Belfast Pipe Band Championships at Stormont, Northern Ireland

Last Saturday (June 8) the Civil Service Grounds at Stormont were the venue for the Belfast Pipe Band Championships on what was a dull day with the light rain only coming for the closing stages. There was an entry of thirty five bands and drum majors watched by a good attendance of spectators which looked smaller due mainly to the large but immaculately kept grounds on which the competitions took place.

The High Sherriff of Belfast, Alderman Tommy Sanford, was the Chieftain of the Day and he presented the prizes at the Finale. The Pipes and Drums of the PSNI won the uncontested Grade 1 however in fairness to them they played well which augers well for the UK Championships at Lurgan Park at the end of the month.

Closkelt returned to winning ways with a polished performance in Grade 2 ahead of Manorcunningham and Ravara who won the drumming prize.

Battlehill were well worth their win in Grade 3A with a solid performance reflected in the award of four straight ones from the adjudicators.

McNeillstown made it four wins out of four in Grade 3B however it was a close thing as they tied on points with an improving Tullylagan who won the piping but lost out on ensemble preference.

In 4A Augharan are getting up a head of steam as they recorded their third win in a row with Kildoag winning the drumming. Grade 4B remains up in the air as the William Kerr Memorial became the fourth different winner while Altnaveigh Memorial lifted the drum corps prize.

World Champion Adult Drum Major Emma Barr won her second title of the season while Jamie Cupples lifted his second in the Juvenile section. Benjamin Walker inflicted defeat on Louis Anderson for the first time this year in the Junior section while Carys Graham made it three wins in a row in the Novice section.

Grade 1: PSNI (also Best Pipes, Drums, Bass Section & M&D). 

Grade 2: Closkelt (also Best Pipes), 2^nd Manorcunningham, 3^rd Ravara (also Best Drums, Bass Section & M&D0, 4^th St. Mary’s. 

Grade 3A: 1^st Battlehill (also Best Pipes, Drums & M&D), 2^nd Quinn Memorial, 3^rd Matt Boyd Memorial, 4^th St. Mary’s Derrytrasna (also Best Bass Section). 

Grade 3B: 1^stMcNeilstown (also Best Drums & Bass Section), 2^nd Tullylagan (also Best Pipes), 3^rd Major Sinclair Memorial (also Best M&D), 4^th Cleland Memorial. 

Grade 4A: Augharan (also Best Pipes), 2^nd Cullybackey  (also Best Bass Section & M&D), 3^rd Kildoag (Best Drums), 4^th Cloughfin. 

Grade 4B: William Kerr Memorial (also Best Pipes & M&D), 2^nd Ballyboley, 3^rd Broughshane & District (also Best Bass Section), 4the Mountjoy, 5^th Altnaveigh Memorial (also Best Drums).

Drum Majors Adult: Emma Barr, 2^nd Lauren Hanna, 3^rd David Brownlee, 4^th  Andrea McKeown, 5^thJason Price.

Juvenile: 1^st Jamie Cupples. 2^nd Rachel Lowry, 3^rd Kathy Hunter. 4^th Abigail Wenlock, 5^thKathryn McKeown.

Junior: 1^st Benjamin Walker. 2^nd Louis Anderson, 3^rd Louise Smiton, 4^thLee Nicholl, 5^th Grace Thompson.

Novice: 1^st Carys Graham, 2^nd Mia Buckley, 3^rd Harry Mills, 4^th Christie Steele, 5^th Jorja Turkington.