FMM wins first Antrim & Newtownabbey Championship under new Pipe-Major Matt Wilson

Antrim, Northern Ireland – June 28, 2025 – It was warm and sunny at Antrim Castle Gardens, the venue for the first-ever Antrim & Newtownabbey Pipe Band Championships, the fifth event of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch’s nine-event outdoor season.

Field Marshal Montgomery won Grade 1 against two other bands, marking the first competition for the 13-time World Champions under Pipe-Major Matt Wilson, who succeeded pipe band legend Richard Parkes last autumn.

One observer commented that Wilson already has a better winning percentage than Parkes.

Grade 1 (MSR minimum four-parted tunes)
1st Field Marshal Montgomery (1,1,1,1)
2nd Ravara (2,2,2,2)
3rd Manorcunningham (Gr2) (3,3,3,3)
Bass Drumming: Field Marshal Montgomery
Judges: Tony Sloane, Mark Faloon (piping); Adrian Hoy (drumming); Mark Wilson (ensemble)

Grade 2 (Medley)
1st Manorcunningham (1,1,1,1)
2nd Tullylagan (2,3,2,2)
3rd Major Sinclair Memorial (Gr3A) (7,4,3,3) (ens.pref.)
4th Matt Boyd Memorial (Gr3A) (3,2,6,6)
5th Cloughfin (Gr3A) (4,6,4,4)
6th Clogher & District (Gr3A) (6,5,5,5)
7th Cullybackey (Gr3A) (9,7,7,7) (ens.pref.)
8th McNeillstown (Gr3A) (5,9,8,8)
9th Kildoag (Gr3A) (8,8,10,10)
Bass Drumming: Manorcunningham
Judges: Colin Moffett (piping); Iain Lawson (drumming); John Moles (ensemble)

Grade 3A (MSR)
1st Matt Boyd Memorial (1,1,1,7)
2nd McNeillstown (3,2,6,1) ens.pref.)
3rd Major Sinclair Memorial (2,3,5,2)
4th Cullybackey (6,5,2,3)
5th Clogher & District (4,4,3,8)
6th Cloughfin (7,6,4,4)
7th Irvine Memorial (9,7,8,5)
8th Kildoag (5,8,12,10)
9th William Kerr Memorial (Gr3B) (11,10,11,6) (ens.pref.)
10th Syerla & District (Gr3B) (10,9,10,9)
11th Ballyboley (Gr3B) (8,11,9,11)
12th Drumlough (Gr3B) (12,12,7,12)
Bass Drumming: Cloughfin
Judges: John Reville, Mark Faloon (piping); Adrian Hoy (drumming); Tony Sloane (ensemble)

Grade 3B (MSR)
1st Drumlough (1,1,2,2)
2nd Ballyboley,3,2,3,1)
3rd Syerla & District (5,4,1,3) (ens.pref.)
4th Upper Crossgare (2,3,4,4)
5th Gransha (Gr4A) (4,5,5,5)
6th William Kerr Memorial (6,6,6,6)
Bass Drumming: Upper Crossgare
Judges: Bill Garrett, Colin Moffett (piping); Iain Lawson (drumming); John Moles (ensemble)

Grade 4A (MSR)
1st Thiepval Memorial (1,1,4,1)
2nd Down Academy (Gr4B) 3,2,1,5)
3rd Altnaveigh Memorial (2,3,6,3)
4th Gransha (5,5,2,4)
5th Raphoe Ulster Scots (4,4,3,7)
6th Moneygore (6,7,5,2)
7th Cottown (7,6,7,6)
Bass Drumming: Down Academy
Judges: Bill Garrett, Colin Moffett (piping); Iain Lawson (drumming); John Moles (ensemble)

Grade 4B (March Selection)
1st Queen Elizabeth (1,2,1,1)
2nd McDonald Memorial (2,1,2,2)
3rd Tullylagan (3,3,3,5)
4th Bready Ulster Scots (4,5,5,3) (ens.pref.)
5th Down Academy (5,4,4,4)
6th Raffrey (6,6,8,7)
7th Hollymount (7,7,6,8)
8th Major Sinclair Memorial (8,8,7,6)
Bass Drumming: Queen Elizabeth
Judges: Tony Sloane, Mark Faloon (piping); Adrian Hoy (drumming); Mark Wilson (ensemble)