Lisburn prepares for a feast of piping action
THE third of this year's five major championships organised by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association will take place on Saturday at the Lagan Valley LeisurePlex in Lisburn City from 9am until 6pm.
The European Pipe Band Championships have attracted over 118 pipe bands and 54 drum majors and will provide an amazing spectacle of colour and sound in the town.
Many thousands of bandspeople and their supporters will descend on Lisburn for this the biggest competition to be held in the Northern Ireland calendar of events this year.
With free admission and many other attractions for the visitor, including Scottish Dancing, Fun Fair, Climbing Wall, Trade stands and Food stands this is sure to be a great family day out for everyone.
The fourth annual Competing Soloists' Organisation's promotion of competitions for solo pipers and solo drummers, organised as part of the Glenarm Castle Highland Games on the spacious estate of The Earl of Antrim at Glenarm Castle, were held on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 July.
In the main this event caters for the younger piping and drumming enthusiasts — some taking part for their very first time in solo competitions.
A further development at these non-championship competitions was the decision by the organisers to allow competitors to 'play up' in the next grade(s) as well as their own particular grade. This proved very popular among the young competitors with many taking advantage to their benefit as can be noted from the results, which show some competitors winning two competitions and one competitor being successful in no less than three!
Both teams of adjudicators — Miss Julie Blue, Campbeltown, Argyll; Mr Winston Pollock, Randalstown; Mr Harry Stevenson, Belfast and Mr Gary Watterson, Aghalee for piping competitions and Miss Lee Lawson, Campbeltown and Mr Mark Wilson, Waringstown for drumming competitions remarked that they were pleased to see a good turn-out of soloists taking part and all were unanimous in their praise of the playing standards of the competitors. As part of the day's proceedings, the CSO were very pleased to include a concert style section to entertain the gathered audience featuring Miss Julie Blue, Miss Lee Lawson, Mr Mark Wilson, and one of the junior prize winning soloist Scott Barr.
The CSO would like to thank everyone involved in making the Glenarm solo competitions a very successful event.
The draw is now available for the East Antrim Championships, which will be held in Ballyclare High School on Saturday 2nd August commencing at 12 o'clock. 45 Pipe band and 55 drum majors have entered for this event, which will be last competition before the Ulster Championships on 9th August in Bangor.
Results of Glenarm Games,
Under 12 piping. 1st. Scott Barr. 2nd. John O'Donnell.
Over 12 —under 15 piping. 1st. Scott Barr. 2nd.John O'Donnell
Over 15- under 18 piping. 1st. Grahame Harris. 2nd.Alan MacPherson. 3rd.Jamie Walker.
Grade 3 (junior) piping. 1st. Grahame Harris. 2nd.Scott Wallace. 3rd.Alan MacPherson.
Grade 2 (Intermediate) piping. 1st. Scott Wallace. 2nd.Jamie Walker. 3rd.Jonathan Lamberton.
Open Jig piping. 1st. Grahame Harris. 2nd.Jonathan Lamberton. 3rd. Rachel Corr.
Under 12 drumming. 1st. Mark Leishman.
Over 12- under 15 drumming. 1st. Mark Leishman. 2nd.Andrew Bennett. 3rd.Russell. Stewart. 4th.Ryan Scott.
Over 15 — under 18 drumming. 1st. Steven McGall.
Grade 3 Junior drumming. 1st. Geoffrey Presho. 2nd. Aaron McLean.3rd. Steven McGall.
Grade 2 Intermediate. 1st. Aaron McLean. 2nd. Geoffrey Presho.
Open Hornpipe and Jig drumming. 1st. Aaron McLean. 2nd.Geoffrey Presho. 3rd.Steven McGall.
Ulster Star
25/07/2008
