren Boyce [McDonald Memorial].

Juvenile Under 18 Piping 1^st Marc Warnock [Tullylagan], 2^nd Fraser Rodgers [Upper Crossgare], 3^rd Nathan Coburn [Ravara].

C Grade Junior Piping 1^st Beth Preston [P.S.N.I.], 2^nd Mark Hasson [Colmcille], 3^rd Tim Wharton [Joseph Forde Memorial].

B Grade Intermediate Piping 1^st Ryan Cupples Menendez [Field Marshal Montgomery], 2^nd Desmond Smyth [Manorcunningham], 3^rd Michael Harvey [PSNI].

A Grade Senior Piping 1^stSean Moloney [St Marys Derrytrasna], 2^nd John McElmurry [Scottish Power], 3^rd Ben Greeves [Drumlough].

Piobaireachd Competition Juvenile Under 16 1^st Ewan Mitchell [Ballybriest], 2^ndAdam Brimage [Matt Boyd Memorial], 3^rd Jake McConnell [Matt Boyd Memorial].

Juvenile Under 18 1^st Emma Ferguson [Matt Boyd Memorial].

B Grade 1^st Michael Harvey [P.S.N.I.], 2^ndEmma Livingstone [Matt Boyd Memorial], 3^rdAndrew Shilliday [Tullylagan].

A Grade 1^st John McElmurry [Scottish Power], 2^nd Ryan Cupples Menendez [Field Marshal Montgomery], 3^rd Beth Preston [P.S.N.I.].

Open Grade Bass Drumming: 1st Rodney Cranston [St Marys Derrytrasna, 2nd Jay Hasson [Colmcille], 3rd Oisin McCartney [Colmcille]. Juvenile U14 Tenor Drumming: 1st Keeva Smith [Matt Boyd Memorial], William Currie [Cullybackey]. Juvenile U16 Tenor Drumming: 1st Sophie Thompson [P.S.N.I], 2nd Grace McIvor [Matt Boyd Memorial], 3rd Carla Withers [St Marys Derrytrasna]. Novice Drum Pad: 1st Scott Martin [Syerla], 2nd Kerry Anne Orr [Syerla], 3rd Jay Gillespie [RSPBA]. Advanced Drum Pad. 1st Benjamin Walker [Joseph Forde Memorial]. Unaccompanied Snare Drum. 1st Ethan Smith [Matt Boyd Memorial], 2nd Conor Gallagher [Colmcille], Juvenile Under 14 Drumming. 1st Jamie Coffey [Major Sinclair Memorial], 2nd Samuel Hanna [Broughshane & District], 3rd Matthew Steenson [Gransha]. Juvenile Under 16 Drumming. 1st Arren McWilliams [P.S.N.I.], 2nd Brady Sayers [Mountjoy], 3rd Alex Buchanan [P.S.N.I.]. C Grade Junior Drumming 1stAshley Fyffe [PSNI], 2nd Brian Hughes [St Marys Derrytrasna], 3rd Richard Black [Syerla].

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