World’s Grade 1 qualifiers and draw for final

These bands placed at the top of the 18-band March, Strathspey & Reel contest, which was judged by Andrew Wright, D. McConnell (piping); G. Craig (drumming); and Joe Noble (ensemble).

The bands now go on to compete against the eight bands that pre-qualified for the Medley and MSR events that comprise the final competition to determine the winner and the prize list.

The draw for the Grade 1 final starting at 1 p.m. GMT is:

1. Strathclyde Police (Scotland)
2. Field Marshal Montgomery (Ulster)
3. Boghall & Bathgate (Scotland)
4. Vale of Atholl (Scotland)
5. Clan Gregor (Scotland)
6. St. Laurence O’Toole (Eire)
7. ScottishPower (Scotland)
8. City of Washington (USA)
9. Simon Fraser University (Canada)
10. Dysart & Dundonald (Scotland)
11. Western Australia Police (Australia)
12. 78th Fraser Highlanders (Canada)
13. Bleary & District (Ulster)
14 Shotts & Dykehead (Scotland)

The result of the qualifying round is disappointing to all bands not in the top six, but perhaps moreso to several highly-rated bands that didn’t make the cut. The Toronto Police, 2004 North American Champions, and the 78th Highlanders (Halifax), 2003 North American Champions, were left out of the list, as were all other Canadian bands trying to qualify.

The Glasgow Pipes & Drums, thought by many to have a strong shot at going through, also failed to make the final.

Judging was widely scattered, with some bands having as much as a nine-place spread between the two piping adjudicators.

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