RSPBA upgrades Balinderry Bridge to Grade 1

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association’s (RSPBA) National Council held its first post-season meeting on October 16 in Glasgow, and made substantial grading decisions on bands in all grades based on results over the 2004 competitions.

The only Grade 2 band to move to the premier grade is Northern Ireland’s Balinderry Bridge, which had a very strong finish to the season, including capturing the Grade 2 event at the World Pipe Band Championships.

Four Grade 1 bands – Bucksburn & District, Grampian Police, Phoenix Honda-Glasgow Skye, and Ravara – are slated for relegation to Grade 2. The move leaves the Aberdeenshire area with no Grade 1 band for the first time in several years.

Some had thought that the Drambuie-Kirkliston band of Edinburgh would be promoted to Grade 1, but the group will have to wait at least another year before that happens.

Promoted

Grade 2 to Grade 1: Balinderry Bridge (Northern Ireland)

Grade 3A to Grade 2: Finvoy (Northern Ireland), City of Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

Grade 3B to Grade 3A: Seven Towers (Northern Ireland), Altnaveigh (Northern Ireland), Finton Lalor (Eire), Pride of Murray (England), Marlacoo (Northern Ireland)

Grade 4A to Grade 3B: Linlithgow (Scotland), Gortaclare (Northern Ireland), Annsbourgh (Scotland), Cumnock (Scotland), Battle Hill

Grade 4B to Grade 4A: Kirkcudbright (Scotland), Lanark (Scotland), Letterkenny (Northern Ireland), McNeilstown (Northern Ireland), Kirkwall City (Scotland), Thiepval Memorial, Misty Isle (USA)

Novice to Juvenile: Inverclyde (Scotland), Kintyre Schools (Scotland), Milngavie (Scotland)

Relegated

Grade 1 to Grade 2: Bucksburn & District (Scotland), Phoenix Honda-Glasgow Skye (Scotland), Grampian Police (Scotland), Ravara (Northern Ireland)

Grade 2 to Grade 3A: Denny & Dunnipace (Scotland), Tayside Police (Scotland), Invercargill (New Zealand)), West Midlands Police (England)

Grade 3A to Grade 3B: S.A Scots, Culter & District, Royal Burgh of Annan, Brother Matt Boyd Memorial, Ballydonaghy, Frank Rainey Memorial

Grade 4A to Grade 4B: Red Deer Legion (Canada), West Midlands Fire Service (England), Prestonpans (Scotland), Lochmaben, Newtongrange (Scotland), Perth & District (Scotland), Dr. Wright Memorial (Northern Ireland), Bellachy (Northern Ireland), Saintfield, Stonehaven (Scotland)

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