Piping hot
INVERARAY Pipe Band excels again at championships.
WINNING last year’s British Championships for the first time was a big achievement - but Inveraray’s pipe band has gone one step further and retained its crown.
Inveraray and District Pipe Band beat reigning world champions Field Marshal Montgomery of Northern Ireland by a single point in Paisley to win the British title.
The event at St James Playing Fields was just the opening major of the season, but even at this early stage the result suggests there could be a ding-dong battle over the season between these two top class bands.
The Grade One con- test featured 16 bands, including two from Canada - plus three making their debut in the top grade.
Amid intermittent showers last Satur- day, Oban High School was third in the Novice B event, with Kintyre Schools in fifth place. Oban high went one better in the Novice A contest, coming second behind Dollar Academy. Dunoon Grammar School was placed ninth in the same competition.
Mid Argyll Pipe Band qualified for the Grade It’s good to know we’re still up there with the best. Jim McMillan 4B final, placed fifth in their qualifying group. In the final, the band came seventh overall.
Mid Argyll pipe major Craig Lang said: ‘It was an achievement to get to the final, particularly as we had six young players out for their first competition and had to come through a heat of 17 bands.’
Craig added: ‘We are off to Belfast for the UK championships on June 10 and hope to improve on our position from the weekend. As it is such a young band competing in an adult grade, we are aiming for consistency this year.’
After getting off to a great start, last year’s Grade One champion of champions, Inveraray and District, were satisfied.
‘We were delighted to get off to a good start by retaining the British championship,’ explained Pipe Major Stuart Liddell, ‘and hope we can now build on this. Hopefully our hard work over the winter will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.’
Inveraray band manager Jim McMillan added: ‘On contest days it’s difficult to get to hear our competitors as we are practising, tuning up and preparing for our own performance. It’s good to know we’re still up there with the best.’