Field Marshal powered to first place ahead of St Laurence O'Toole on a day of success for Northern Ireland bands across the grades at the third major championship of the season.

The excellent weather assisted in creating a carnival atmosphere as thousands of bandsmen, enthusiasts and their families flocked to Lisburn for what was a memorable day out.

The playing fields of the Lagan Valley LeisurePlex were a hive of activity as 118 bands from Ulster, the Republic, Scotland, and England did battle which the locals in the eight grades for the coveted European titles.

In addition to Field Marshal's success, there were European title wins for three other local bands.

In grade two Ravara took the honours ahead of Scotland's Torphican and Bathgate with Seven Towers and Killeen taking third and fourth place respectively. Ravara added to their silverware by collecting the drumming prize.

Grade 3A was won by MacKenzie Caledonia with Cottown, Howard Memorial, who also won the drumming, and Aughintober featuring in the prize list.
The closest grade of the day was undoubtedly 3B where ensemble preference was all that separated NcNeilstown, Augharonan and Raffrey in the top three places. Augharonan claimed the drumming award as Castlerock and Cullenfad also claimed silverware.

Manorcunningham from Donegal claimed the 4A title and added the drumming prize for good measure, while Gransha and Moneygore also took home prizes.

In grade 4B Stockbridge took first place but they were pushed all the way by Cleland Memorial in second who also claimed the drumming prize. Also in the prizes were Bellaghy and Ballyboley.

The drum majors competitions were dominated by local competitors as Kathy Megarry-Calvin retained her adult title and Linzi Hamilton and Lauren Abraham carried off the juvenile and junior titles.

Results:
Grade 1: 1st, Field Marshal Montgomery; 2nd, St. Laurence O'Toole; 3rd, House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead; 4th, Boghall & Bathgate; 5th, Strathclyde Police; 6th, ScottishPower. Drumming: Field Marshal.

Grade 2: 1st, Ravara; 2nd, Torphichen & Bathgate; 3rd, Seven Towers; 4th, Killeen; 5th, Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary; 6th, Phoenix Honda-Glasgow Skye. Drumming: Ravara.

Grade 3A: 1st, MacKenzie Caledonia; 2nd, Clydebank; 3rd, Cottown; 4th, Lanark; 5th, Howard Memorial; 6th, Aughintober. Drumming: Howard Memorial.

Grade 3B: 1st, McNeillstown; 2nd, Augharonan; 3rd, Raffrey; 4th, Central Scotland Police; 5th, Castlerock; 6th, Cullenfad. Drumming: Augharonan.

Juvenile: 1st, Inveraray Schools; 2nd, George Watson's College; 3rd, Boghall & Bathgate; 4th, Kintyre Schools; 5th, Vale of Atholl. Drumming: George Watson's.

Grade 4A: 1st, Manorcun-ningham; 2nd, Black Bottle; 3rd, Royal Burgh of Stirling; 4th, St. Laurence Howth; 5th, Gransha; 6th, Moneygore. Dru-mming: Manorcunningham.

Grade 4B: 1st, Stockbridge; 2nd, Cleland Memorial; 3rd, Stamperland; 4th, Bellaghy; 5th, Ballyboley; 6th, Burntisland. Drumming: Cleland Memorial.

Novice Juvenile: 1st, Kintyre Schools; 2nd, George Watson's College; 3rd, Stirling & District; 4th, 1st Troon Boys' Brigade; 5th, Dumbarton; 6th, Pitlochry & Blair Atholl. Drumming: George Watson's.

Drum majors
Adult: 1, K Megarry – Calvin, Upper Crossgare; 2, B Wilson, Lomond and Clyde; 3, I Young, Ravara; 4, D Brownlee, Derryclavin; 5, P Braiden, Ballycoan; 6, G Craig, Lothian and Borders Police.

Juvenile: 1, L Hamilton, Killeen; 2, S Gordon, Ban-bridge; 3,A Symon, Dumbarton and District; 4, G McKinney, Letterkenny and District; 5, G Scanlon, Thiepval Memorial; 6, H Bell, Lisnamulligan.

Junior: 1, L Abraham, Seven Towers; 2, I Burns, Dumbarton and District; 3, L Hanna, Drumlough; 4, S Gilchrist, Killen; 5, D Fisher, Upper Crossgare; 6, E Barr, Ravara.