Three pipe bands have been upgraded to Grade 1 after the Music Board of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association met yesterday (21st) to ratify the first of the 2020 season regradings.
Moving from Grade 2 to Grade 1 are 2019 Champion of Champions Closkelt (Northern Ireland) along with St Thomas Alumni (USA) and City of Dunedin (USA) (by request).
In total, 29 bands were upgraded with five being downgraded.
The rest of the upgrades are:
Grade 3A to Grade 2 – St Mary’s, Derrytrasna (Northern Ireland) and St Josephs (Ireland).
Grade 3B to Grade 3A – Dunbar RBLS; McNeillstown (Northern Ireland); Oban High School; Tullylaggan and Turriff & District.
Grade 4A to Grade 3B – Augharan (Northern Ireland); Cullybackey (Northern Ireland); Glenrothes & District; Methil & District; Mid Argyll and Pitlochry & Blair Atholl (by adjudicator request).
Grade 4B to Grade 4A – Camelon & District; Culter & District; Strathendrick; Carlow (Ireland) and Sri Dasmesh (Malaysia).
Novice Juvenile A to Juvenile – Dollar Academy; North Lanarkshire Schools and West Lothian Schools.
Novice Juvenile B to Novice Juvenile A – Lochgelly High School; North Lanarkshire Schools; Renfrewshire Schools; Capital District Youth (USA) and Scotch College Melbourne (Australia).
The bands that were downgraded are:
Grade 2 to Grade 3A – Wallacestone & District and Scottish Fire & Rescue.
Grade 3A to Grade 3B – Prestonpans RBLS and Ross & Cromarty Pipes & Drums School (by request).
Grade 4A to Grade 4B – Fraserburgh RBLS.
