Championship drums up support from Ulster
The World Solo Drumming Championship in Glasgow is the main event this weekend and there are plenty of local competitors.
Sponsored by Andante Percussion from Banbridge, the event is the main solo drumming event in the pipe band calendar and attracts an excellent entry of drummers along with a good crowd of spectators.
More than 150 drummers will compete across the various grades with the adult competition certain to draw the most attention.
Scottish Power's Barry Wilson is the defending world champion, having won the title last year.
However, the failure of 17-time champion Jim Kilpatrick to reach the final of last year's competition almost overshadowed Wilson's success.
Both men will be competing today along with some of the premier drummers in the pipe band world.
More than 60 drummers from around the world have entered the adult competition. They are split into four qualifying sections with the top four from each section joining 12 pre-qualified drummers in the semi finals.
Among those vying for semi-final berths are Jonathan Hoy, Jonathan Colville and Jason Hoy (Cullybackey), Stuart McLees and Aaron McCarten (Ravara), Thomas Sloan and Stuart Wilson (Ballinderry Bridge), Brendan Megoran (Ballycoan) and Chris McNicholl (Strathclyde Police).
Pre-qualified semi-finalists include Steven McWhirter (Inverary and District), Stephen Creighton (St Laurence O'Toole), William Glenholmes (Cullybackey), Eric Ward (Strathclyde Police), and Gavin Noade (Field Marshal).
A number of young drummers have also made the trip to Glasgow and will compete in the Juvenile competitions.
I will bring a full round-up of results in next week's Tartan Talk.
n Bradley Parker's trips to Scotland for solo competitions have continued to yield plenty of silverware.
The 12-year-old from Portavogie saw his piping summer badly disrupted by a broken wrist, however he is now fully recovered and is already back among the prizes.
Bradley was in Scotland last weekend where he competed in the Festival of Solo Piping which is organised by the Caledonian Piping Club at Saltcoates.
He took first place in the 15 and under Piobaireachd and second in the March. However, it was in the under 18 Piobaireachd, competing against pipers five years older than himself, that Bradley truly shone, taking first place ahead of another local lad, Emmett Conway.
Bradley has been travelling to this competition for five years now and has featured in the prizes on each visit.
n Kilrea Pipe Band is holding an anniversary dinner on Friday, November 21, at 7.30pm in Kilrea Orange Hall to celebrate 85 years since its first public performance.
Any former members who would like to attend should contact Rodney Wilson on 02825 641 776 before November 10.
n A quick note of a solo piping competition happening next month.
The Fort International Solo Piping competition will be held in the Fort Bar, Dungannon, on Saturday, November 15.
I will bring more details of this event in the coming weeks.
n The band season may be done and dusted but preparations are already well underway for next year.
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) has confirmed details of the five major championship venues.
The dates to remember are as follows:
Scottish – May 16 at Dumbarton;
British – June 27 at Banbridge;
European – July 25 at Inverclyde;
Worlds – August 15 at Glasgow;
Cowal – August 29 at Dunoon.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
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