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Small entry but big standard at Lusk  

Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell

THE Lusk pipe band championships were held last Saturday in Co. Dublin and although only a few bands entered for this event the standard of piping and drumming was excellent.

St Laurence O'Toole were the victors in the Open Grade, winning both piping and drumming. Killadeas were second and Banbridge finished in third place. Killadeas also took the title in Grade 3A, Black Raven in 313, St. Patrick's Annsborough in Grade 4, and Banbridge Junior in Grade 5. All these bands won both piping and drumming.

Adjudicators for this competition were Denver Cardwell, Raymond Megowan and Harry Russell.

The Newtownstewart Highland Gathering was held recently and at the solo piping competition adjudicated by Pipe Major Denver Caldwell, Gary Watterson was the winner, followed in runner up place by Alan Ferguson and Kevin Rodgers. The competition covered the March Strathspey and Reel and the Jig and Hornpipe and the winners were the same at both levels.

A solo drumming competition will take place in the Catering College Coleraine Road Portrush on Friday 8 August commencing at 1.30pm.

There will also be a Highland dance competition on the same date and at the same venue.

The RSPBA, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Piping Society, will be promoting a knockout bagpipe solo competition on the Friday evening.

This event will commence at 8pm with the draw taking place at 7.30pm

Adjudication will be by audience participation with selected spectators being asked to decide which player goes forward to the next round.

There will be free admission to these events.

On the Saturday 9 August the North West Pipe band Championships will take place at Ramore Head, Portrush commencing at 12 noon. At present there have been entries from 55 bands and 50 drum majors.

It is also planned to hold a Highland Dance Workshop on the Saturday, 9 August. Further details of this will be released at the Highland Dance competition on the Friday.

The 2003 World Pipe Band Championships will be held on Saturday 16 August in Glasgow Green and has attracted an entry of 226 bands from all parts of the world.

Forty-seven entries have been received from Northern Ireland including the reigning world Grade 1 champions Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band who will be pulling out all the stops to retain their championship crown.

The Ulster Pipe band and Drum Major Championships will be held on Saturday 23 August at Lurgan Rugby and Cricket Grounds, Pollock Park, Lower Toberhewny Lane, Lurgan commencing at 12 noon.

There is currently an entry of 60 bands and 45 drum majors for this event, which is the last local competition of the 2003 season.

It is also planned to have a Highland Dance competition and all entries should be sent to Mervyn Herron, 9
Ballydown Meadows, Castlewellan Road, Banbridge B'1'32 4QX. These will be accepted up to and on the day of the competition.

The Northern Ireland Piping and Drumming School will be conducting Grade 1 on the spot certificates in practical and theory at the Ulster Championships.

There will also be a solo piping competition for two grades - under 14 and under 16 - and entries will be taken on the day of the event. The musical requirement for the competition is a 4-part march.

The final two major championships of the season will be the Cowal Highland Games at Dunoon on Saturday 30 August and the European Championships at Alden Biesen Castle Belgium on Saturday 13 September.

Ulster Star
08/08/2003