Band News

November 2008
Time for an Update

The band has has been very busy over the last three months. After the Cowal Pipe Band Championships, Our Pipe Major Callum McLaurin stepped down officially as leader of the band, his work had taken him back to Glasgow. We would like to thank Callum for his hard work and commitment to the band over the two years he spent with us, without his help we would have possibly not achieved some of the success that we did. We wish him and his wife Claire all the best for the future. Look forward to seeing you out and about next year.

Our new Pipe Major Rick Brown was voted in to take over at the helm. Rick has been with the band since 2000 and is hoping to move the band forward and back to successful ways in Grade 3A. Scott Nolan remains in charge as leading drummer.

Unfortunately as with near every competiting pipe band, there is a post season turn over of players. Players who perhaps were not able to fully commit or "make the grade" for the future have chosen to leave the band. The upside of this however is that this opens the door for some new talented players to come into the band. We are thrilled to welcome our new players into the band and we can not wait to get out and about with the band next year.

Please keep an eye on the Members page for updates on this situation.

The band did not take any sort of "post season break" from practices and we are feeling the benefits now, the selection has been learnt and we are well into practice as a full band, just the MSR to cover before Christmas and we are all systems go for 2009. The plans are to attend all the RSPBA Major Championships again in 2009 as well as a vast selection of minor contests in England & Scotland. We have a full engagement calendar building up for 2009 which will provide vital practice for the competitions.

We still have places available for Pipers & drummers off all standards, we will be looking to reform our Grade 4 Band in the next year, and would be keen to hear of any players who would wish to be a part of this.

October 2008
Solo Piping Success

Members of the Band Competed at the 2008 RSPBA North West England Branch Solo Piping contest....... and we swept the board!

Sam Macdonald, one of the most talented members of the pipe corps, Placed 1st in both the Juvenile Slow Air & Juvenile 2/4 March. He also competed in the "open events" and placed 3rd in the Hornpipe & Jig and 3rd in the 6/8 March.

Pipe Major Rick Brown won every event he entered, winning the 2/4 March, 6/8 March, Hornpipe & Jig and Grade A MSR, beating off Grade 1 opposition to win the North West Championship for the 3rd time, adding to wins in 2006 & 2004. We are not sure but it might also be a new record, winning every event he entered.... will check!

Other pipers on the Day include Neil Macdonald & Ronnie Eccles who placed 2nd & 3rd in the Grade B MSR respectively.

All in all a great day for the band. We also were confirmed as North West Branch Champions for 2008. A title we have held every year since its inception in 2006.