Royal Burgh of Stirling Pipe Band lifted the iconic Argyll Shield at Cowal Highland Gathering yesterday. Grade 1 was uncontested after Johnstone pulled out. The Burgh, officially a Grade 2 outfit, played up a grade.
The band has been led since last season by Gary Nimmo (Pipe Major) and George Walls (Leading Drummer). It also has a Grade 4A band.
Full results:
Grade 1 – Royal Burgh of Stirling.
Judges: Peter Snaddon and Alvis Kerr (piping); Jim Baxter (drumming) and Paul Turner (ensemble).
Grade 2 (MSR) – 1. Oban High School Pipe Band; 2. Royal Burgh of Stirling; 3. Stockbridge; 4. Scottish Borders.
Judges: Gordon Lawrie and Tom Brown (piping); Alastair Hepburn (drumming) and Jim Campbell (ensemble).
Grade 2 – 1. Royal Burgh of Stirling Pipe Band; 2. Stockbridge; 3. Oban High School; 4. Scottish Borders.
Judges: Peter Snaddon and Alvis Kerr (piping); Jim Baxter (drumming) and Paul Turner (ensemble).
Grade 3 (MSR) – 1. Oban High School; 2. Mid Argyll; 3. Lanark and District (ensemble preference); 4. Coalburn I.O.R.; 5. Stockbridge; 6. Lower Clyde Pipes and Drums.
Judges: Gordon Lawrie and Tom Brown (piping); Alastair Hepburn (drumming) and Jim Campbell (ensemble).
Grade 3 – 1. Stockbridge; 2. Oban High School; 3. Lanark and District; 4. Coalburn I.O.R.; 5. Rothesay and District; 6. Scottish Borders.
Judges: Peter Snaddon and Alvis Kerr (piping); Jim Baxter (drumming) and Paul Turner (ensemble).
Juvenile – 1. George Watson’s College NJ B; 2. Tobermory High School.
Judges: Peter Snaddon and Alvis Kerr (piping); Jim Baxter (drumming) and Paul Turner (ensemble).
Grade 4A/Novice Juvenile A – 1. Mid Argyll; 2. Lower Clyde Pipes and Drums; 3. Rothesay and District; 4. Kintyre Schools; 5. Renfrewshire Schools; 6. Kirkcaldy and District.
Judges: Gordon Lawrie and Tom Brown (piping); Alastair Hepburn (drumming) and Jim Campbell (ensemble).
Novice Juvenile B – 1. Kintyre Schools; 2. Renfrewshire Schools; 3. George Watson’s College (ensemble preference); 4. Troon Blackrock (ensemble preference); 5. Ullapool and District; 6. Kilbarchan.
Judges: Peter Snaddon and Alvis Kerr (piping); Jim Baxter (drumming) and Paul Turner (ensemble).
The history of Cowal Highland Gathering is currently being serialised in the pages of the Piping Times.