Magnificent Field Marshal World Champions again
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
ON a sunny Saturday afternoon in Glasgow, bands from as far away as Canada, Australia, South Africa, France, Oman, USA, Denmark, Belgium and New Zealand came with the expectation and hope of achieving the dream they had worked so hard for many years for - to win the world championships.
Glasgow Green in the heart of Scotland's largest city was transformed into a sea of tartan for the 60's world pipe band championships. 8000 of the world's finest pipers and drummers as well as 65 drum majors performed before an audience of over 40,000 spectators.
Field Marshal Montgomery, for the fifth time in their history, became the Grade 1 champions of the world. They won the title in 1992, 1993, 2002 and 2004.
With an amazing display of sheer perfection the band under the leadership of Pipe Major Richard Parkes and Leading Tip Keith Orr, achieved the ultimate goal of every pipe band - to be crowned the best in the world.
Field Marshal Montgomery is the envy of every other pipe band and Ulster people can be justly proud of their amazing achievements, which were only brought about by dedication commitment and hard work.
St. Laurence O'Toole (Eire) under Leading Tip Stephen Creighton won the world drumming championship title in Grade 1.
What an amazing success for this drum corps who defeated all other corps including the many times world champion drum corps - Shotts & Dykehead.
Pipe Major Glen Ferry and Aughintober Pipe Band won their championship crown in Grade 3B with points to spare. Their drum corps led by Leading Tip Roy Ferry also had the victory of winning the drumming world title.
Another world title went to Pipe Major Mark Dunlop and Grade 4B Killadeas Pipe Band from Co. Fermanagh who also took the drumming championship crown.
All the world drum majors trophies were won by contestants from Ulster. Alistair Patterson won the senior grade; Jennifer Graham the juvenile grade and Linzi Hamilton the junior grade.
Cullybackey took fifth place in Grade 2; Battlehill were runners up in 3A with Annsborough in fifth place. Cottown were in second place in 3B; Raffrey and McNeillstown were fourth and sixth in 4A with Saintfield second, and Moneygore fourth in 4B.
Congratulations to all the winning bands and drum majors and to all those who also featured in the prize list.
BBC Scotland recorded the world pipe band championships to televise at a later date. This will also be seen in Northern Ireland and is a show not to be missed.
This Saturday the last of the local events will take place with the North West Championships held in Portrush. This competition will decide the Champion of Champions winner's table for the year.
There will be a Parade of Drum Majors led by Grade 2 European Champions - Seven Towers Pipe Band. This will commence at the Comfort Hotel and parade to Barry's amusements where :he band will give a short recital
Also on August 18 there will be a solo contest at :he Catering College at 7.30pm.
Then on Saturday August 26 the final major .vent will be the Cowal Highland Games taking place at Dunoon Scotland.
Results
O'Toole (Eire)Grade 1 - 1st. Field Marshal Montgomery. 2nd. Simon Fraser University. (Canada) 3rd. House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead. 4th. Strathclyde Police. 5th. Boghall & Bathgate. 6th. Scottish Lions-78th Fraser Highlanders (Canada). Best Drums MED Strathclyde Police. Best Drums MSR. St. Laurence O'Toole (Eire).
World drumming champions - St.Laurence
Grade 2 - 1st. Robert Malcolm Memorial (Canada). 2nd. Tayside Police. 3rd. The Band Club (Australia). 4th. Torphichen & Bathgate (Also Best Drums). 5th. Cullybackey. 6th. Bagad Cap Caval (France).
Grade 3A - 1st. Denny & Dunipace (also best drums) 2nd. Battlehill. 3rd. Gaelic College (Canada). 4th. Coalburn IOR. 5th. Annsborough. 6th. Linlithgow & District.
Grade 3B - 1st. Aughintober(also best drums). 2nd. Cottown. 3rd. Beeston & District. 4th. Cullen. 5th. Dunoon Argyll. 6th. Pitlochry & Blair Atholl.
Grade 4A - 1st. University of Strathclyde. 2nd. Lanark & District. 3rd. Benoni High School (also best drums) (South Africa). 4th. Raffrey. 5th. St. Laurence Howth (Eire). 6th. McNeillstown.
Grade 4B - 1st. Killadeas (also best drums). 2nd. Saintfield. 3rd. Glengarry. 4th. Moneygore. 5th. Clydebank. 6th. Methil & District.
Senior Drum Majors - 1st. Alistair Patterson. 2nd. Brian Wilson. 3rd. Ian Young. 4th. Grant Craig. 5th. William Jordan.
Juvenile - 1st. Jennifer Graham. 2nd. Elizabeth Sloan. 3rd. Caroline Clydesdale. 4th. Claire Donney. 5th. Donna Gillespie.
Junior - 1st. Linzi Hamilton. 2nd. Sharon Martin. 3rd. Andrew Symon. 4th. Lorna Robinson 5th Lauren Muldrew
Ulster Star
18/08/2006
