Piping-hot first day of band season
THE pipe band season got into full swing for 2009 with the Co Tyrone Championships held at Dungannon Rugby Club.
The grade one bands were out in force for this season opener, with Dublin's St Laurence O'Toole taking top honours ahead of Field Marshal Montgomery.
As is often the case, there was very little to choose between these two bands and it was ensemble preference that was the decider on this occasion. The drumming award also went the way of St Laurence.
Completing the grade one prize list were Ballycoan in third and Cullybackey, making their first competitive outing under new pipe major Andy McGregor, in fourth.
Killeen took the honours in grade two, seeing Ravara into second place in what was a reverse of last week's results at the indoor competition in Banbridge.
Seven Towers and Arklow were also in the prizes, taking third and fourth places respectively.
Grade 3A has the potential to be one of the tightest this season and is looking stronger than it has for many years.
Aughintober have taken the early initiative by following up their indoor success with a win here and added the drumming award for good measure. The band from Castlecaulfield took first place ahead of Howard Memorial in second, McNeillstown third and Killen in fourth place.
Grade 3B only had three entrants for this competition with Castlerock making it a clean sweep of prizes, taking first place and the piping and drumming awards. Completing the prize list were Black Raven in second, with Ballydonaghy third.
Quinn Memorial grabbed first place in Grade 4A, closely followed by Letterkenny and District, Moneygore and Tamlaght O'Crilly. Best drums in Grade 4A went to Bready Ulster-Scots.
Thiepval Memorial from Donegal have made an impression, winning Grade 4B at the indoor event and building on that success by topping the grade at Dungannon ahead of Lisnamulligan, Tullintrain and Bellaghy, with Wm Kerr Memorial carrying off the drumming prize.
In the drum majors' competitions Ballycoan's Paula Braiden claimed the senior title, with Samantha Gordon (Banbridge) winning the juvenile grade, Stephen Gilchrist (Killen) taking the junior section and Lisnamulligan's Zoe McDowell earning top spot in the novices.
Results:
Bands
Grade 4B: 1, Thiepval Memorial (best pipes); 2, Lisnamulligan; 3, Tullintrain; 4, Bellaghy.
Best bass: Upper Crossgare. Best drums: Wm Kerr Memorial (best M and D).
Grade 4A: 1, Quinn Memorial; 2, Letterkenny (best pipes); 3, Moneygore (best bass); 4, Tamlaght O'Crilly.
Best drums: Bready Ulster-Scots.
M & D: Gransha.
Grade 3B: 1, Castlerock (best pipes, drums and bass); 2, Black Raven (best M and D); 3, Ballydonaghy.
Grade 3A: 1, Aughintober (best pipes and drums); 2, Howard Memorial; 3, McNeillstown; 4, Killen (best M and D).
Best bass: Raffrey.
Grade 2: 1, Killeen (best pipes); 2, Ravara (best bass, drums and M and D); 3, Seven Towers; 4, Arklow.
Grade 1: 1, St Laurence O'Toole – ensemble preference (best drums and M and D); 2, Field Marshal Montgomery (best pipes and best bass); 3, Ballycoan; 4, Cullybackey.
Drum Majors
Novice: 1, Zoe McDowell, Lisnamulligan; 2, Lauren Abraham, Seven Towers; 3, Lauren McKeown, Derryclavin; 4, Matthew McKinney, Letterkenny; 5, Glen Baxter, Cleland Mem.
Junior: 1, Stephen Gilchrist, Killen; 2, Lauren Hanna, Drumlough; 3, Lauren Muldrew, Marlacoo; 4, Rachel Caldwell, Bready; 5, Elizabeth Morrow, Dromara.
Juvenile: 1, Samantha Gordon, Banbridge; 2, Gemma McKinney, Letterkenny; 3, Heather Bell, Lisnamulligan; 4, Linzi Hamilton, Killeen.
Senior: 1, Paula Braiden, Ballycoan; 2, David Brownlee, Derryclavin; 3, Ryan Ferry, Aughintober; 4, Brian Wilson, Lomond and Clyde; 5, Alicia Dickson, Matt Boyd Mem.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
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Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
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