Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band won the Grade 1 Championship at the European Pipe Band Championships at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex last Saturday afternoon (26^th July).  Taking part were 120 pipe bands and over 50 drum majors, somewhere in the region of 4000 competitors from all across Ireland, Scotland, England and the rest of Europe.  The event, organised by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association , in association with Lisburn City Council, has established itself as the second largest competition of its kind in the world, second only to the World Championships which will take place in Glasgow in August.  Pipe bands were judged on piping, drumming and ensemble and the RSPBA welcomed 18 judges from Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Scotland as the judging panel for this prestigious event.

The Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Ronnie Crawford, attended the event with his wife Jean.  Speaking of his delight that Lisburn has secured the bid to host the event again he said, �Lisburn is becoming a more vibrant and buzzing city as each day passes and this is reflected in the number of events that take place here each year.  The fact that we have hosted the European Pipe Bands Championships for the second time gives us great impressive sights, and hearing the wonderful sounds of the talented bands and drum majors�.

The results in Grade 1 were as follows:

• Field Marshal Montgomery - N. Ireland

• St. Laurence O�Toole - Ireland

• House of Edgar - Shotts & Dykehead - Scotland

• Scottish Power - Scotland

• Strathclyde Police - Scotland

• Scottish Power - Scotland

 The best drum corps title in Grade 1 was also won by Field Marshal Montgomery who won their first drumming title since the European Championships in 2005.  House of Edgar - Shotts and Dykehead who had won the Scottish and British drumming titles finished sixth.

 Other Champions crowned on the day were as follows (Scotland unless stated otherwise):

• Grade 2
  Band - Ravara, N. Ireland (pictured above)
  Drumming - Ravara, N. Ireland

• Grade 3A
  Band - MacKenzie Caledonia
  Drumming - Howard Memorial, N. Ireland

• Grade 3B
  Band - McNeilstown, N. Ireland
  Drumming - Augharonan, N. Ireland

• Grade Juvenile
  Band - Inveraray and District
  Drumming - George Watsons College

• Grade 4A
  Band - Manor Cunningham, N. Ireland
  Drumming - Manor Cunningham, N. Ireland

• Grade 4B
  Band - Stockbridge
  Drumming - Cleland Memorial, N. Ireland

• Grade Novice
  Band - Kintyre Schools
  Drumming - George Watsons College

• Drum Majors -
  Adult - Kathy Megarry-Calvin, Upper Crossgare
  Juvenile - Linzi Hamilton, Killeen
  Novice - Laura Abraham, Seven Towers

Ulster Star
27/07/2008