The first day of the World Pipe Championships saw the first two heats of the Grade 1 competition, two heats of Grade 2 and the Novice and Juvenile Championships.
Glasgow Green was warm and almost perfect for pipe bands – no harsh sun, dry, with only a little breeze. After a hard fought contest George Watson’ College were crowned Juvenile Champions, North Lanarkshire Schools Novice A Champions, and St Thomas Episcopal School, Texas,Novice B Champions.
Full results:
Juvenile: 1 G Watson’s 2 Dollar Acad. 3 St Andrew’s Coll. (NZ) 4 George Heriot’s 5 Preston Lodge 6 Lochgelly High; Drumming G Watson’s
Nov. Juvenile A: 1 North Lanarkshire Schools 2 George Watson’s 369 3 Renfrew Schools 4 St Columba’s School 5 Oban High School 6 Lochgelly High Jnr.; Drumming: G Watson’s
Nov. Juvenile B: 1 St Thomas Episcopal 2 Stirling Schools 3 Dollar Acad. 4 Scotch Coll. No2 (Aust.) 5 North Lanarkshire Schools 6 Kintyre Schools; Drumming: St Thomas Episcopal
Grade 2 finalists for tomorrow are: N Stratton (Canada), Buchan Peterson, Johnstone, Ulster Scots (USA), Uddingston, Pipe Band Club (Aust.), Bucksburn, Texo Deeside, Cascadia (USA), Cap Caval (France), Annan, Celtic (Nelson, NZ).
Editor Robert Wallace listened to the whole of the G1 Medley first run and the last few bands in the MSR. Here are his comments:
‘I do feel the Friday at the Worlds is growing in stature. There were very healthy crowds for both Grade 1 MSR and Medley. The stands were full for the latter and the standing area was at least as busy as on any Saturday in past years. If the weather holds tomorrow we could enjoy record crowds.
‘I have my top six in this Medley and I consider the top three as out on their own. Of course my views do not matter in the final shake down, especially as I was sitting in the stands and not really hearing the detail circle-side. But even so, I don’t think it would be right for me to reveal my thoughts before the final two runs tomorrow.
‘I will say that the standard was high, with at least eight bands all giving very good accounts of themselves and the rest holding up the grade in stout fashion. There were some ‘best ever Worlds’ performances from bands usually associated with the lower end of the grade.
‘I know who my money is on for the title tomorrow but we will have to wait until 7.30pm to know who has actually earned the right to hold aloft the coveted World Champions trophy.’
