Skirl of the pipes heard as bands clash
Months of practice, plenty of passion and playing on their home turf drove the City of Nelson Highland Pipe Band to give it their all at the national pipe band championships.
Band drum major Ian McEwan said their performance in front of the judges at Trafalgar Park yesterday was one of their better attempts.
‘‘When you’re put under pressure in front of judges it’s a different ball game compared to just practising,’’ said McEwan.
He said the group hoped to get a placing, and believed they had a good chance.
‘‘I thought it was very good, it always depends on judges but I think we could get a placing,’’ he said.
The Nelson band has 27 members with a wide age range of 14 years to 78 years. They practised up to four times a week as the big event approached.
Around 1300 bagpipe enthusiasts from 45 bands competed at the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band national championships at Trafalgar Park yesterday.
The skirl of pipes was heard throughout the city this morning with the marching in city streets. A prizegiving ceremony at Trafalgar Park this evening wraps up the twoday event.
Another band from the region, the Celtic Pipe Band of Stoke, are this year’s event organisers, with the committee spending two years planning the national celebration of pipes.
The pipe bands have travelled from around New Zealand and even as far as Australia to compete in the championships.
Each band was judged on its musicality, precision, ensemble, marching and dress.
The championships are expected to boost the Nelson economy by an estimated $2 million.