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Championships – 16th June 07
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 is given at the end of the report.
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.”
List of Prize Winners at 6th Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships
Adult Drum Majors
1.Grant Craig, Lothian & Borders Police
Grade Novice Juvenile
1.George Watson’s College
2.Craigmount High School
3.George Watson’s College
4.Bo'ness RBLS
Best Drum Corps: George
Watson’s College
Best Bass Section: George Watson’s College
Grade: 4
1.Kirkcaldy and District
2.Stow
3.Newtongrange
4.Methil and District
Best Drum Corps: Stockbridge
Best Bass Section: Stockbridge
Grade: 3
1.George Watson’s College Juvenile
2.Williamwood
3.Pitlochry and Blair Atholl
4.Royal Burgh of Annan
Best Drum Corps:
George Watson’s College Juvenile
Best Bass Section: George Watson’s College Juvenile
Grade: 2
1.George Watson’s College Juvenile
2.Pitlochry and Blair Atholl
3.Williamwood
4.Methil and District
Best Drum Corps:
George Watson’s College Juvenile
Best Bass Section: George Watson’s College Juvenile
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Innerleithen Championships 2008 - the draw for the 2008 championships was made on 13th May, the draw for the event is as follows:
The main purpose of this grant – which is for £6670 - is to fund a pipe band concert from Grade 1, 2, 3 & 4 Bands which will
be held in Innerleithen on a date yet to be arranged later this year. Other items of equipment will be purchased with the remainder of the grant, including a laptop computer and
Printer. Speaking about the awards, Society President Bruce Hamilton said, “I’m over the moon to have received this award. This will enable us to bring even more of the best
piping and drumming to the town of Innerleithen.” Details of the concert will be made available on the Society’s website as they become available, so keep checking regularly.
For the first time this year, the Townsfolk Trophy will be awarded to the first place prize-winner in the Grade 4 band
contest. The associated prize money for this trophy comes from money raised at the St Ronan’s Piping Society’s annual coffee morning held in the Vale Club in March. This event is always well
supported by the townsfolk of Innerleithen and surrounding areas and it is in honour of those who support the Society that the trophy has been named. The St Ronan’s
Piping Society is extremely grateful for this support and the committee felt that this was a very appropriate and physical way of marking this support.
