Top bands set for European Championships in Belfast
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
OVER 150 of the top pipe bands in Europe will converge in Belfast this summer when the City hosts the European Pipe Band Championships for the first time.
Organised by Belfast City Council in association with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, the competition will be staged at Ormeau Park on Saturday_ 22 June.
The Championships are expected to attract reigning Ulster, European and World Champion pipers drummers and drum majors from throughout Europe. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Jim Rodgers, and George Ussher, Chairman of the RSPBA, announced full details of the event at a reception held in the City Hall last week.
Entertainment was provided by Championship pipers, drum
majors and Highland Dancers.
The 15th Annual Cullybackey piping and drumming solos were held
recently in Cullybackey High School. Guests of Honour were Fred
Walker and his wife Margaret who both received presentations.
Awards
There were over 100 entries and the winners were as follows:
Novice Drum Pad - 1st S. Gourley; 2nd A. Watt; 3rd D. Murdock. They also received gold awards.
Silver awards went to D. MCQuittie, J. Beverland, K. Barr, A. McClelland.
Bronze awards went to M. Rainey and Mark Rainey; L. Smyth; D. Beverland; A. McMullin.
Drum Pad advanced - 1st A. Benton who also received gold.
Juvenile under 14 drumming - 1st Jonathan Hoy; 2nd J. Irvine; 3rd M. Featherstone - all gold awards. Silver went to C. McNicholl, B. Galloway.
Juvenile Under 16 drumming - 1st Jason Hoy; 2nd G. Patton; 3rd J. Colville.
Junior drumming - 1st W. Glenholmes; 2nd S. McWhirter; 3rd N. Anderson.
Open Drumming - 1st T. Smyth; 2nd G. Noade; 3rd N. Ussher.
Novice Chanter under 14 - 1st M.Gregor; 2nd J. Walker; 3rd W.Fisher.
Advanced Chanter - 1st R.McCutcheon; 2nd 1. Anderson; 3rd I. Hamilton.
Juvenile piping under 14 - 1st J. McKee; 2nd 1. McWhirter; 3rd S. Cochrane.
Juvenile piping under 16 - 1st K. Logan; 2nd K. Coyle; 3rd D. Irvine.
Junior Piping - 1st L.McNicholl; 2nd G. Gardner; 3rd A. Shilliday.
Intermediate B Piping - 1st B. Mullan; 2nd I. Hanna; 3rd W. Evans.
Intermediate .A Piping - 1st G. Cupples; 2nd J.Gibson; 3rd F. Smyth
Senior Piping - 1st J. Greenlees; 2nd G. Watterson; 3rd P. Donnan
The Full Bands Indoor competition organised by the Co. Down Section of the RSPBA will take place on Saturday 27 April in Banbridge High School commencing at 1 1.30am.
This unique event has always attracted large entries from across Ireland, and has excellent facilities for bands and spectators alike.
At the moment there are 10 top bands entered for Grade 2 and
over 30 in the rest of the grades.
The adjudicators will be Pipe Major Trevor Dear from Scotland
and local man Gordon Parkes.
The drumming school at Culnady near Maghera, Co. Londonderry
will be hosting a concert to be held in Maghera High School on
Saturday 27 April commencing at 7.45pm.
Appearing on the show will be Grade 1 Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, Stuart Liddell and Finvoy Pipe Band. Tickets cost £10 or £5 if under 16, and these can be purchased from Gary Smyth on 028 796 45799.
Leaflet
Gary is the tutor for the drumming school, which practises every Monday and Wednesday and would welcome any interested new pupils.
An exciting new visitor information leaflet from the Northern Ireland Branch of the RSPBA is proving a huge success.
This glossy coloured flyer gives all the details of dates and venues for the incoming season. This new innovative idea is the brainchild of Contest Administrator Mervyn Herron and is proving very popular.
Already the Linen Centre in Lisburn has run out of these excellent promotion leaflets. For anyone who would like copies, these can be obtained from Mervyn by telephoning 028 43723635.
It is with much regret that we record the recent sudden death of Ann Herron's mother - Mrs Susan McCavery. The sympathy of all the members of the Northern Ireland Branch of the RSPBA is extended to Ann, Mervyn, Deborah and all the family in their sad loss.
Ulster Star
19/04/2002
