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Ballycoan keeping up their winning ways  

Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell

IT was a proud day for Pipe Major Noel Clarke from Co. Tyrone when he acted as 'Chieftain of the Day"' at this year's Mid Ulster Pipe band Championships in Cookstown High School last Saturday.

Noel, who has been Pipe major of Gortaclare Pipe band for 47 years, has been involved for over half a century in the pipe band movement.

He said Saturday's honour would be one of those special days which will remain with him forever.
The Mid Ulster Championships is the longest running competition to be held in Ulster, and Gloria Patterson, in her role as secretary for the first time, was delighted with the turnout of bands and drum majors.

With 11 bands competing in Grade 2, this was the biggest number of entries so far this season in this grade. Ballycoan came out on tops, claiming their fourth consecutive win, which included the Scottish championships at Dumbarton in May. They were in terrific form winning best pipes, best drums and overall first placing.

Killadeas from Co. Fermanagh claimed their first victory of the season, winning best pipes and overall first place in Grade 3A.

It was again a first place win this year for Ballydonaghy Caledonia in Grade 3B, and is a great encouragement for them for the rest of the season.

There seems to be no stopping the Co. Londonderry band Quinn Memorial as once again they claimed first in piping and best drums in Grade 4A. This band has an unbroken record so far this year and are the holders of the Scottish Championships in both piping and drumming.

The final grade of 4B was won by Gransha from outside Dromore who took home four trophies - best piping, best drumming, Marching and Deportment and overall 1st placing.

On 15 June the Co. Down Championships will take place in Banbridge and for the first time this season there will be a Grade I section.

Adjudicators on the day will be George Reid, Trevor Dear, Malcolm Mackenzie and Leslie Geddis.
The big event coming to Ormeau Park, Belfast this year will be the European Championships on Saturday 22 June where there is a record-breaking entry of 144 bands.

With an anticipated audience of 20,000 the Europeans promise to be a great day out for all the family.

The last competition to be staged in June will be the Lagan Valley Championships in Moira on Saturday 29 June.

Drum Major Robert Shaw, who frequently leads the Territorial Army's Regimental Pipes and Drums on ceremonial occasions, has himself been honoured, this time with the presentation of a Lord Lieutenant's Certificate at a ceremony at Hillsborough Castle.

This certificate is the highest honour which can be accorded within the Province to a member of the reserve Forces and is second only to one awarded by Her Majesty The Queen.

Mid Ulster Results
Grade 2.	1st Ballycoan (also best pipes and best drums); 2nd Upper Crossgare (also best bass); 3rd Cullybackey; 4th Bleary & District
Grade 3A.	Ist Killadeas (also best piping); 2nd Tullintrian (also best drums);  3rd Woodgrange; 4th Syerla (also best bass).
Grade 3B.	Ist Ballydonaghy Caledonia; 2nd Bready (also best drums best bass); 3rd Finvoy (also best pipes); 4th Hollymount.
Grade 4A.	1st Quinn (also best pipes and best drums);  2nd Annsborough (also best bass); 3rd Gortaclare; 4th Aughintober.
Grade 4B.	1st Gransha (also best drums and best pipes); 2nd Cullybackey Junior; 3rd Manorcunningham; 4th Queen Elizabeth (also best bass).
Senior Drum Majors	1st Alistair Patterson; 2nd David Brownlee; 3rd Brian Wilson; 4th Kathy Megarry; 5th Ian Young.
Juvenile.	1st Jennifer Elvin; 2nd Teresa McMechan; 3rd Danielle Sharvin; 4th Ian Scott; 5th Wendy Ferry.
Junior.	1st Rvan Ferry; 2nd. Laura McComb; 3rd Laura Law-on: 4th Elizabeth Sloan; 5th Donna Gillespie.
Novice Juvenile.	1st Jason Morrison; 2nd Simon Kerr; 3rd Linzie Hamilton; 4th Kirsty Harron; 5th Samantha Gordon.

Ulster Star
14/06/2002