Nichols wins BCPA Professional Knockout

Vancouver – March 10, 2007 – Will Nichols of Blaine, Washington, made British Columbia Pipers Association (BCPA) history when he won the BCPA Professional Piping Knockout Final at the United Scottish Cultural Centre. Until Nichols, no piper had ever won the prestigious event in his or her first year as a Professional-grade competitor.

Jori Chisholm, Seattle, was second. Colin Lee and Andrew Bonar, both of Surrey, British Columbia, also played in the final, in which competitors played an own-choice eight-to-10-minute medley.

Alan Bevan, Andrew Douglas and Alan Walters judged the contest.

The finalists came through from a semi-final of eight in February, who came from a 16-piper first-round in two sections held in November and December.

The Knockout Final was part of the BCPA’s annual gala dinner where a presentation was made to the now-defunct Robert Malcolm Memorial II Pipe Band for its Grade 2 win at the 2006 World Pipe Band Championships. RMM2 was subsequently disbanded after it was upgraded to Grade 1 by both the BCPA and the RSPBA. RMM2’s parent organization, the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, appealed to move the band back to Grade 2 and then decided to fold the group. Almost all members of RMM2 have joined the Triumph Street Pipe Band.

At the dinner the Richmond Pipe Band drum corps was given a presentation for the thirtieth anniversary of its win of the Grade 3 drumming the 1977 World’s.

The Mary MacKinnon Memorial Service Award, named in honour of the long-time BCPA Secretary, was given posthumously to Bob Dunsire for his work with the Internet.

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