The pipe band season is now in full swing and here is a round up of events so far. On Saturday June 28th the Antrim & Newtownabbey Championships took place in Antrim’s beautiful Castle Gardens. Whilst there wasn’t wall to wall sunshine, it was extremely hot.
The highlight of the day was always going to be the appearance of the Field Marshal Montgomery (front rank pictured above) under its new leadership team of P/M Matthew Wilson, P/Sgt Ben Duncan and L/D William Glenholmes. They put on a good show sounding much the same as usual, and while they annexed all the prizes, it has to be said that Ravara put on a great performance.
In Grade 2 Manorcunningham had a clear win over Tullylagan. Matt Boyd Memorial continued their success with a strong showing in Grade 3A. Drumlough returned to winning ways in Grade 3B. Thiepval Memorial took the honours in Grade 4A with 4B band Down Academy in second place as well as annexing Best Drums and Best Bass. The Queen Elizabeth band continued their strong showing this year by sweeping the boards in Grade 4B.
While the RSPBANI Branch bands were warming up for the All-Ireland Championships in Antrim some of the IPBA bands were doing likewise at the East of Ireland Championships at Howth on Sunday June 29th. A top class adjudication panel was assembled comprising Alen Tully and David Caldwell (Piping), Stephen Creighton (Drumming) and Terry Tully (Ensemble).
The results were: Grade 4B: 1 Youghal, also Best Drums, 2 Killeshin, 3 Clonoe Independent. Grade 4A: 1 Black Raven, also Best Drums, 2 Cullen, 3 New Ross. It was good to see the Clonoe Independent band return to the contest arena and gain a prize which would have given them encouragement before the All-Irelands.
Ebrington Square, Londonderry was the location for the 78th All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships on Saturday July 5th. Forty-eight bands entered. Ahead of the contest there was a week of Fringe events with parades, and workshops. For the main event it was generally overcast but that did not deter a large attendance of spectators from across Ireland and beyond.
The setting was completely different from the majority of venues that have been used over the decades, with a variety of cafes, hotels and bars in close proximity to the arenas. It will be interesting to hear the feedback on it and particularly the hard playing surface.
There were outstanding performances right across the grades and none could be more pronounced than that of the Field Marshal who received an amazing eight 1s from the adjudicators over the MSR and Medley disciplines.
Manorcunningham won Grade 2 with Tullylagan taking the drumming. Irvine Memorial won Grade 3A with McNeillstown judged to have the best drums. Grade 3B was won by Syerla who also won the drumming. Black Raven from the IPBA won Grade 4A, and Carrigaline Grade 4B and the best drums.
Prior to the finale, there was a performance by the 1970s Tribute Band made up of pipers and drummers from all over Ireland, Scotland and the USA under the leadership of P/M David Caldwell and Drum Sergeant John Scullion. They played the 1974 World Championship winning medley by Shotts & Dykehead.
One of the two overseas bands in Grade 4B was the Middletown Police Benefit Association from the United States. They attracted quite a large crowd when it was discovered that they were playing rope tension side drums, something that has rarely been heard in a pipe band since the late ’30s or early ’40s. In addition, one of their pipers appeared to have a compressor style fitment on his pipes which is obviously a recent innovation designed to aid pipers in need of respiratory assistance.
On July 12, while many of Northern Ireland’s competition pipe bands and drum majors participated at the various Twelfth parades across the country, the United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships were taking place at the Royal Highland Showgrounds at Ingliston, Edinburgh.
No NI Branch bands competed for a wide variety of reasons. Two IPBA bands competed, and they were both on the winners list. Grade 1 was won by St Laurence O’Toole from Dublin while Black Raven lifted the Grade 4A title and took the drum corps prize.
On Saturday July 19th the Ards & North Down Pipe Band Championships took place at Regent House Playing Fields, Newtownards. In the mid-afternoon local bands Kirkistown and Cleland Memorial, together with the Down Academy Pipes and Drums from Ballynahinch, paraded to the nearby Conway Square to entertain shoppers.
An experienced adjudication panel comprised Richard Parkes MBE and David Middleton (Piping), Keith Orr (Drumming), Cameron Edgar (Ensemble), Jayne Hassin Scott (Marching & Discipline).
In Grade 4B the Queen Elizabeth band from Castledawson continued their good form winning best pipes, drums and bass section. Second placed Tullylagan lifted the Marching & Discipline prize. Moneygore took the Grade 4A title claiming the best drums prize over second placed Altnaveigh Memorial who were awarded the best pipes and M&D prizes. Gransha were awarded the best Bass Section. Syerla & District won Grade 3B and were also awarded best pipes, drums, bass section & M&D.
Grade 3A was won by McNeilstown who also lifted the best drums & bass section, while second placed Irvine Memorial received the best pipes award and the William Kerr Memorial took the M&D prize. No Grade 2 bands were present, so McNeilstown took advantage of the situation by winning the grade and taking the best pipes, drums & bass section while second placed Irvine Memorial were awarded the best M&D.
Ravara had no opposition in Grade 1 however they treated the audience to a rendition of their new medley selection which was much appreciated.
- If you have any news from the piping and pipe band scene you’d like to pass on to Gilbert please email him here. Full contest results on the RSPBANI website.
