The 2026 Ulster Adult Solo Championship took place at Cookstown High School on Saturday 18th April. There was a large entry from all over Ireland and indeed a few from England and Scotland.
Top of the list was Rathfriland’s James Frazer whose wins in the MSR and Piobaireachd, together with a second place in the Hornpipe and Jig, made him Ulster Adult Piping Champion. Alex Buchanan became Ulster Adult Drumming Champion thanks to wins in both the Hornpipe & Jig and MSR.
The adjudication team were Tom Johnstone, Donald MacPhee, John Reville and Terry Tully (Piping), Brian Martin, Keith Orr (Drumming), and Ross Bingham (Bass & Tenor). Results: Piob. A: 1 James Frazer 2 Ashley McMichael 3 Kris Coyle. MSR: 1 James Frazer 2 James Stone 3 Ashley McMichael; H&J: 1 Mark Warnock 2 James Frazer 3 James Stone; Champion Overall: 1 James Frazer 2 Ashley McMichael 3 James Stone.
Novice Chanter: 1 Freya Tully 2 Lucy Stinson, 3 Reuben Loney. Novice Piping: 1 Joel McCloskey 2 Harry Bell Hamilton 3 Pyper Bass; U14: 1 Ben Cardy 2 Henry Spencer 3 Harrison Foster; U16: 1 Rory Rodgers 2 Alan Waddell 3 Jack Moore; U18: 1 Maddox Stinson 2 Shaun Townsley 3 Jack Rankin; C Grade: 1 William McFarland 2 Euan Mitchell 3 Shea Toner; B Grade: 1 Drew McAnally 2 Cillian Bassett 3 Conall McNamara; U16 Piob.: 1 Rory Rodgers 2 Alan Waddell; U18 Piob.: 1 Maddox Stinson 2 Philip Murphy 3 Andrew Keyes; Piob. B: 1 Andrew Nelson 2 Annabel Charlton 3 Eddie Boland.
County Down Indoors: Dromore High School on Saturday 25th April was the setting for the first full band contest of the 2026 season. The original 16-band entry was reduced to 12, however having watched the videos available online the high standard of playing would have given the adjudication team difficulties reaching their placings.
Judges Colin Moffett BEM, John Moles (Piping), Ian Lawson (Drumming) and Mark Faloon (Ensemble) decided as follows: 4B: 1 Hollymount (also drums) 2 Tullylagan 3 Bready Ulster Scots 4 Garvagh. 4A: 1 Moneygore (also drums) 2 Cottown 3 Graham Mem. 4 Hollymount. 3B: 1 Upper Crossgare (also drums) 2 Ballyboley. 3A: 1 Major Sinclair Mem. (also drums), 2 Irvine Mem. G2: 1 Irvine Mem. (also drums).
Ravara Concert: The band had a very successful return to Grade 1 last year and made their first appearance of the season at a concert last month in the Corick House Hotel. It was a huge success with the band proving that their hard winter’s practice had been worthwhile. Listen to the numerous videos of the concert circulating online. I understand that a good number of new young players have been added to the group.
Charity Concert: I had the good fortune of attending the final Kids With Cancer concert in the Royal Hotel, Cookstown. What a brilliant night it was. The evening got underway with a succession of world drumming champions. Field Marshal Montgomery lead drummer William Glenholmes and his brother Alan put on a scintillating display. The first half closed with the first concert appearance in Northern Ireland by the Police Scotland Fife Pipe Band which included a cameo appearance by P/M Richard Parkes MBE.
After the interval we had the last hurrah of the Pipes & Drums of the RUC – a reminder of the power of this great band and, in truth, they would likely make an impact in the modern day. Prior to the second half of their performance the Fife Police band presented organiser Gary Smyth with a cheque for £2,561, the proceeds of a sponsored run undertaken by band members. The band concluded their performance and played off to the strains of ‘I’ll tell my ma’ and rapturous applause.
At the close it was announced that the 2027 concert would be the last and that the stars of the show would be the Field Marshal Montgomery. No words could ever thank Gary Smyth and his team for the effort they have put in over the years to make this event such a momentous success. Gary announced that the concert had raised £13,950.
Blackthorn Pipers: The Blackthorn Pipers Society’s final session of the 2025/26 took place last month. Guest piper was Alan Glenholmes, Pipe Major of Irvine Memorial. A feature of the evening was the first ever appearance of Brian Boru bagpipes at the Society played by a trio of pipers from Crimson Arrow Pipe Band (Newcastle). Their performance drew quite a bit of interest both on the night.
RSPBA United Kingdom Drumming Championships took place last month in Cookstown High School with William Glenholmes lifting the Bobby Rea Trophy. The top six places each received points towards the 2026 Champion of Champions table and also secured semi-final places at the RSPBA World Solo Drumming Championships in October.
Results: Adult: 1 William Glenholmes 2 Alex Buchanan 3 Stephen Creighton, 4 Conor Lawlor, 5 Arren McWilliams, 6 Ashley Fyffe. Juvenile 1: 1 Henry Turkington 2 Jack Semple, 3 Joshua Toole, 4 Hugh Smiton 5 Megan Steele. Juvenile 2: 1 William Smiton 2Lucy Watson 3 Katie Meharry. Juvenile 3: 1 Lexi Kerr 2 Gregor Morrow. Juvenile 4: 1 Ethan Young 2 Callum Freeburn 3 Matthew Brownlee 4 Ashley Steele 5 Jacob Laird. Juvenile 5: 1 Lewis Doherty 2 Jamie Coffey 3 Joshua Green 4 Stefan Kelly.
