Video: Grade 1 finalists announced after Friday qualifier
Glasgow – August 14, 2015 – the 12 bands to qualify for the Grade 1 Final of the 2015 World Pipe Band Championships were determined at Glasgow Green today, with a total of 22 bands vying for the dozen places. Every band competed in a Medley and MSR event in their group of 11, using the same order-of-play in each contest.
Those going on to compete for the World Championship on Saturday, August 15, are, in alphabetical order:
78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) (Canada)
Canterbury Caledonian Society (New Zealand)
Dowco Triumph Street (Canada)
Field Marshal Montgomery (Northern Ireland)
Greater Glasgow Police Scotland (Scotland)
Inveraray & District (Scotland)
Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia (Scotland)
Police Scotland Fife (Scotland)
ScottishPower (Scotland)
Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia (Scotland)
Simon Fraser University (Canada)
St. Laurence O’Toole (Ireland)
Also competing but not making the final were:
78th Fraser Highlanders (Canada)
Cullybackey (Northern Ireland)
Denny & Dunipace Gleneagles (Scotland)
Los Angeles Scots (USA)
New Zealand Police (New Zealand)
Peel Regional Police (Canada)
Ravara (Northern Ireland)
Stuart Highlanders (USA)
Toronto Police (Canada)
Vale of Atholl (Scotland)
Order of play for the Saturday final in both events:
- 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel)
- Dowco Triumph Street
- ScottishPower
- Inveraray & District
- Greater Glasgow Police Scotland
- Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia
- St. Laurence O’Toole
- Field Marshal Montgomery
- Police Scotland Fife
- Canterbury Caledonian Society
- Simon Fraser University
- Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia
Two panels of judges assessed each group once, swapping events:
Group 1 MSR and Group 2 Medley: John McCarlie, John Wilson (piping); Alex Dudgeon (drumming); Tony Sloane (ensemble).
Group 1 Medley and Group 2 MSR: Ronnie McShannon, Colin Moffett (piping); Harry Russell (drumming); Joe Noble (ensemble)
Thought 78th Frasers hit a new standard with rich sound, technique and musicality. Almost had a 4th Canadian band in the finals. Going to be a heck of a contest.