Ballycoan claim Co Antrim piping title
BALLYCOAN took the honours in Grade 1 at the 36th County Antrim Pipe Band Championships in Carrickfergus on Saturday. A dismal day didn't dampen the spirits of the crowds at the seaside town.
It was the first time in more than 30 years that the contest had been held in the Co Antrim coastal town with Woodburn Playing Fields providing the venue.
For the third week running Ballycoan made a clean sweep of the silverware in the premier grade as they saw off the challenge of Ravara and Seven Towers, two bands who had stepped up from Grade 2.
Seven Towers, returning to the contest arena after a number of weeks absence, claimed first place in Grade 2 ahead of Killeen, Ravara and Annsborough.Grade 3A went the way of Killen as they edged out Aughintober by a single point with Cottown sneaking into third place ahead of Howard Memorial on piping preference.
There was no Grade 3B competition last weekend at Enniskillen, however the grade resumed on Saturday and Castlerock took first place comfortably from Manorcunningham in second, Ballydonaghy third and Colmcille in fourth.
The biggest grade on the day was 4A with ten bands competing. Matt Boyd Memorial claimed top honours with Letterkenny and District, Moneygore and Bready Ulster Scots also in the prizes.
Thiepval Memorial’s domination of Grade 4B continued as the band from Co Donegal claimed first place for the fifth time this season. The young band from Upper Crossgare took second place in the grade with Ballyboley third and Bellaghy fourth.
Lisnamulligan missed out on a place in the prizes on piping preference but they did win the drumming and bass awards.
In the drum majors competitions there were wins for Emma Barr (Ravara) in the novice grade, Lauren Hanna (Drumlough) in the junior grade, Linzi Hamilton (Killeen) at juvenile level and David Brownlee (Derryclavin) in the senior grade.
Results
Grade 1: 1, Ballycoan (also best pipes, drums, bass and M & D); 2, Ravara; 3, Seven Towers.
Grade 2: 1, Seven Towers (also best pipes, drums and bass); 2, Killeen; 3, Ravara (also best M & D); 4, Annsborough.
Grade 3A: 1, Killen; 2, Aughintober (also best drums and bass); 3, Cottown (also best pipes); 4, Howard Memorial. M & D: Gortaclare.
Grade 3B: 1, Castlerock (also best pipes and drums); 2, Manorcunningham (also best bass and M & D); 3, Ballydonaghy; 4, Colmcille.
Grade 4A: 1, Matt Boyd Memorial (also best pipes and M & D); 2, Letterkenny and District (also best drums); 3, Moneygore; 4, Bready Ulster Scots. Best bass: Gransha.
Grade 4B: 1, Thiepval Memorial (also best pipes and M & D); 2, Upper Crossgare; 3, Ballyboley; 4, Bellaghy. Best drums: Lisnamulligan. Best bass: Lisnamulligan.
Drum Majors
Novice: 1, Emma Barr, Ravara; 2, Zoe McDowell, Lisnamulligan; 3, Lauren Abraham, Seven Towers; 4, Glen Baxter, Cleland Memorial.
Junior: 1, Lauren Hanna, Drumlough; 2, Elizabeth Morrow, Dromara; 3, Bethan Martin, Raffrey; 4, Rachell Caldwell, Bready; 5, Dionne Woods, Thiepval Memorial.
Juvenile: 1, Linzi Hamilton, Killeen; 2, Stephen Gilchrist, Killen; 3, Samantha Gordon, Banbridge; 4, Heather Bell, Lisnamulligan; 5, Gemma McKinney, Letterkenny.
Senior: 1, David Brownlee, Derryclavin; 2, Brian Wilson, Lomond and Clyde; 3, Paula Braiden, Ballycoan; 4, Ryan Ferry, Aughintober; 5, Alicia Dickson, Matt Boyd Memorial.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
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