Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band win their...

19 August 2013

On Sunday the 18th August, Lisburn based Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band won their ninth World Championship title on Glasgow Green.

The competition this year was much higher than any other year in memory, but Richard Parkes’s band wearing the Drumalig tartan proved they have what it take to take the coveted Grade 1 prize.

It was equally an even more special occasion when Field Marshall Montgomery's drum corps snatched the World Championships Drum Corps prize. Under the guidance of Keith Orr, the drum corps has been on the hunt for this accolade for many years.

Other World Champion winners from Northern Ireland named at the Championships in Glasgow are as follows:

Grade 3B World Champion Drum Corps - Syerla & District Co Tyrone

Other Northern Ireland bands named on the prize list: Tullylagan (Co Tyrone), Syerla & Dist (Co Tyrone), Ballybriest (Co Tyrone), Killeen (Co Armagh) and Bleary & District (Co Armagh).

Northern Ireland's Drum Majors also featured amongst the World Champions 'A' list.

•      World Champion Junior Drum - Zoe McDowell from Rathfriland County Down. There were 4 other Northern Ireland competitors named in the top 6 of this grade.

•      World Champion Juvenile Drum Major - Jason Price from County Armagh. There were 4 other Northern Ireland competitors named in the top 6 of this grade also.

This year the World Championship Adult Drum Major prize went to the USA.  However, the remaining five awards came home to Northern Ireland and the successful recipients were Alicia Dickson (County Down), Paula Braiden (County Londonderry), Samantha Gordon (County Down), Brian Wilson (County Armagh) and David Brownlee (County Fermanagh).

Ray Hall, Chairman of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association NI Branch said, "I am absolutely delighted with the result from this year’s World Championships. Northern Ireland is one of the most competitive regions to participate at the World's each year. To achieve such a result from a small region like Northern Ireland is outstanding. I have to congratulate all the winners and particularly those who won a World Championship title."

He went on to say, "As Chairman of the Northern Ireland Branch, I am thrilled for Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band. To win the Grade 1 World Championship title in 3 consecutive years is a mammoth achievement. The Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band is now the most successful pipe band of all time in the world. On behalf of all the piping and drumming fraternity in Northern Ireland, I would extend heartiest congratulations to Richard Parkes, Keith Orr and all in the band. Whenever the Northern Ireland bands travel overseas, they look up to Field Marshal Montgomery to fly the Northern Ireland flag with pride."