BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013
FIELD MARSHAL - 5 IN A ROW

25th May 2013

The 2013 major championships got underway at Bathgate, West Lothian where several thousand spectators joined our pipers, drummers and drum majors in glorious sunshine.

132 bands and 40 Drum Majors made the trip to Bathgate for the first year of a three-year deal to hold the British Championships.

A huge thanks to event sponsors EFR Scotland for supplying West Lothian based photographer Jose Vega-Lozano for all his pictures on the day, although we do apologise as not all prize winners were captured.

Click Here for the gallery of prize winners.

Our Twitter feed, which over the winter has grown to almost 2,200 followers, was again very popular providing updates throughout the day on qualification results, every drum major; best drum corps and band results as Ian read them out. We have also been retweeting any images of prize winning bands, so if you have an image to share please mention @RSPBAHQ and we will retweet any we get.

The Drum Majors events provided a clean sweep for the Northern Ireland branch members with DM Paula Braiden from Cullybackey winning the Adult grade, Jason Price from Marlacoo winning the Juvenile grade and Emma Barr from Ravara winning the Junior grade.

The Grade 1 title also went to Northern Ireland with Field Marshal Montgomery claiming their 5th consecutive British Championship title. Field Marshal Montgomery made it a double win with their drum corps also claiming victory.

Local band Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia took the runners-up spot finishing 5 points behind Field Marshal Montgomery. Inveraray and District, St Laurence O'Toole (Eire), Scottish Power and Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia completed the Grade 1 prize list.

The other British Champions on the day were:

Grade 2 Band - Buchan Peterson
Grade 2 Drumming - Lomond and Clyde

Grade 3A Band - Coalburn I.O.R
Grade 3A Drumming - Royal Burgh of Stirling

Grade 3B Band - Wallacestone and District
Grade 3B Drumming - Stockbridge

Grade Juvenile Band - George Watson's College
Grade Juvenile Drumming - George Watson's College

Grade 4A Band - St. Colmcille's - Tullamore (Eire)
Grade 4A Drumming - Newtongrange

Grade 4B Band - City of Newcastle
Grade 4B Drumming - Burntisland and District

Grade Novice Band - Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia
Grade Novice Drumming - George Watons's College

We would like to make it known, that we were made aware of the issue that existed with the bridge crossing between the bus park and the competition arenas and whilst nothing could be done to improve this on the day, we have already spoken with West Lothian Council and this will be rectified for our return to Bathgate in 2014.

Complete summaries of the event can be found by clicking here.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive

WORLD SOLO DRUMMING 2012
STEVEN McWHIRTER RETAINS TITLE

20th October 2012

The final RSPBA events of 2012 took place on Saturday 20th October at the Glasgow Caledonian University.

The annual Andante sponsored World Solo Drumming event as well as the International Solo Tenor competition drew large entries with 159 snare drummers and 43 tenor drummers travelling from all over the World.

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A huge thanks to Glasgow based photographer Scott Campbell for all his pictures on the day.

Click Here for the gallery of prize winners.

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The Juvenile 1 event was won by John McLean from PSNI in Northern Ireland.  John took the event by 1 point from Logan Akira Taylor (Robert Malcolm Memorial - Canada) with Eion Rogers (Gransha - Northern Ireland) finishing in third place.  John is pictured below collecting his trophy.

The Juvenile 2 event was won by David Mark from House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead in Scotland.  David took the event by 3 points from Mathew Wenlock (Cullybackey - Northern Ireland) with Nathan McLeister (Cullybackey - Northern Ireland) finishing in third place. David is pictured below collecting his trophy.

The Juvenile 3 event was won by Grant Cassidy from Inveraray and District in Scotland. This was Grant's seventh successive World Solo Drumming title having won Juvenile 1 in 2006, 2007 and 2008 then Juvenile 2 in 2009, 2010, 2011 and now Juvenile 3 in 2012. Grant took the event by 3 points from Dean Smyth (Scottish Power - Scotland) with Blake McVeigh (Gransha - Northern Ireland) finishing in third place. Grant is pictured below collecting his trophy.

The Adult event was won by Steven McWhirter from Inveraray and District in Scotland.  Steven claimed his third Adult title after previous wins in 2006 and 2011. Steven won the event by 6 points winning both the MSR and Hornpipe and Jig events in front of a packed audience.  Second place went to the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 champion Barry Wilson (Scottish Power - Scotland) with Blair Brown (House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead - Scotland) finished in third place.  Steven is pictured below collecting his trophy.

Full summaries of the World Solo Drumming event can be found by clicking here.

Being held on the same day and in the same venue was the International Juvenile Solo Tenor drumming event. After the success of the inaugural 2011 event, entries increased by over 20% for the 2012 event.

Unlike the solo drumming events which are graded by age, the tenor event was graded by the players registered band.  The Juvenile 1 event was for Grade 4 and Novice players playing 8 parts in quick march tempo with the Juvenile 2 event for anyone playing higher than Grade 4 playing a March, Strathspey and Reel.

The Juvenile 1 event was won by Kerr McQuillan (Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia - Scotland) who took 1st place from both adjudicators. Cameron Anderson (George Watson's College - Scotland) finished in second place with Rebecca Symonds (George Watson's College - Scotland) finishing in third place.  Kerr is pictured below.

The Juvenile 2 event was won by Joanna Fairbairn (Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia - Scotland) who took 1st place. Jordan Baillie (Field Marshal Montgomery - Northern Ireland) took second with Shannon Brown (Scottish Power - Scotland) in third place.  Joanna is pictured below.

Full summaries for the tenor events are available by clicking here.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013
NEW TWO DAY FORMAT

2ND OCTOBER 2012

In 2013 the World Pipe Band Championships will be held on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August. The following outlines both the new requirements for the Worlds as well as how the two day event will be split.

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Grade 1 Requirements: Two MSR's and Two Medley's

Saturday: All bands will play in qualifier with one MSR in the morning and one Medley in the afternoon.

Sunday: 12 band final playing alternate MSR in the morning and alternate Medley in the afternoon.

Grade 2 Requirements: Two MSR's and One Medley

Saturday: All bands will play in a qualifier with Medley in the morning. 12 bands will make the final in the afternoon playing MSR which will be drawn on the line.

Grade 3A Requirements: One MSR and One Medley

Sunday: All bands will play in a qualifier with MSR in the morning. 12 bands will make the final in the afternoon playing Medley.

Grade 3B Requirements: One MSR and One Medley

Saturday: All bands will play in a qualifier with MSR in the morning. 12 bands will make the final in the afternoon playing Medley.

Grade Juvenile Requirements: One MSR

Sunday: All bands will play in the final with MSR.

Grade 4A Requirements: Two x 2 Parted Marches, Two x 2 Parted Strathspeys and Two x 2 Parted Reels from theRSPBA approved list.

Saturday: All bands will play in qualifiers in the morning and a maximum 16 band final will take place in the afternoon.

Grade 4B Requirements: Four x 2 Parted Marches from the RSPBA approved list.

Sunday: All bands will play in qualifiers (MAP Adjudication) in the morning and a maximum 16 band final will take place in the afternoon.

Grade Novice Requirements: Four x 2 Parted Marches from the RSPBA approved list.

Sunday: All bands will play in qualifiers (MAP Adjudication) in the morning and a maximum 16 band final will take place in the afternoon.

Adult Drum Majors
Saturday: Heats will take place in the morning with the final in the afternoon.

Juvenile Drum Majors
Sunday: Events will take place in the morning.

Junior Drum Majors
Sunday: Events will take place in the morning.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive.

COWAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012
BOGHALL WRAP UP A SUPERB SEASON

26th August 2012

The curtain came down on the 2012 championship season at Dunoon on Saturday 25th August. 117 bands and 33 drum majors made their way to the Cowal Championships to compete in the fifth and final championship. As well as the stunning Cowal trophies many bands and drum corps across their respective grades were still in the running for the coveted Champion of Champions awards.

The weather stayed dry for most of the day but unfortunately by the time the marchpast came the rain was very heavy. Our twitter feed provided updates on qualification results, running orders, every drum major; best drum corps, band result and champion of champions' announcement as Ian read them out. Our followers increased 5% on the day and we are absolutely delighted that what was just an idea on the week of the Scottish Championships has seen us now have almost 1,400 followers on Twitter in 3 months. Feedback again was great from those subscribed to the service and we will almost certainly increase the use of social media into the 2013 season. If you are on Twitter you can follow us using @RSPBAHQ for all the news, draws, summaries and championship results as they happen.

DM Brian Wilson from Lomond and Clyde won the Adult Drum Majors event taking his first championship win of the season. Iona Burns from Strathclyde Police won the Juvenile grade adding Cowal to the British title she won back in June. Zoe McDowell from Lisnamulligan won the Junior grade, this was also Zoe's second title of the season after winning the British Championships.

The 2012 Drum Majors Champion of Champions awards were won by Paula Braiden (Cullybackey) in the Adult grade, Iona Burns (Strathclyde Police) in the Juvenile grade and Zoe McDowell (Lisnamulligan) in the Junior grade.

The Grade 1 title went to Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia, taking their second championship in their 40th anniversary year. The band took the title by two points to complete a wonderful season including the European title, the Cowal title, the British, European, World and Cowal drumming titles and the pre Worlds concert Forte.

Field Marshal took the runners up spot, they finished 2 points behind Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia although over the season with 3 championships and 2 runners up spots were crowned Champion of Champions. Strathclyde Police, St Laurence O'Toole, Scottish Power and Inveraray and District took the other places.

The Grade 1 drumming prize went to Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia under the leadership of LD Gordon Brown taking 4 of the 5 championships also giving them the Champion of Champions title.

The other Cowal Champions on the day were:

Grade 2 Band - Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles
Grade 2 Drumming - Lomond and Clyde

Grade 3A Band - Coalburn I.O.R
Grade 3A Drumming - Rothesay and District

Grade 3B Band - Cowal
Grade 3B Drumming - Cowal

Grade Juvenile Band - George Watson's College
Grade Juvenile Drumming - George Watson's College

Grade 4A Band - Wallacestone and District
Grade 4A Drumming - Newtongrange

Grade 4B Band - Coalburn I.O.R
Grade 4B Drumming - Coalburn I.O.R

Grade Novice Band - George Watons's College
Grade Novice Band - George Watons's College

2012 RSPBA Champion of Champions:

Junior Drum Major - Zoe McDowell, Lisnamulligan (N Ireland)

Juvenile Drum Major - Iona Burns, Strathclyde Police

Adult Drum Major - Paula Braiden, Cullybackey (N Ireland)

Grade 1 Band - Field Marshal Montgomery (N Ireland)
Grade 1 Drumming - Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia

Grade 2 Band - Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles
Grade 2 Drumming - Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles

Grade 3A Band - Police Service of Nothern Ireland Pipes and Drums
Grade 3A Drumming - Police Service of Nothern Ireland Pipes and Drums

Grade 3B Band - Ballybriest (N Ireland)
Grade 3B Drumming - Cowal

Grade Juvenile Band - George Watson's College
Grade Juvenile Drumming - George Watson's College

Grade 4A Band - Tullylagan (N Ireland)
Grade 4A Drumming - Tullylagan (N Ireland)

Grade 4B Band - Coalburn I.O.R
Grade 4B Drumming - Clogher and District (N Ireland)

Grade Novice Band - George Watons's College
Grade Novice Band - George Watons's College

Complete summaries of the event can be found by clicking here.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012
FIELD MARSHAL ON TOP OF THE WORLD

11th August 2012

Many thanks to DE Photo for providing the pictures. All Band Pictures from the Worlds can be viewed and bought at DE Photo Website

The largest day in the pipe band calendar is of course the World Pipe Band Championships. Saturday 11th August 2012, Glasgow Green - 70 Drum Majors, 235 bands comprising of 8000 pipers and drummers from across all across the World competed for the title of World Champions in their respective Grades.

After the recent poor Scottish summer and the cancellation of several competitions Glasgow was bathed in sunshine for the entire Worlds week and this brought the crowds out in force to Glasgow Green. Once again BBC provided the live web feed on the day for those not fortunate enough to be in the Green, and the feedback from our twitter followers is that was once again brilliant.

Our twitter feed was constant all day providing updates on qualification results, some pictures as it happened, running orders and every drum major, best drum corps and band result as Ian read them out. Our followers increased 30% during days running up to the Worlds and we now have over 1,200 followers on Twitter; again we received great feedback from those subscribed to the service. If you are on Twitter you can follow us using @RSPBAHQ for all the news, draws, summaries and championship results as they happen.

DM Paula Braiden from Cullybackey in Northern Ireland won the Adult Drum Majors event. This was Paula's second championship of the season previously winning the Scottish title back in May. Steven Gilchrist from Ballycoan won the Juvenile grade, Steven has consistently placed in the top two positions all season at every event he's competed in and Lauren Abraham from Seven Towers won the Junior grade, this was also Lauren's second title of the season after winning the Scottish Championships.

In Grade 1, 17 bands competed the morning qualifiers starting at 09:00; the top 6 bands would join the pre-qualified bands in the afternoon MSR and Medley final. Dowco Triumph Street (Canada) were convincing winners of the qualifier, they were joined by Toronto Police (Canada), LA Scots (USA), Peel Regional Police (Canada), 78th Fraser Highlanders (Canada) and Cullybackey (Northern Ireland) creating a 14 band final. Every Grade 1 band from Canada was represented at this year World Championships.

After a total of 45 Grade 1 performances throughout the day Field Marshal Montgomery from Northern Ireland retained their title. Placing first in both MSR and Medley events a delighted PM Richard Parkes MBE collected the trophy making it 8 World Championship victories for the band from Lisburn, County Antrim.

Scottish Power for the third time this season took the runners up spot as their wonderful season continues, they finished a total of 6 points behind Field Marshal finishing 2nd in both MSR and Medley. Simon Fraser University (Canada), Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia, St Laurence O'Toole and Strathclyde Police took the other places.

The Grade 1 drumming prizes all went to Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia winning the MSR, Medley and Overall drumming prizes under the leadership of LD Gordon Brown. The drum corps had already won the British and European titles in 2012.

The other World Champions on the day were:

Grade 2 Band - Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles
Grade 2 Drumming - Brieg (France)

Grade 3A Band - Robert Malcolm Memorial (Canada)
Grade 3A Drumming - St Laurence O'Toole (Eire)

Grade 3B Band - Ballybriest (N Ireland)
Grade 3B Drumming - Ballybriest (N Ireland)

Grade Juvenile Band - George Watson's College
Grade Juvenile Drumming - George Watson's College

Grade 4A Band - New Ross and District (Eire)
Grade 4A Drumming - New Ross and District (Eire)

Grade 4B Band - Clogher and District (N Ireland)
Grade 4B Drumming - Clogher and District (N Ireland)

Grade Novice Band - Scotia Glenville (USA)
Grade Novice Band - George Watons's College

Complete summaries of the event can be found by clicking here.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive

RSPBA TWITTER FEED
SOME OF YOUR MENTIONS

COWAL HIGHLAND GATHERING
WITHDRAWS 'MAJOR' STATUS

21ST JANUARY 2013

Cowal Highland Gathering has taken a key decision aimed at making its pipe band competition more fun and better-suited to the overall event.

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Following discussion with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, the Gathering has agreed to withdraw its pipe band championship's 'major' status from 2014.

Although the Cowal Highland Gathering will continue to host a pipe band competition it will no longer count towards the Champions of Champions competition.

While this was not an easy decision to take, the Gathering Board agreed that it was more important to secure the future of Cowal Highland Gathering than to maintain the 'major' status. The Board stressed that the move would provide an opportunity to improve facilities, introduce new attractions and promote the Cowal Highland Gathering as a traditional highland games.

Cowal Highland Gathering chairman, Ronnie Cairns said, "We recognise that the increasing competitiveness of the event and numbers of bands attending were putting a strain on the space and resources we had available and that this was leading to unhappiness amongst some of the bands."

"In order to address this situation, to improve the facilities for those bands that do attend and, hopefully, to re-introduce some of the fun elements that some people have been missing in recent years we are to drop the major championship status."

"Although the number of bands will reduce, the level of competition will remain high and key elements of the pipe band event like the massed bands and the march down Argyll Street at night will remain. We also hope that the fact it is no longer a major championship will mean that we can work with the bands and the RSPBA to reintroduce some of the more fun elements like the march up Argyll Street in the morning which the public have missed in recent years."

Ian Embelton, Chief Executive of the RSPBA said "this decision was taken with the RSPBA branch members full support and the Association is committed to working with Cowal Highland Gathering Committee to ensure the continued success of this historic event which will still be held on the last Saturday in August."

Ronnie Cairns also said "far from being the end of the Cowal Gathering this is an opportunity for us to not only improve the facilities for the bands that attend but to also introduce new attractions and elements for the public and by doing so to secure the future of Cowal Highland Gathering as a traditional Highland Games. We will continue to host the Highland Dancing World Championships, Heavy Athletes, Traditional Wrestling, Solo Piping and the popular live ceilidh tent. "

Malcolm Barclay
Event Manager
Cowal Highland Gathering

2013 PRE WORLDS CONCERT
INVERARAY AND DISTRICT PIPE BAND

11TH JANUARY 2013

In 2003, renowned piper Stuart Liddell took up a new position teaching piping in schools in the Mid Argyll area. He had always had a vision that Inveraray might one day have a pipe band again, the previous Inveraray Pipe Band having disbanded in the late 1930s.

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Since their re-launch in 2005, Inveraray and District Pipe Band, led by Pipe Major Stuart Liddell, have experienced a rapid ASCENSION through the grades. In 2010 they joined the top flight of the pipe band world and are undoubtedly one of the most exciting bands to emerge in recent history.

2013 marks their debut appearance at the "Pre-Worlds" concert for what is undoubtedly the most prestigious concert of the pipe band calendar.

This concert, which is hosted and promoted by the Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band, aims to offer something for everyone and will promote the huge musical talent within the band in what must be one of the great musical venues.

Throughout the evening we hope you will gain an appreciation of the remarkable achievements of this fledgling band and be drawn into the performances and acquire a sense of the drive, and commitment that this band has for competing and performing at the highest level.

The band continues to be a regular prize winner at the major events and a centre of excellence built on strong foundations. The attention to detail and focus on individual and collective playing quality that were a feature of its embryonic beginnings remain to this day in all sections of the band. The current incarnation of IDPB is less parochial - in fact, truly international - with members from several continents. The membership features highly decorated individual performers; graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; an abundance of capable composers and arrangers, and several performers with a wider musical pedigree than purely piping or drumming.

We invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy a great mix of tunes, contemporary arrangements and traditional settings that will leave you wondering how so much has been achieved in such a short time.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchase directly from the Concert Hall Website

Douglas Orr
Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band