World Championships Draws Announced
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association has made its official draw for the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow on August 16. A total of 226 bands are entered to compete at the massive event at Glasgow Green, with 25 bands competing for the Grade 1 title, and 33 bands set to play in Grade 2.
Seventeen Grade 1 bands are entered for the morning’s March, Strathspey & Reel qualifying round, from which six will go through to play against eight bands that have pre-qualified.
Grade 2, because it does not meet the 36 band threshold, will not run in heats, and the contest will be a one shot deal.
Grade 1 (MSR, submit two)
Qualifying Round (approximate times)
9:00 a.m. Glasgow Skye Association (Scotland)
9:08 Western Australia Police (Australia)
9:16 Alberta Caledonia (Canada)
9:24 Bucksburn & District (Scotland)
9:32 Los Angeles Scottish (USA)
9:40 Manawatu Scottish Society (New Zealand)
9:48 City of Washington (USA)
9:56 Lothian & Borders Police (Scotland)
10:04 Grampian Police (Scotland)
10:12 Toronto Police (Canada)
10:20 Peel Regional Police (Canada)
10:28 St Laurence O’Toole (Ireland)
10:36 Dysart & Dundonald (Scotland)
10:44 Ravara (Northern Ireland)
10:52 MacTarnahan’s Prince Charles (USA)
11:00 David Urquhart Travel (Scotland)
11:08 Ballycoan (Northern Ireland)
Judges: Nat Russell, David Clark (piping); W. Dunlop (drumming); C. Mordaunt (ensemble)
The top six bands from the qualifying round will face eight bands that have pre-qualified. Either through, in the case of “overseas” bands, gaining a prize at the 2002 World’s, or, in the case of RSPBA member bands, through points gained from the first two major championships of the 2003 season.
For what is thought to be the first time ever, non-Scottish bands will be in the majority in both Grade 1 and Grade 2 at the World’s, with 14 of the 25 Grade 1, and 18 of 33 Grade 2 bands not from Scotland.
Grade 2
9:00 a.m. Ballinderry Bridge (Northern Ireland)
9:08 Monkstown Mossley (Northern Ireland)
9:16 Royal Burgh of Stirling (Scotland)
9:24 Windsor Police (Canada)
9:32 52nd Lowland Regiment (Scotland)
9:40 Cullybackey (Northern Ireland)
9:48 Denny & Dunnipace (Scotland)
9:56 City of St Andrews (Scotland)
10:04 Polkemmet (Scotland)
10:12 St. Finbar’s (Ireland)
10:20 1st Battalion the Highlanders (Scotland)
10:28 Niagara Regional Police (Canada)
10:36 Chivas Regal (Scotland)
10:44 Upper Crossgare (Northern Ireland)
10:52 Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary (Scotland)
11:00 Saffron United (USA)
11:08 Heather Pipes & Drums of Copenhagen (Denmark)
11:16 North Coast (USA)
(Judges’ break for tea)
11:48 Dumbarton & District (Scotland)
11:56 ASCO Buchan (Scotland)
12:04 Clan Gregor Society (Scotland)
12:12 Vale of Atholl (Scotland)
12:20 Lord Edward’s Own Narraghmore (Ireland)
12:28 Bleary & District (Northern Ireland)
12:36 University of Luton (England)
12:44 City of Dunedin (USA)
12:52 Boghall & Bathgate (Scotland)
13:00 Drambuie Kirkliston (Scotland)
13:08 Killeen (Northern Ireland)
13:16 City of Edinburgh (Scotland)
13:24 Howard Memorial (Northern Ireland)
13:32 City of Auckland (New Zealand)
13:40 Houghton Le Spring (England)
Judges: John Wilson, Ed Neigh (piping); L. Geddis (drumming); Bob Shepherd (ensemble)
Thirty bands are entered in Grade 3A, 31 bands in Grade 3B, 5 bands in Juvenile, 37 bands in Grade 4A, 43 bands in Grade 4B, and 22 bands in Novice Juvenile.
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