Another win for Drumlough at Mid Ulster championships
IT was a 'sizzling' start to the Mid Ulster Pipe Band Championships held in Cookstown last Saturday. Held on a perfect sunny day in Cookstown High School, the weather brought out, not only a marvellous crowd of supporters, but also the best competitive spirit in the pipers, drummers and drum majors.
The leader board remained much the same as last week at Antrim with Cullybackey winning Grade 2, Annsborough Grade 3A, Drumlough 3B and Killadeas Grade 4A.
In Grade 4B it was a good result for Bready Ulster Scots when they took the winning title with an overall first placing and trophies for best drum corps and best bass section.
The first Grade 1 competition of the outdoor season saw St. Laurence O'Toole taking prizes for best piping, best drums, best bass section and overall first place. This week on Saturday June 16 at Banbridge the 2006 world champions Field Marshal Montgomery will be making their first appearance.
This is always a great contest as bands line up in preparation for the British Championships, which will be held on Saturday June 23 at Ballymena Showgrounds.
In drum majoring Ryan Ferry delighted his uncle Alan Ferry who acted as Chieftain of the' Day, when he continued his winning form taking the Juvenile drum major title.
Adjudicators were for piping Ian Wood, Gordon Lawrie, John Moles and Denver Cardwell and for drumming Michael O'Neill and Gordon Parkes and for ensemble Jim Baxter and Malcolm MacKenzie.
The Co. Down section's competition will be held on Saturday June 16 commencing at 11.30am. They hope to spice up the event with an appearance from the Red Hot Chilli Pipers who will perform on Friday June 15 at the Iveagh Studios Banbridge as well as at the contest on Saturday.
The second of this year's five major championships will be the British, which will be held in Ballymena Showgrounds on Saturday June 23.
There are 122 pipe bands and 55 drum majors entered for this event. Seven Towers and Drumlough will be hoping to add the British title to the Scottish title won in Dumbarton in May 2007.
Results
Grade 4B - 1st. Bready Ulster Scots (also best drums and best bass) 2nd. Moneygore (best pipes) 3rd.Dr.Wright. (also M&D). 4th Cleland Memorial
Grade 4A - 1st. Killadeas. 2nd. Manor Cunningham (also best pipes). 3rd. Cullenfad. 4th. Dromara. (also best bass).
Best drums won by St. Laurence Howth.
Grade 3B - 1st. Drumlough (also best bass) 2nd. Augharonan. 3rd. Killen. (also best pipes). 4th.Ballydonaghy. Best drums won by Raffrey.
Grade 3A - 1st. Annsborough (also best pipes. best drums and best bass). 2nd. Aughintober. 3rd. Cottown. 4th. Arklow.
Grade 2 - 1st. Cullybackey (also best pipes. best drums and best bass). 2nd. Ravara. 3rd. Seven Towers. 4th. Killeen.
Grade 1 - 1st. St. Laurence O'Toole. (also best pipes, best drums and best bass). 2nd. Ballycoan. 3rd.Bleary & District. 4th. Ballinderry Bridge.
Novice Drum Majors - 1st. Rachel Caldwell. 2nd. Laura Abraham. 3rd. Emma Barr. 4th. Bethan Martin. 5th. Elizabeth Morrow.
Junior - 1st. Lorna Robinson. 2nd. Lauren Hanna. 3rd. Dale Fisher. 4th. Gary Scanlon. 5th. Craig Clydesdale.
Juvenile - 1st. Ryan Ferry. 2nd. Linzi Hamilton. 3rd. Samantha Gordon. 4th. Gemma McKinney. 5th.Emma Chambers.
Senior - 1st. Paula Braiden. 2nd. Brian Wilson. 3rd. David Brownlee. 4th. Kathy Megarry Calvin. 5th.Alicia Dickson.
Ulster Star
15/06/2007
