The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association have announced the following re-gradings which will take effect for the 2027 competition season beginning next May.
Two bands have been promoted to Grade 1, Grade 2 World Champions Ulster Scottish from the US and Scotland’s own Royal Burgh of Annan, the Grade 2 Champion of Champions. These promotions are a major boost for the top grade which has been struggling under low numbers for the past few years. There have been no downgradings.
The Pipe Major of Annan, Jamie Smith, said on social media: ‘When I became Pipe Major I had a ten year plan, win the Grade 2 Worlds and get the band into Grade 1.
‘We achieved the Worlds in 2023 and now promotion to Grade 1, all in five years. I am so proud of everyone and what we have managed to achieve.’
Other changes are as follows: Novice B to Novice A: St Thomas Episcopal, Dollar Academy, Stirling Schools, Edinburgh Academy, Kintyre Schools; Novice A to Juvenile: George Watson’s 369, Dundee High, Renfrew Schools, North Lanark Schools
4B to 4A: 1st Troon BB, Arbroath, Lanark, Dumfries, Bready, Uddingston Strathclyde, RAF Oman; 4A to 3B: St Andrews, Ratae, Moneygore, Carragaline, Altnaveigh
3B to 3A: Govan, Troon Caledonia, Drumlough, Williamwood, Black Raven, RAF Oman; 3A to 2: Burntisland, Macanta, Livingston
Brechin Juniors
Craig Black reports….The annual City of Brechin Pipe Band Solo Piping and drumming competition took place on Saturday 26thSeptember.
This year saw the introduction of solo bass drumming sections for the first time, although each section had entrants, we hope to see these grow in future years.
A very well attended event again with a high standard of competition. Good to see the future of piping and drumming is in a strong position.
Judges for the day were Jack Taylor, Jim Semple and David Clunie for piping, Paul Brown and Brian Martin for snare, and Steven McQuillan for tenor and bass.
Chanter: 1 C Tucker 2 D Moran 3 CG MacEwan 4th equal C Stevenson, N Spence
Novice Pipes: 1 E Simpson 2 D Keith 3 M Cochrane
Intermediate March: 1 J Silcock 2 A Low 3 C Couper 4 E Cowe 5 E Johnston 6 J Bailie 7 A Richardson
U15 Piob: 1 C Acamovic 2 L Presslie 3 J Folan 4 F Thompson 5 A Clark 6 A Gourlay
U15 MSR: 1 L Presslie 2 J Folan 3 C Acamovic 4 M Cochrane 5 K Folan 6 S Orr
U15 Jig: 1 C Acamovic 2 J Folan 3 L Presslie 4 K Folan 5 A Gourlay 6 F Thompson
U15 6/8: 1 C Acamovic 2 L Presslie 3 J Folan 4 F Thompson 5 E Simpson 6 M Cochrane
15-18 Piob: 1 C Mack 2 J Silcock 3 L Rennie 4 A Leonard 5 T Chapman 6 R Cairns
15-18 MSR: 1 C Mack 2 L Rennie 3 O Kemp 4 R Cairns 5 A Low 6 E Cowe
15-18 Jig: 1 O Kemp 2 C Mack 3 T Chapman 4 R Cairns 5 L Rennie 6 J Silcock
15-18 6/8: 1 C Mack 2 O Kemp 3 L Rennie 4 J Silcock 5 R Cairns 6 T Chapman
Open MSR: 1 B Hall 2 A Hughes 3 K Low 4 C Black
Open H&J: 1 K Low 2 B Hall 3 A Hughes 4 C Black
Junior Champion: Cailean Acamovic; Runner Up: Larry Presslie
Senior Champion: Charlie Mack; Runner Up (Piob. Pref.): Lachlan Rennie
Drum Pad: 1 A Tucker 2 J McLauchlan 3 F Carey 5 N Bateman; Novice Drum: 1 K Bruce 2 R MacMillan 3 E Gairns 4 A Manson 5 A Lakoma 6 C D der Vyver; Intermediate Drumming: 1 T Short 2 A Anderson 3 L Munro 4 L Ramsay 5 R Bell 6 A Moran; 18&Under Snare: 1 T McAndrew 2 T Short 3 E Hough 4 C Anderson 5 G Noble 6 L Ramsay; Open MSR Snare: 1 T McAndrew 2 E Hough 3 M Crichton 4 G Noble 5 G Morrow 6 C Anderson; Open H&J Snare: 1 T McAndrew 2 M Crichton 3 J Ferris 4 T Smith; Nov. Tenor: 1 E Fleming 2 H Jackson; 18&Under Tenor March: 1 T Smith 2 G Lelij; 18&U Tenor MSR: 1 A McKirdy 2 E Gill 3 A Clelland 4 L Gordon 5 K Folan 6 A Marr; Open Tenor: 1 A Clelland 2 J Howitt 3 A Marr 4 G Lelij; 15&U Bass: 1 N Bateman; 15-18 Bass: D Dillan; Open Bass: 1 M Gordon 2 S Russell.
