How Times Have Changed...

-

Once again, Maxville has come and passed... as predicted almost. The West is still the best and the East isn't too shabby either. Ontario bands are certainly in a rut. If it weren't for a strong performance by the Rob Roy Pipe Band of Kingston, locals would be shut out in the top 3 grades... as it was, Grade 3 went to Rob Roy but hotly on their heels were the Great Lakes Pipe Band of Cleveland, Ohio and the Ulster Scottish Pipe Band from Philadelphia, so even the Grade 3 wasn't a slam dunk!

The Grade 1 North American Champions for 2010 are the Peel Regional Pipe Band under PM John Cairns and LD Graham Brown. Congratulations to them as well as worthy runners-up, the 78th Highlanders (The Citadel) from Halifax, NS, under PM Roderick MacLean. Now Grade 2 presented few surprises as the City of Chicago and the St. Andrew's Society of Winnipeg split the top events with the CoC nudging in for the championship. Kudos to PM Pat Lynch of CoC and PM Wes Sheppard of the St. Andrew's. The Fredericton Society of St. Andrew was third with Rocky Mountain of Calgary and the Stuart Highlanders of Boston rounding out the top 5. With this result it would appear that the Ontario Grade 2 has been decimated... or is it guillotined?

The World's Championships is next on the list of majors. Canada will be well represented in the premier grade by SFU, Triumph Street and Edmonton Caledonia from the west and Peel Police and the 78th Fraser Highlanders from Ontario. The USA will have the City of Washington and the LA Scots entered. SFU is the only sure bet for the final as they are defending champions and already qualified. The other 4 bands just might share in elation and bitter disappointment as only 6 bands make it through the qualifier... and the contest is stacked! The Grade 2 this year also has qualifiers with two heats running simultaneously to select 12 finalists. The New Westminster Police, 6th last year, heads up a list that includes the City of Regina and the St. Andrew's Society of Winnipeg. Good luck to them all. Better still, let's hope for good plays and satisfying trips.

See you in Glasgow!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sham or Shame

-
Image
I have heard it all now.... announced on the PD Online tonite was a vote-in poll for the best bass section at the 2008 World's.... now give me a break and give the pipe band community some space. Just at the time pundits are criticizing the contest format, the judging format and the concept of the qualifier, the PipesDrums Online posts this charade? Holy smokin', I just can't get my head around the concept of judging by international opinion. Come on guys...get your thoughts in gear. Lead drummers like Reid Maxwell, Jim Kilpatrick and Drew Duthart have won the World's by adjudication. What creditibilty would they have if they were issued their prize by an online poll? I can see it now - winners of the World Pipe Band Championship and the Julilee trophy - by the vote of no one who was there - SFU...... where's the thinking here? And who are the smart ones? ... anybody who does not participate and only recognizes the real thing - a World's adjudicated on Glasgow G
Read more

... Longevity

-
Image
How many of you will be around at age 90? ... and even if you are, will you be able to entertain yourself with the occasional tune?...have the same energy as a man half your age?.... well, congratulations to Ken Thornton of Creemore, Ontario. He began the pipes at the age of 84 and fulfilled a life long ambition to join the RCMP by parading with them in Ottawa shortly afterwards. We, at the Ontario School of Piping had the privilege of assisting Ken along his journey and now watch with great pride as he celebrates his 90th b-day this weekend. As far as pipers go, Ken is a middle aged youngster... and watch for him celebrating his 100th, only a decade away. Ken Thornton is living proof that age is only a figment of the imagination. Pipers are living longer and sustaining a high level of competence well into their senior years. The Grade 1 scene used to be for the younger set only. In my time, players looked to retirement from the big grade often in their 40's. But now, musical life
Read more