78th Highlanders (Halifax) Win Upset at Canadian Championships

Fort Erie, Ontario – June 21, 2003 – The “Loch Sloy Highland Games” here were more like Loch Sludge with steady and sometimes heavy rain drenching the park from 8:30 until 2:00, but ulitmately the 78th Highlanders (Halifax) pulled off an upset by winning the newly designated “Canadian Pipe Band Championship,” the first Champion Supreme contest of the Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario season, over City of Washington, Peel Police and Toronto Police.

North Coast of Cleveland, Ohio, won the Grade 2 contest, with Windsor Police settling for second without Pipe-Major Barry Ewen leading the band. The PPBSO originally announced the results incorrectly, omitting the Windosr Police from the list at the massed band.

The 78th Highlanders (Halifax) feature a strong pipe section, with well known players like Bruce Gandy, Fraser Clark, Andy Rogers, Jack MacLean, and Roderick MacLean in the ranks.

Bands
Grade 1 (Medley – four bands played)
1st 78th Highlanders (Halifax)
2nd Peel Police
3rd Toronto Police
4th City of Washington
Drumming: 78th Highlanders (Halifax)
Judges: Tom Anderson, Sandy Keith (piping); Willie Connell (ensemble); Jim Agnew (drumming)

Grade 2 (MSR – nine bands entered)
1st North Coast
2nd Windsor Police
3rd Niagara Regional Police
4th Hamilton Police
Drumming: Tulach Ard
Judges: Peter Sinclair, Bob MacCrimmon (piping); Ron Rollo (ensemble); Drew Duthart (drumming)

Grade 3 (Medley – 10 bands entered)
1st Mohawk Valley Frasers
2nd Durham Regional Police
3rd Lakeridge
Drumming: Braemar
Judges: Tom Anderson, Sandy Keith (piping); Willie Connell (ensemble); Jim Agnew (drumming)

Grade 4 (March Medley – 15 bands entered)
1st Hamilton Police
2nd Guelph
3rd Penetangore
Drumming: Guelph
Judges: Peter Sinclair, Bob MacCrimmon (piping); Ron Rollo (ensemble); Drew Duthart (drumming)

Grade 5 (March Medley – seven bands entered)
1st 87th Cleveland
2nd Syracuse Scottish
3rd Braemar
Drumming: Braemar
Judges: Tom Anderson, Sandy Keith (piping); Willie Connell (ensemble); Jim Agnew (drumming)

Professional Solo Piping
Piobaireachd (20 entered)
1st Andrew Hayes, Nepean, Ontario
2nd James MacHattie, Toronto
3rd Andrew Berthoff, Toronto
4th Rob Crabtree, Toronto
5th Andrew Rogers, Fredericton, New Brunswick
Judge: Reay Mackay

March (21 entered)
1st Michael Grey, Dundas, Ontario
2nd Andrew Hayes
3rd Chris Hamilton, Germantown, Maryland
4th Colin Clansey, Ottawa
5th Ian K. MacDonald, Whitby, Ontario
Judge: John Elliott

Strathspey & Reel (21 entered)
1st James MacHattie
2nd Ian K. MacDonald
3rd Bruce Gandy, Halifax, Nova Scotia
4th Andrew Hayes
5th Michael Grey
Judge: Sandy Keith

Jig (21 entered)
1st Michael Grey
2nd James MacHattie
3rd Ian K. MacDonald
4th Andrew Hayes
5th Colin Clansey
Judge: Jake Watson
Drumming – Professional Hornpipe/Jig
Judge: Jimmy Agnew

Solo Professional Drumming
MSR (five entered)
1st Tom Foote
2nd Colum Lundt
3rd Gordon Bell
Judge: Brian McCue

Hornpipe & Jig (five entered)
1st Colum M Lundt
2nd Alex Kuldell
3rd Jason Hoffert
Judge: Jim Agnew

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