Local Bands lead at UK Pipe Band Championships...

11 June 2017

Over 100 bands from across the UK and Ireland have taken part in the UK Pipe Band Championships in Northern Ireland. The event was staged in the grounds of Stormont on Saturday, marking the fourth year in a row that it has been held in Belfast. Ian Burrows, from the NI branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, told UTV the championships were always highly competitive with hours of practice being put in.

The Adult Drum Major title was won by Alicia Dickson Hamilton from Matt Boyd Memorial adding to the British title won in May. Emma Barr from Field Marshal Montgomery won the Juvenile grade and Jamie Cupples from Aughintober won the Junior grade.

The Grade 1 title went to Field Marshal Montgomery from Northern Ireland, under the leadership of Pipe Major Richard Parkes the band took their fourth successive UK title taking victory by 3 points over Inveraray and District. Field Marshal Montgomery under Leading Drummer Keith Orr also lifted the Grade 1 drumming title.

Inveraray and District took the runners-up spot finishing three points behind Field Marshal Montgomery. St Laurence O'Toole, Scottish Power, Police Scotland Fife and Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia completed the Grade 1 prize list.

The other Scottish Champions on the day were:

Grade 2 Band - Lomond and Clyde

Grade 2 Drumming - Lomond and Clyde

Grade 3A Band - Wallacestone and District

Grade 3A Drumming - New Ross and District

Grade 3B Band - The Highlanders (4 Scots)

Grade 3B Drumming - Quinn Memorial

Grade Juvenile Band - Dollar Academy

Grade Juvenile Drumming - George Watson's College - Juvenile

Grade 4A Band - St Marys, Derrytrasna

Grade 4A Drumming - McDonald Memorial

Grade 4B Band - Gransha

Grade 4B Drumming - Gransha

Grade Novice A Band - George Heriot's School

Grade Novice A Drumming - George Watson's College - Novice

Grade Novice B Band - Preston Lodge High School Pipe Band

Grade Novice B Drumming - Peoples Ford - Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia