North West Championships, Portrush, Northern Ireland

On Saturday (Aug 3) the second half of the RSPBANI Branch season got underway at Portrush when thirty-three bands and thirty-nine drum majors took part at this popular North Antrim venue which was looking its best after the spruce up it got for the recent 148th Open Golf Championships.

The venue for this contest was once again the car park adjacent to Ramore Head which as with last year seems to work well however it is a location and surface not necessarily favoured by everyone.

The good weather encouraged a large attendance for both the contest and the traditional parade through the narrow streets as bands and drum majors were able to show off their trophies to the enthusiastic crowds.

The only Grade 1 band attending was the PSNI and they saw off a challenge from Closkelt. Indeed it was not Closkelt’s day as they lost out to Ravara in Grade 2 who also took the drumming prize.

There were new winners in Grade 3A as the Quinn Memorial lifted top spot from Thiepval Memorial and Clogher & District. McNeillstown managed a fourth place in this grade to which they are almost certain to be promoted to next year on the back of a succession of victories in Grade 3B to which they added to on the day.

Tullylagan continued their good form taking second place and winning the drumming. Augharan from County Tyrone continue to dominate in 4A although Cloughfin who have been steadily improving with a youthful band were placed second and had two firsts for piping.

Finally in Grade 4B the William Kerr Memorial took top spot from Mountjoy with Syerla winning the drum corps prize. 

Competition within the drum majors remained keen in all sections as it has all season. Lauren Hanna after a second place at the Scottish Championships last week took top spot in Portrush with former World Champion Jason Price the runner up.

Jamie Cupples lifted his third local title of the year in the Juvenile section while Junior section winner Leanne Crooks managed to put at least a temporary halt to Louis Anderson and Benjamin Walker’s domination of the section. There is certainly no stopping Carys Graham in the Novice Section as she secured her fifth local title in a row. 

The experienced panel of adjudicators included Nat Russell, Maurice Rhodes, Colin Moffett and Mark Faloon (Piping), Sandy Steele and Stuart Coils (Drumming), John Moles and Alan Ronaldson (Ensemble) and Alistair Patterson and Roger Young )Drum Majors).

Results: Grade 1: 1^st PSNI (also Best Pipes, Drums, Bass Section and M&D), 2nd Closkelt, 3^rd Colmcille.

Grade 2: 1^st Ravara (also Best Pipes (joint), Drums & M&D), 2^ndCloskelt (also Best Pipes (joint) and Bass Section), 3^rd Colmcille, 4^th Matt Boyd Memorial.

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

Grade 3B: 1^st McNeillstown (also Best Pipes), 2^nd Tullylagan (also Best Drums & Bass Section), 3^rd Bessbrook Crimson Arrow, 4^th Augharan. Best M&D: Major Sinclair Memorial.

Grade 4A: 1^st Augharan (also Best Drums), 2^nd Cloughfin (also Best Pipes & Bass Section), 3^rd Cullybackey (also Best M&D), 4^th Kildoag (also Best North West band).

Grade 4B: 1^st William Kerr Memorial (also Best Pipes & M&D), 2^nd Mountjoy, 3^rdBroughshane & District, Altnaveigh Memorial. 5^th Syerla (also Best Drums). Best Bass Section: Kirkistown.

Drum Majors: Novice: 1^st Carys Graham, 2^nd Mia Buckley, 3^rdHarry Mills, 4^th Jorja Turkington, 5^th Christie Steele.
Junior: 1^st Leanne Crooks, 2^nd Louis Anderson, 3^rd Ben Dickson, 4^th Louise Smiton, 5^th Rachel McCann.
Juvenile: 1^stJamie Cupples, 2^nd Kathryn McKeown, 3^rd Kathy Hunter, 4^th Rachel Lowry, 5^th Abigail Wenlock. 
Senior: 1^st Lauren Hanna, 2^nd Jason Price, 3^rd Emma Barr, 4^th Andrea McKeown, 5^th James Kennedy.