Glasgow Green was again host to the World Pipe Band Championships held this year on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th August.
This was the third year that the event was held over two days making a qualifying contest for all Grade 1 bands on day one and a final of 12 bands on day two. Over 40,000 spectators attended on the Saturday for the full on day of contests up and down the grades with some 208 bands competing for honours.
The Grade 1 final was again 'live streamed' over the internet by Glasgow Life and this year attracted over 35,000 hits from all over the world.
In ideal playing conditions on the Friday, the band played both a March, Strathspey & Reel and a Medley Selection to qualify for the Saturday’s final. The tunes played were:
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MSR – The Royal Scottish Pipers Society of London, The Bob of Fettercairn and Loch Carron
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Medley – Song for the Chanter, Alexander MacAskill of Bernera Harris, Anne Weir’s, Malcolm Ferguson, Dornie Ferry, Troll behind the Bar, Picnic in the Sky.
The sets played in the final can be viewed again by click on the links below. Many thanks of course to the BBC for this facility.
The sets played in the final can be viewed again by click on the links below. Many thanks of course to the BBC for this facility.
MEDLEY
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02zrv1z
MSR
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02zr7ky
Pictured below is Pipe Major Chris Armstrong receiving the trophy at the prize giving.
Congratulations must go to the eventual winner of the championship on the day - Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia. This is a great achievement for Pipe Major Ryan Canning as it is only his third year in charge of the band; well done to him and all the team in bringing the World Championship trophy back to Scotland for the first time in 10 years!
The full combined result was as follows:
1st - Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia – Scotland
2nd - St Laurence O’Toole – Ireland
3rd - Inverary & District – Scotland
4th – Field Marshal Montgomery – Northern Ireland
5th - Simon Fraser University – Canada
6th - ScottishPower - Scotland
The full breakdown of both March, Strathspey & Reel and Medley selections in the qualifier and final contests can be seen, with results from all other grades, on the RSPBA website results page.