NL band world drums champs
Brothers key to feat
Three Wishaw brothers were on top of the world after theri band was crowned champions at the World Pipe Bands Championships held in Glasgow.
Clyde Valley High pupils Lachlan, Fergus and Callum Kyle were core members of North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe Band ( NLSPB) who were crowned world champions at the weekend.
Last year Lachlan, 14 and 13-year-old Fergus came 7th and 10th, respectively. But after building on the previous year’s success Lachlan, in Juvenile A, and Fergus, in Juvenile B, have now been crowned the best in the world for their drumming talents.
Lachlan and Fergus, managed to fend off competition from ten other bands, whilst also finishing first in the drum corps section.
Mum Ailsa spoke of the pride she felt for her three boys.
She said “I couldn’t be any prouder, each of them work exceptionally hard. Lachlan as the older brother pushes Fergus and 11- year- old Callum.
“As you can imagine, with three under one roof, there is a healthy bit of competition and quite a lot of noise.”
This is not the first time the Clyde Valley pupils have tasted success. The trio have amassed quite a collection of trophies and medals and last year Lachlan was crowned World Champion Solo Champion, a title he expects to defend in October this year.
Known to those who attend as ‘ The Worlds’, the World Pipe Band Championships in its 30th year welcomed nearly 40,000 fans to Glasgow Green. Over the course of two days fans watched more than 200 bands compete for the prestigious title.
Jim Park, the council’s head of music instruction, said: “This is an incredible result for everybody involved it was a really special night for the pupils and for their parents who were extremely proud of what their sons and daughters had achieved.”
Training and routine plays a huge part in preparing the three boys for competition, but perhaps a little superstition has helped along the way.
Ailsa said: “They never thank me for the 5am starts, but once they’re up, they’re up Training is very important to them. Lachlan is always winding them up saying he trains harder than them, however, Fergus and Callum have the perfect retort of ‘naturally talented.’
There’s always room for a little superstition, as Ailsa explained: “It could all be down to the lucky shoes, though.
“We used to go through shoes all the time, and with the boys constantly on their feet, comfortable shoes are essential, Thistle shoes seemed to do the trick, and as soon as the boys started wearing them they started placing first.
“Now it’s the only ones they will wear.
“It also helps that, according to Fergus, the brogues are as comfortable as his Nikes.”
This is an incredible result for everybody involved. It was a really special night for the pupils and their parents who were extremely proud of what their sons and daughters had achieved . . . Jim Park