Taste of Scotland comes to Nelson
Nelson is set to resonate to the sound of pipes and drums this weekend as it hosts the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Championships at Trafalgar Park. They are held each March, alternating between the North and South islands. This is the third time the championships have been held in Nelson since the competition began in 1926.
The Celtic Pipe Band of Stoke, this year’s organiser, has spent two years preparing for the championships.
The bands, ranging in numbers from 17 to 45 players, come from as far north as Whangarei and as far south as Invercargill.
Each band is made up of pipers, snare and tenor drummers, a bass drummer and drum major. They are evaluated by a panel of 16 judges, including special guest judge, mayor of Tasman District, Richard Kempthorne.
Each band is judged on its musicality, precision, ensemble, marching and dress. There are two major elements to a competition, the set and the medley. The set consists of a march, strathspey and reel, three set tunes.
‘‘The medley is restricted by a maximum time and can be any selection of tunes, the aim being to draw in the audience for enjoyment, emotional connection plus also that wow factor,’’ says Bryce Gilchrist, Celtic Pipe Band president. ‘‘The combined result from set and medley provide the overall result of the championship.’’
The Celtic Pipe Band and the City of Nelson Highland Pipe Band are competing, and for the first time, the Celtic Pipe Band Development Band.
Fifteen officials including the mayor of Nelson, Rachel Reese, will officiate at the street march on Saturday morning. Reese will also present the address at the closing ceremony.
The Saturday street march is expected to be a highlight for spectators, culminating in a massed band playing the same tune, along with a final closing ceremony and contest presentations.
A special feature will be the winning tune from an Anzac tune writing competition played publicly for the first time. Another crowd pleaser is the drum majors’ staff flourishing contest on Saturday afternoon.
One of the final highlights on Saturday at 4pm will be the four bands who have chosen to do displays – marching and playing in patterns, similar to the brass bands.
The Celtic Pipe Band will perform a special entertainment item, joined by senior dancers from Helen’s Highland Dancers and special guests, Ngawhakaara Sarah Coldwell and Jayme-Rae Anae from Te Awhina Marae, Motueka.
‘‘Forty five bands, including three from Australia, will bring more than 1300 players and officials, plus supporters to the city for the contest, injecting around $2 million into the local economy,’’ Gilchrist says.
The value of the event has been recognised by the Nelson Events Marketing and Development Programme, which is sponsoring the contest.