Inveraray & District Pipe Band’s first outing at Grade 1

At an indoor invitational competition on 20th March at Glasgow’s Radisson Hotel, Inveraray & District Pipe Band (IDPB) got their first taste of competition at the highest level, Grade 1, promoted after the unbeaten winning sweep last year, their first at Grade 2, which saw them complete the season as World Champions and Champion of Champions at that level.

This invitational event was organised by Lomond & Clyde Pipe Band to celebrate their 10th Anniversary.

Bands in the competition were restricted to 10 pipers, 4 snare drummers, 3 tenors and a bass.

Eight Grade 1 bands in total had been invited but Ballycoan from Northern Ireland had to withdraw. This left 2 Heats with, respectively 3 and 4 bands, with the top 2 from each going through to the final.

Each band had to play a March, Strathspey and Reel (MSR) and a Medley in the heats – and the same again in the final.

Although this wasn’t an official RSPBA competition, their judging panel and rules were used for the event.

So, what was the action?

• The finalists from Heat 1 were Shotts & Dykehead and Fife Constabulary with Tayside Police the loser.
• IDPB and The Vale of Atholl qualified from Heat 2 with Torphichen & Bathgate and Cullybackey (N. Ireland) the losers.

The final was a tightly contested affair with Shotts winning overall. IDPB was 2nd, Fife was 3rd and The Vale was 4th. IDPB actually beat Shotts in the MSR by 2 points but Shotts beat IDPB in the Medley by 4 points.

This is an astonishing first outing at the top level and offers great encouragement to the band. It’s no surprise that IDPB is already a contender. There never was any way that they were going to be content with just getting through their first year at Grade 1. They’re competing. It;s going to be an exciting ride not only for the band but for their many fans and friends.

This event gave Prize Money to the winning band – hugely helpful in contributing to covering the costs of competition.. Shotts’ 1st Prize was £2,500. IDPB’s 2nd Prize brought them £1,500. As they said: ‘A good days work’.

Oh – and there was also an audience vote (for fun) and guess who won it? IDPB.

Fasten your seat belts for take-off.