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Lisburn man Jonathan claims senior piping title  

Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell

THE Ulster Festival of Piping and Drumming incorporating the Ulster solo championships took place last Friday and Saturday in Monkstown Community School.

The new runner of the senior piping was Jonathan Greenlees from Lisburn City who pipes with the Field Marshal Montgomery band.

Jonathan took 1st place in the March Strathspey and heel, and cancer up place in the Hornpipe and jig to claim the overall tide of Ulster champion.

Alistair Dunn won second place in the MSR and third in the Jig to take corner up place in the overall results. Andrew Flail was third in the MSR and third in the final places. Winner of the Hornpipe and Jig was last year's overall winner Robert Watt.

In the senior drumming championships, Andrew Scullion claimed his fifteenth Ulster title. An amazing record for Ulster's supreme solo champion who claimed first place in the MSR and first place in the jig. Stephen Creighton secured second place in both sections and overall second place in the final results, with Brendan Megoran taking two thirds and overall third place.

In the open piobaireachd competition Alan Tully, who pipes with St. Laurence O'Toole band from Dublin, won top prize with Alistair Dunn in second and Jonathan Greenlees in third.

Fred Walker, ex Executive Officer of the N.I. Branch, presented Bobby Rea with a special trophy to commemorate his 50 years service to pipe band drumming. Bobby has won everything possible to thin in the solo field of drumming including the All Ireland, Ulster and World championships.

Ballydonaghy Caledonia Pipe Band has appointed the legendary Willie Wray from Co. Londonderry as their new Leading Tip.

Willie brings a wealth of experience to the band who have been out of the competition arena for some time now. But just recently their pipers won the Ulster Quartets in Grade 3B, under Pipe Major Ken Stewart, and now with this added boost to their band, big things are on the cards for this outfit.

Unfortunately due to Willie's late appointment, tire band will only be ready to compete in the MSR competitions. But with this mans track record though it will be no surprise if the drum corps of Ballydonaghy Caledonia feature on a regular basis in the prize list.

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 11.30am.

This unique event has always attracted large entries front across Ireland and has excellent facilities for bands and spectators alike.

The adjudicators will be Pipe Major Trevor Dear from Scotland and local man Gordon Parkes.
Also on 27 April the Mid Ulster Drumming School, organised by Gary Smyth, will hold their concert in Maghera high School commencing at 7.45pm

Stars of the show will be Grade 1 Field Marshal Montgomery, Pipe band, Stuart Liddell, solo piper with the Simon Fraser University, Pipe Band, and Finvoy Pipe band.

The first of two Annual Presentation of Certificates held by the Northern Ireland Piping and Drumming School, will take place in Laurelhill Community Centre Lisburn on 1 May at 7.30pm, with Dr Malcolmson, the school's principal, as the special guest.

The second event will be held in Magee College Londonderry on Wednesday 8 May at 7.30, with Prof. Wilson as the special guest.

Ulster Star
26/04/2002