|
Welcome...
Despite the best efforts of the weather to put a damper on proceedings, the 6th Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships held on
Saturday 16 June in Victoria Park Innerleithen were hailed as an outstanding success by St Ronan’s Piping Society President Bruce Hamilton.
Speaking after the conclusion of the event last Saturday, President Hamilton
said “I’m over the moon with how well things have gone. The championships today were certainly the biggest ever Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships and I have no
hesitation in stating that they were also the best ever. Some of today’s performances were outstanding, especially those from the Novice Juvenile Bands”. Over 20 pipe bands
from all over Scotland descended on the town to participate in four grades of pipe band competition, with over £3000 prize-money up for grabs and 6 trophies per grade to be
played for. The day was presided over by Chieftain David Turnbull, who carried out his duties with great style and panache especially with his eloquent and more importantly
short reply to the salute at the commencement of the prize giving ceremony.
Despite the weather which at times meant the surrounding hills were shrouded in mist,
this year’s championships commenced promptly at 11.00am when the first Novice Juvenile band took to the contest field. Following on from this were contests for Grade 4
bands who were asked to play a set of marches, Grade 3 bands who were asked to play a medley set and Grade 2 bands who were asked to play the classic March Strathspey
and Reel set. Notwithstanding the weather conditions, band after band entered the contest arena and played some outstanding music for the adjudicators and listening
crowd. All the band contests were expertly run by the officials of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Lothian & Borders Branch who ensured that everything ran smoothly and to time,
with the final band performance taking place shortly after 4.00pm. There was also a contest for Adult Drum Majors. All participating bands then formed massed bands to
march on for the prize giving ceremony. Bands were then invited to march along Innerleithen High Street at the end of proceedings, much to the delight of the waiting
crowds. The undoubted winners on the day were the three bands from George Watson’s College in Edinburgh, who walked away from the prize giving ceremony groaning under
the weight of silverware they were to take back up the A703 – the various George Watson’s bands won Novice Juvenile, Grade 3 and Grade 2 and ALL the associated
drumming prizes in these grades, a total of 10 trophies and well over £1000 in prize-money. A full list of prize-winners can be found on the 2007 Results Page..
Speaking further in the aftermath of the Championships, President Bruce Hamilton said
“An event like this requires an awful lot of hard work to stage, and a lot of people have put in a great deal of effort to make it happen. I’d like to thank all the committee and
members of St Ronan’s Piping Society for working so hard to make the event possible, the officials of the RSPBA Lothian & Borders Branch for making sure the contest ran
smoothly, all the bands for turning up and playing on the day and most especially the spectators both locals and visitors for attending the event. I’d also like to extend a
special thanks to our Chieftain of the Day, Mr David Turnbull who carried out his duties in excellent fashion.”
 This web site will keep you up to date on all developments in the run up to the Championships and concert if
successful. As you will be aware, organising an event of this magnitude takes a lot of time and effort. Anyone interested in lending a hand should contact one of the
committee by email which are available on the Committee Page of this site website. If anyone is interested in becoming a member or making a donation to the Piping
Society Click Here for more details.
We would like to thank Direct Grants for the award of the money to enable this web site to be built and thank Jason Lafferty of Scotia Web Design Ltd for making this possible for us.
Pictures included show the St. Ronans Committee, Cheiftain and RSPBA Chairman Kevin
Reilly at the 2006 championships and Trophies (left) proudly on display ready to be handed out.
|
