By JEANNIE CAMPBELL MBE
The Cowal Gathering held its first pipe band contest in 1906. From 1909 to 1913 advertising referred to the Open Contest for the Argyll Shield as the Scottish Championship, although some reporters referred to the contest winners as World Champions. There were no gatherings during the war years 1914-1918 but when the Gathering resumed in 1919 it was advertised as the World’s Championship. Coincidentally 1919 was the first year in which a band from overseas, the Clan Uladh Irish War Pipe Band, played in the contest.
1925
The Cowal Gathering was held in the recreation park on Friday and Saturday 28th and 29th August. There was a huge attendance on the second day, fully 15,000 spectators being present. The company in the grandstand included the Duke of Hamilton, the Marquis of Clydesdale, Princess Sophia Dolgourty, Lady Margaret Douglas Hamilton, Lady Elspeth Campbell, Col Ian Campbell 8th Argylls; Lt Col MacRae-Gilstrap and a long list of other notables.
Papers reported a record entry of 48 pipe bands and almost 50 solo pipers, adults, boys and girls. There would be an intriguing contest between the Saint Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band from Dublin and the James Connolly Pipe Band from Dublin. Both held championships in Ireland but they had never met each other in competition.
During the first day the weather broke down and for the greater part of the proceedings the climatic conditions were unpleasant. The individual piping competitions were productive of the very best performances, the playing reaching a high level. Pipe Major R Reid, Shettleston, secured the honours in the open piobaireachd competition, Pipe Major Ross, Edinburgh, being second. The competition in marches resulted in a tie between William Ross and a young piper, Charles MacEachern, Islay. After the playoff Piper MacEachern secured the first prize. Dancing formed a strong feature of the first day’s programme, which also included the local athletic events.
Saturday’s programme comprised the great pipe band contests and the open athletic events. Some excitement was caused by the collapse of a platform on which about 50 people were standing, but the accident fortunately was without any serious result. A feature of the day was the march of one thousand pipers. The pipe band contests were followed with great interest, Clan MacRae band won supreme honours, securing the Argyll Shield, which carries with it the World Championship. The previous holders were Millhall, who on this occasion were second. The Oban Pipe Band who were competitors in the Civilian Band Contest No 2, made an excellent appearance. They secured second place in this competition and thus gained the Walter Scott Trophy.
Results on Friday were:
Piobaireachd: 1. Robert Reid, Shettleston; 2. William Ross, Edinburgh; 3. C MacEachern, Islay; 4. H Kennedy, Tiree. March: 1. C MacEachern; 2. William Ross; 3. J MacDonald, Glasgow Police; 4. Wm Taylor, Dunblane. Strathspey and Reel: 1. C MacEachern; 2. 2. W Ross; 3. J MacDonald; 4. P Melville. Best Dressed Playing Piper: Wm Taylor, Dunblane. March under 16 confined to pupils of Dunoon Grammar School: 1. J C Smith; 2. D A Heron; 3. A Leask. March, Strathspey and Reel under 16 Open: 1. J Kerr, Stirling; 2. A McLeod, Glasgow; 3. William Alston, Larkhall; 4. T McPhail, Greenock. Local Piping, Burgh Cup: 1. R MacCallum, Campbeltown; 2. Ian C Cameron, Islay; 3. D Fleming, Kilmartin; 4. D McPhee, Islay. Piobaireachd under 18: 1. C Hutchison, Dalmuir; 2. J Murray, Chapelhall; 3. W McL Barrie, Glasgow; 4. Ian C Cameron, Islay.
Saturday’s results were:
Juvenile Band Contest (confined to bands of not more than 12 performers): 1. 19th Glasgow Company Boys’ Brigade, PM Alexander Jack; 2. Dalmuir Parish; 3. Grangemouth Company Boys’ Brigade.
Civilian Band Contest (confined to bands of not more than 12 performers): 1. Clan MacRae, PM Wm Fergusson; 2. Millhall, PM G MacDonald; 3. MacLean, PM Wm Sloan, 4. Dalzell Highland, PM Alex Hastie.
Civilian Band Contest (confined to bands who have not yet won a prize at Cowal Gathering): 1. Lochore and Crosshill, PM George Gammack; 2. Oban, PM A Lawrie; 3. Kirkcaldy Caledonia, PM J Falconer.
Civilian Drumming Contest: 1. MacLean, 2. Dalzell Highland.
Open Band Contest (World’s Championship) Argyll Shield: 1. Clan MacRae, PM Wm Fergusson; 2. Millhall, PM G MacDonald; 3. MacLean , PM Wm Sloan; 4, 7th Batt HLI, PM R Reid.
Open Drumming Contest: 1. Millhall; 2. Kirkcaldy Caledonia.
Territorial Band Contest (confined to Territorial bands competing in Open Contest): 1. &th HLI, PM R Reid; 2. 8th A&SH, PM J MacLellan DCM; 3. 5th HLI, PM A McPhedran.
Territorial Drumming Contest: 1. 7th HLI; 2. 8th A&SH.
The Gathering was featured on the wireless when the Glasgow radio station S4C broadcast at 2.30pm to 5pm ‘Relay of the pipe band competitions; March past of a thousand pipers; Address by the Lady Elspeth Campbell of Argyll and Lieut Col Ian Campbell (8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) from the Cowal Highland Gathering, Dunoon.’ Included in the programme was a concert held in conjunction with the games, in which the St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band was featured.
The Oban Pipe Band. Great Success at Cowal Gathering.
In addition to the report on the Gathering which had already mentioned the Oban band, the Oban Times also had a feature with the full story of the band’s day at Cowal: “Great pleasure was evinced in the news received on Saturday night of the Pipe Band’s success in winning the Walter Scott Shield at the Cowal Highland Gathering. A telegraphic message was received at the Oban Times Office shortly after the award had been announced, and large numbers congregated to read and discuss the gratifying intelligence.
“The Band left Oban for Dunoon early on Saturday morning, travelling by Messrs Munro’s car the Marmion, and arrived at their destination about 10am. Forming up in the Castle Gardens the Band marched through the main street, which was lined with a keenly interested crowd of spectators. The bright colouring of the MacDougall tartan, the picturesque swing of the pipers and drummers, and the lively march of the Bonawe Highlanders, gained for the band a special share of the crowd’s attention, and it is not too much to say that the Oban Pipe Band was one of the most attractive combinations of the many that marched along the main street at short intervals on their way to the field. The bands entered for the various competitions included regimental, civilian, Boys’ Brigade and Irish, and the competitions were held throughout the forenoon and afternoon.
“The Oban Pipe Band gave its performance in the afternoon, marching on to the field, twelve strong, under Pipe Major Lawrie. Their competition tunes were the March, Strathspey and Reel Glengarry Gathering, Bob o’ Fettercairn and Ca’ the Ewes. These were rendered in a fashion which won for them a round of applause when leaving the field.
“At the prize giving Pipe Major Lawrie received the Walter Scott Shield and medals at the hands of Lady Elspeth Campbell, sister of His Grace the Duke of Argyll. The band afterwards marched round the field followed by a large number of supporters, and playing Oban Bay.
“The Walter Scott Shield and medals were presented by Colonel Walter Scott, New York, as second prize in the competition confined to bands which had never before won a prize at the Cowal Gathering. In this competition 19 bands entered on Saturday. The Oban Band is to be congratulated on winning such a handsome trophy.
“This constitutes their second outstanding success since the formation of the Band about three years ago. From their first competitive venture, the Band contests at Comrie in 1924, they returned in triumph with the beautiful silver rose bowl awarded as first prize for bands which had not previously won a prize at the Comrie Gathering. The Pipe Band’s latest success promises well for a brilliant future.”
1950
The World Championships for 1950 was held at Dens Park in Dundee on 24th June. The order of play was 11am Juvenile and Ladies Contest, 12 noon Grade Three Contest, 12.30pm Grade Two Contest, 2.30pm World’s Pipe Band Championship. 5pm World’s Championship Drum Majors Contest. The Juvenile dancing started at 12 noon and there were displays of Scottish Country Dancing at 2pm and 5.15pm.
After the competitions the music for the march past at 5.45pm was provided by the Glasgow Police, World Champions in 1949. When all the bands had been assembled, with Senior Drum Major John Seton DCM MM in charge, the Clan MacRae Society, World Champion Drummers in 1949 played a Drummers Call then the massed bands played Bonnie Dundee and the Chieftain’s Salute Highland Laddie. The results were then announced and the prizes were presented by the Countess of Airlie. The Grade 1 World Championship winners were Edinburgh Police, PM Donald S Ramsay. Their tunes were Elspeth Campbell, Shepherd’s Crook, Rejected Suitor. The other prizes went to 2. Dalzell Highland, 3. Shotts and Dykehead, 4. Rutherglen, 5. Clan MacRae Society.
Drumming – Clan MacRae.
Grade Two: 1. Camelon; 2. Lennox Clainn Albainn; 3. Bucksburn and District, Aberdeen; 4. City of Dundee. Drumming-Camelon.
Grade Three: 1. Babcock Wilcox; 2.Kelty and Blairadam; 3. Macleod, Dundee; 4. Fauldhouse Miners’ Welfare. Drumming—Kirkcaldy British Legion.
Juvenile: 1. Newtongrange; 2. Woolmet Colliery; 3. Dundonald Collier4. 4. 24th Dundee BB. Drumming—Woolmet Colliery.
Ladies and Girls: 1. Clan Stewart Ladies, Glasgow; 2.Lochgelly Ladies; 3. Edinburgh and District Ladies. Drumming— Lochgelly.
Bass Drumming–Grade I and II: Govan Red Hackle, Clan MacRae Society and Glasgow Transport, equal. Grade III, Ladies, and Juvenile: Lochgelly Ladies, Broughtv Ferry and Dundonald Juvenile, equal.
Bands and their pipe majors playing at the Worlds in 1950 were:
Juvenile: Woolmet Colliery, PM Frank McGhee; 24th Dundee BB, PM George Payne; Newtongrange, PM William Peacock; Dundonald Colliery, PM R MacKay; 47th Dundee BB, PM J Carstairs; 12th Paisley BB, PM T Linton.
Adult Bands. Grade 3 – Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun, PM Thomas Campbell; Glasgow Cleansing Department, PM Tom Cusick; Kelty and Blairadam, PM Robert Innes; Rothesay, PM A Martin; Montrose, PM F J Adam; 47th Edinburgh Ex-members BB, PM George Small; Forfar Burgh, PM David Chalmers; Kirkcaldy British Legion, PM Thomas Finlay; MacLeod (Dundee), PM Angus MacLeod; Broughty Ferry, PM D S Stewart; Allandale, PM John McConnachie; Babcock and Wilcox, PM Hector MacLean; Fauldhouse Miners Welfare, PM David Baillie; Carluke Caledonia, PM Wm B Lyle.
Grade 2: Craigneuk Parish, PM Duncan MacPhedran; Anchor Mills, PM Robert Purdie; Glasgow Shepherds, PM Archibald MacPhedran; Law Highland, PM William McCall; Bucksburn and District, PM David C Duncan; Paisley British Legion, PM John Traquair; City of Dundee, PM A P Chalmers; Newmains and District, PM A Sheath; Cowdenbeath Public, PM William Brown; Carluke Caledonia, PM William B Lyle; Edinburgh Postal, PM John Ross; Lennox Clainn Albainn, PM C Cochrane.
Ladies: Clan Stewart Ladies, PM Miss Annie McNeill; Lochgelly Ladies, PM Miss Jean Harris; Edinburgh and District Ladies, PM Miss A Henderson.
Grade 1: Glasgow Police, PM John MacDonald; Muirhead and Sons, PM James Wilson; Clan MacRae Society, PM Alex MacLeod; Rutherglen, PM James Baxter; Clan Fraser, PM F B Melvin; Red Hackle, PM A MacLeod, Paisley British Legion, PM John Traquair; Michael Colliery and District, PM John Stewart; Edinburgh Special Constabulary, PM Thomas Daniels; Bowhill Colliery and District, PM C McL Sutherland; Kinglassie Colliery and District, PM Alex Burnside; Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia, PM Thomas McAllister; Edinburgh City Police, PM Donald S Ramsay; Dalzell Highland, PM David Ross; Glasgow Transport, PM A McDermid; City of Dundee, PM A S Chalmers; Lochore and Crosshill, PM Hugh McPherson; Newmains and District, PM A Sheath; MacKenzie (Dundee), PM Adam Fleming; Bonhill Parish, PM J A Jackson; Renfrew, PM C McK Calder.
All the bands played a march, strathspey and reel. As the judges were under cover there were no announcements but the programme numbers the bands and the tunes to be played were shown on a board. The tunes were all listed in the programme with the marches indicated by the letters A to Z, but with only 26 letters the numbers 2 to 14 were added as there was a total of 39 different marches to indicate. The strathspeys were indicated by the letters A to Z and with numbers 2 and 3 used for the last two on the list, as there were only 28 different strathspeys. The reels were listed A to Z plus 2, 3 and 4 to indicate the 29 different reels. The board might show, for example, Band number 6 playing March A, Strathspey C and Reel F. The marches were: Balmoral Highlanders, Duke of Roxburgh, Highland Wedding, Abercairney Highlanders, Donald Cameron, Dr MacLeod, Leaving Lunga, John MacFadyen, Millbank Cottage, Pipe Major Gray, Braes of Badenoch, Lord Alexander Kennedy, Atholl and Breadalbane, Sir Arthur Bignold, Col. Birnie, Murray’s Welcome, Dugald MacColl, James MacLean, Alex. McKechnie, Southall, Young MacGregor, Kantara to El-Arish, Leaving Glenurquhart, 1st Cameron’s Farewell, 74th’s Farewell, Hills o’ Perth, Clan MacRae, Australian Ladies, Pipe Major MacAllister, Jeannie Carruthers, Glengarry Gathering, Duchess of Edinburgh, Mrs MacColl, Lady Elspeth Campbell, Braes of Strathblane, Edinburgh City Police, Argyllshire Gathering, Stirlingshire Militia, Stornoway Gathering. The strathspeys were: Arniston Castle, Cameronian Rant, Dornie Ferry, Dorrator Bridge, Bob o’ Fettercairn, Blair Drummond, Maggie Cameron, Inveraray Castle, Shepherd’s Crook, Atholl Cummers, Tulloch Gorm, Bogan Lochan, Craigvenow, Hector MacLean, Ewe wi’ Crookit Horn, Caledonian Society, Dora McLeod, Caledonian Canal, Campbell of Glendale, Kelvinside, Mrs Alex Wilson, Jessie’s Welcome, Struan Robertson, Highland Harry, Brig o’ Perth, Lady Louden, McKenzie of Fairburn, Tulloch Castle. The reels were: Pretty Marion, Over the Isles, Mrs McPherson, John MacKechnie, MacAllister’s Dirk, Loch Carron, Rejected Suitor, Thomson’s Dirk, Arnish Light, Ca’ the Ewes, Khaki Apron, Old Man from Glengarry, Piper o’ Drummond, Miss Proud, Struy Lodge, Caber Feidh, Sheepwife, Jacky Latin, Blackbird, Alick McGregor, The Grey Bob, Stornoway Castle, Willie Murray, Bessie McIntyre, The Flagon, Lochiel’s away to France, Geane McLeod, Smith of Chilliechassie, Duncan Lamont.
1975
In 1975 the re-organisation of local government brought changes for all the police pipe bands. Edinburgh Police became Lothian and Borders Police, Aberdeen Police became Grampian Police, Dundee Police became Tayside Police and Glasgow Police became Strathclyde Police. The bands of Renfrew and Bute Police and Lanarkshire Police ceased to exist and some of their members became members of the Strathclyde Police pipe band.
The World Championship competitions were held in England for the first time in 1975 and were located in Corby on 9th August, a town with a large Scottish population. This began when Glasgow-based Stewarts & Lloyds constructed one of the UK’s largest steelworks in Corby in the 1930s. A downturn in the Clyde Valley’s steel industry led to large numbers of Scots moving south. By 1961, a third of Corby’s population had been born in Scotland, according to the Census.
Despite this Seumas MacNeill questioned the suitability of Corby as a venue in his Piping Times editorial of April 1975: ‘The World Pipe Band Championships will be held in Corby. The burning question in the band rooms is not even ‘Why Corby?’ but rather ‘Where is Corby?’ Always the source of reliable information, we proudly supply the answer- somewhere in England. If pressed to guess we would say it’s half way down on the left-hand side, a wee bit in from the coast. There are quite a number of cities, towns and villages in England. Off-hand we know playing members of bands in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, in Morpeth, North Shields and Blackpool, so the place is not entirely devoid of Highland culture. We have seen and heard bands from several of those places playing in our Scottish competitions. But Corby is not one of them. To give England her due (and wouldn’t we all like to do that) she still has many beautiful areas, the Lake District, the Peaks, the Dales, Kent, Lincolnshire, Devon, Cornwall, with well appointed towns and villages of distinct rural charm. But Corby is not one of them. After all, granted the WC has to go to the English sometimes (the converse is also true) and accepting the fact that for most bands it’s a hundred miles to the border for a start, why not at least choose a spot famous for its beauty, or its history, or its bright lights and gaiety. But Corby?’
There was a good turnout of the higher grade bands but in the lower grades there were fewer Scottish bands but the numbers were made up to a certain extent by English bands who found it easier to attend than might have been the case had the competition been in the north of Scotland. The weather was very hot with bright sunshine, making playing conditions uncomfortable for band members wearing heavy doublets, plaids and feather bonnets. The Grade 1 World Championship was awarded to Lothian and Borders Police, PM Iain McLeod. Their winning selection was: Dunedeach; Going to Pitlochry; Bobbie Cuthbertson; Jackie Tar; Cutting Bracken; Orange and Blue; Margaret Duncan; Margaret Brown of Cramond Bridge; Deil Among the Tailors; The Fairy Dance; Mrs. MacLeod of Raasay; The Circassian Circle.
Their other submitted selection was: Follow My Highland Soldier; Caber Feidh; The Piper’s Waltz; The Man from Skye; Mrs. MacDonald of Tiree; The High Road to Linton; Jock Wilson’s Ball; The Kilt is My Delight. The other prizes went to: 2. Muirhead and Sons, 3. Dysart and Dundonald, 4. Shotts and Dykehead, 5. Strathclyde Police, 6. Red Hackle. Drumming: Dysart and Dundonald. Overseas: City of Wellington. Twenty bands entered in Grade One, each submitting two selections.
The other results were Grade Two: (12 Bands). (Selection). 1. BP Grangemouth Social and Recreational Club, 2. Bowhill and Seafield Collieries, 3. Beeston and District, 4. Kelty and Blairadam, 5. Annan Ex-Service Club, 6. The Royal Highland Fusiliers. Drumming: BP Grangemouth. Overseas: St Lawrence, Howth. Grade Three: (19 Bands). (Selection). 1. Warrington, 2. Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia, 3. Carluke Caledonia, 4. East Kilbride Burgh, 5. St George’s CLB, 6. Rose Fletcher Ladies. Drumming: Pride of Murray. No Overseas bands.
Juvenile: (5 Bands). (Selection). 1. Ballingry School, 2. Vancouver Kiwanis Boys, 3. 214th Glasgow BB. Drumming: Ballingry School.
Grade Four: (27 Bands). (Marches). 1. South Eastern Fire Service, 2. Mickleover RBL, 3. Triumph Motors (Coventry), 4. Speedbird (British Airways), 5. Heather Pipes and Drums. Drumming: City of Bradford. Overseas: Selected Piping Group, Amsterdam. There was a prize for the best Ladies Band not on the Prize List but this was not awarded.
Novice Juveniles: (Marches). (Only two bands played although there were three in the programme). 1. Knightswood Juveniles, 2. Cumbernauld Caledonia. Drumming: Knightswood.
The judges were: J Smith, A Burnside, G Black, J Rea, J Ferguson, R McCroskie.
The full list of bands and their pipe majors entered for the Worlds in 1975 was:
Novice Juvenile: Cumbernauld Caledonia, PM R Hambley; Torphichen and Bathgate Juvenile, PM A Samuel Knightswood Juvenile, PM S Brown.
Grade Four: City of Bristol, PM J Johnson; Larkhall and District RBL, PM N Christie; Graham Highland Pipers, PM T Graham; Speedbird (British Airways), PM J Rogers; South Eastern Fire Service, PM A Pinkman; City of Leeds, PM J Nixon; Wolverhampton, PM J Thomson; White Hackle (London), PM J Martin; Stevenage and District, PM H MacLellan; Milton Keynes and District, PM H Constable; Stewart and Lloyds; PM R Stewart; Pontefract and District Caledonian Society, PM W Bell: Triumph Motors (Coventry), PM J Tudhope; City of Newcastle, PM I Nelson; Mickleover RBL, PM A Lee; Heather Pipes and Drums of Copenhagen ‘B’, PM E Jepsen; RAF Sealand, PM S Stacey; Bolton Scottish, PM F Warburton; Select Piping Group Amsterdam, PM T Korzilius; Deeside Ladies, PM L Nicolson; Lindsay, PM H Such; Heather Pipes and Drums of Copenhagen ‘A’, PM P Holm; City of Bradford, PM J Gilchrist; Scunthorpe and District Caledonian Society, PM J Henderson; Luton RBL, PM D Drummond; Peterborough Highland, PM J Hanlon; Houghton-Le-Spring, PM E James.
Juvenile: 214th Glasgow BB, PM A MacIver; Ballingry School, PM R Shepherd; 1st Port Glasgow BB, PM D Thomson; 108th Glasgow BB, PM M MacKenzie; Vancouver Kiwanis Boys, PM M Nicholson.
Grade Three: East Kilbride Burgh, PM J Hawthorn; St George’s CLB, PM J Swarbrick; Kilsyth Thistle, PM J Robertson; Lady Victoria Colliery, PM T Wilson; Hoover, PM F McCabe; Ballykeal (Moneyrea), PM R Barry; Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia, PM R Martin; Blue Bonnets (City of London), PM A Barker; Kinning Park, PM W Kinnear; Oban, PM A MacLennan; Rose Fletcher Ladies, PM R Fletcher; Selkirk Royal Burgh; PM L McIver; Carluke Caledonia, PM T Boyd; Newmains and District, PM J Smith; City of Manchester, PM O Nash; Fredericton Society of St Andrew, PM I Downie; Dalzell Steelworks Caledonia, PM D Atkinson; Pride of Murray, PM J McGinn; Warrington, PM W Strathearn.
Grade Two: Royal Highland Fusiliers, PM W E Frame; BP (Grangemouth) Social and Recreation Club, PM A Donaldson; Bowhill and Seafield Collieries, PM A Downie; St Laurence Howth Dublin, PM P Kelly; Monktonhall Colliery, PM W McBride; Campbeltown, PM A Wilson; Beeston and District, PM I MacLeod; Kinross and District PM T Finlay, Torphichen and Bathgate, PM A Samuel; Kelty and Blairadam, PM J Buist; Annan Ex-Service Club, PM W Cowan, Hawick, PM H Brown.
Grade One: Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia, PM T McAllister Jr., Bucksburn and District, PM D Duncan; Invergordon Distillery and District, PM J Jackson, 153 (Highland) Regt. RCT, PM P Snaddon; Robert Armstrong Memorial, PM T Geddis; Glasgow Skye Association, PM D MacLeod; Woolmet-Danderhall, PM N Summors; Red Hackle, PM J Weatherston; Mount Carmel, PM W McMinn; Dingwall RBL, PM T Dear; Strathclyde Police, PM I McLellan; Seagram’s 100 Pipers Whisky, PM E McAtear; Dysart and Dundonald, PM R Shepherd; 2nd Bn Scots Guards, PM L Ingram; Lothian and Borders Police, PM I McLeod; City of Wellington Highland (New Zealand), PM F MacKinnon; British Caledonian Airways (Renfrew), PM R Stewart; Johnnie Walker, PM D Stevenson; Muirhead and Sons, PM R G Hardie; Polkemmet, PM S Reid.
2000
There were some changes to the layout in 2000, with the Grade 1 arena being moved to a different part of the Green and some seating provided on three sides. This layout, with some minor changes, would continue until 2006. The day stayed dry for the competitions, but the rain started as the bands began to prepare for the finale. By the time the bands marched on there was heavy rain.
In 2000 the points system was changed to a placings system. Instead of awarding points each of the four judges placed the bands in order of preference, a first place scoring one point and so on. The scores were then collated and the band with the lowest score was the winner.
Six bands were chosen to join those already qualified for the Grade 1 final. They were: MacNaughton’s Vale of Atholl, PM I Duncan; Field Marshal Montgomery (N Ireland), PM R Parkes; Scottish Power, PM R MacLeod; Strathclyde Police, PM I Plunkett; Simon Fraser University (Canada), PM T Lee; Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia, PM R Mathieson; Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia, PM R Walker. The City of Washington was listed at number seven in the order of play but no tunes were listed, just the name of the band with withdrawn in brackets after the name.
The Grade 1 World Champions for 2000 were Shotts and Dykehead led by PM Robert Mathieson. Their tunes submitted for the MSR final were: Highland Wedding, Dora MacLeod, The Sheepwife. Captain Carswell, Susan MacLeod, Mrs MacPherson of Inveran. Their selection was The First One Hundred, Showboat, The Curlew, Caber Feidh, The Bells of Dunblane, The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman, Puirt a Beul, The Judge with the Grudge, Legless in Lisburn.
The other places went to 2. Field Marshal Montgomery, 3. Simon Fraser University, 4. Scottish Power, 5. 78th Fraser Highlanders, 6. Boghall and Bathgate.
The results in the other grades were: Grade 2. 1. Prince Charles, USA, 2. Lothian and Borders Police, 3. Niagara Regional Police, 4. Grampian Police, 5. Queensland Highlanders, 6. Ravara.
Grade 3a: 1. Cumber Claudy, 2. R P Blandford and Son, USA, 3. 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 4. Tullylagan, 5. Mountjoy, 6. Banbridge.
Grade 3b: 1. Howard Memorial, 2. Holbaek, Denmark, 3. Perth and District, 4. Pontefract and District, 5. Bready, 6. Big Rock, Canada.
Grade 4a: 1. Syerla, 2. Cullenfad, 3. Malahide and District, 4. Ballybriest, 5. Quinn Memorial, 6. Kilmarnock.
Grade 4b: 1. Gilnakirk, 2. Northern Caledonia, 3. Big Rock, Canada, 4. Penicuik and District, 5. Lomond and Clyde, 6. Finvoy.
Juvenile: 1. Paisley, 2. Lochgelly High School, 3. MacNaughton’s Vale of Atholl, 4. Bucksburn and District, 5. Lord Selkirk Boy Scouts, Canada, 6. Burntisland and District.
Novice Juvenile: 1. Dumbarton and District, 2. George Watson’s College, 3. Monkstown Mossley Junior, 4. Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia, 5. Lochgelly High School, 6. Bowhill.
The judges were: Grade 1 Qualifier. D Cardwell, M MacKenzie, W Goodall, T Dear. Grade 1 Final Medley. I McLellan, R Shepherd, C Mordaunt, G Lumsden. Grade 1 Final MSR. D Clark, H Stevenson, W Reynolds, D Brown. Grade 2. Q1. J Campbell, I Wood, J MacInnes, G Summors. Grade 2 Q2. D McConnell, H McNulty, G Parkes, J Baxter. Grade 3A. J Campbell, I Wood, J MacInnes, G Summors. Grade 3B. D McConnell, H McNulty, G Parkes, J Baxter. Juvenile. D Cardwell, M MacKenzie, W Goodall, T Dear. Grade 4A. L Ingram, G Shepherd, H Russell, P Snaddon. Grade 4B Q1. N Russell, R Worrall, J Hutton, J Noble. Grade 4B Q2. I McLellan, R Shepherd, C Mordaunt, G Lumsden. Novice Juvenile. J Wilson, A Ronaldson, W Dunlop, A Aitken. Reserve J Kennedy.
The bands and their Pipe Majors playing at the Worlds on 12th August 2000 at Glasgow Green were as follows:
Novice Juvenile: Oldmeldrum RBL, PM B Tough; Warrington Academy, PM A McKenzie; Knightswood, PM M Pert; 1st Houston Boys and Girls Brigade; Dumbarton and District, PM M Hamill; 47th Culter BB, PM S Insch; Burntisland and District, PM J Forbes; Craigmount High School, PM S Drever; Milngavie, PM J Prattis; 231st Glasgow BB, PM G Paterson; Inverkeithing High School, PM N Cameron; Bo’ness, PM W Simpson; Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia, PM J Dow; Lochgelly High School, PM B Adam; City of St Andrews, PM J Mitchell; Colorado Youth (USA), PM I D Moore; Kirkcaldy and District, PM W Jamieson; Bowhill, PM D Clunie; Monkstown Mossley, PM R Kirkpatrick; George Watson’s College, PM J Simpson; Seafield and District, PM C Armstrong; Stirling and District Schools, PM A Davidson MBE.
Grade 4B: East Kilbride, PM R Shanks; Kinglassie and District, PM D Smith; Big Rock (USA), PM H Palmer; Chicago Highlanders (USA), PM B Dickerman; Northern Caledonia, PM S Todd; St Patrick’s Youth (Ireland), PM J Lane; Kilsyth Thistle, PM J Robertson; Corpus Christi (USA), PM A O’Byrne; Ashbourne and District, PM J Dungavel; Methil and District, PM R Barnes; West Linton and District, PM D MacKenzie; St. Francis, PM D McCafferty; Clan Albanach Queensferry and District, PM J Dudley; Fraser (Canada), PM G Schmidt; Muirkirk and District, PM J Young; Gilnakirk, PM S Moore; Girvan and District, PM J A Wilson; Penicuik and District, PM E Hanratty; Gransha, PM T Robinson; Arbroath RBL, PM R Kennedy; Kirkcudbright and District Castle McLellan, PM J K Wemyss; Crag Dhe Cead (USA), PM R Winslow; Warrington Academy, PM A MacKenzie; Finvoy, PM C Getty; Mourne Vale Independent, PM S Warren; Tweedvale, PM B Gillie; Uddingston Strathclyde, PM B Donnachie; Williamwood, PM A C Melvin; Kenora Scottish (Canada), PM W Shepherd; MacDonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh PA Inc (USA), PM R J Blachley; Lomond and Clyde, PM P Warren; Dreghorn and Bourtreehill, PM G McKeand; City of New Westminster Community Pipe Band (Canada), PM J Fitzpatrick; Schenectady (USA), PM H Scott; Holbaek (Denmark), PM B Bouhadana; Louisville (USA), PM R Caudill; Moffat, PM I McIntyre; Lanark and District, PM J Dunnachie; City of Sault Sainte Marie (Canada), PM J Kelso; Saint Brieg and District (France), PM B Lucas; Dunfermline and District, PM K Hogg; Callander and District, PM T Dingwall; Duns RBL, PM A D Ainslie; Vale of Clyde, PM R Howat; 8 Wing Canadian Forces Base Trenton (Canada), PM J MacDonald.
Grade 4A: Houghton Le Spring, PM D Tench; Kilmarnock, PM G Sharp; Altnaveigh Memorial, PM D Hanna; Magherafelt and District, PM D Reid; Bo’ness RBL, PM C McCluckie; Quinn Memorial, PM H Bloomfield; Glencorse, PM W Kenyon; Ballybriest, PM A Mitchell; Newtongrange, PM A Hall; Crozier Memorial, PM D Trainor; Kirkconnel, PM J Faulds; Heather Pipes and Drums of Copenhagen (Denmark), PM P Holm; City of Denver (USA), PM A Planck; Inverkeithing and District, PM B Stephen; Linwood Caledonia, PM S Black; Troon Blackrock, PM A Donahoe; Sgt Walker Memorial, PM W McNeill; Mountfield, PM I Anthony; Bellaghy, PM G Dempsey; Milngavie, PM K Stevenson; Linlithgow and District, PM G Moultrie; Augharan, PM L Willis; Banbury and District Caledonian, PM S Duffy; Syerla, PM B McMullan; RAF Leuchars, PM I Hughes; Royal Burgh of Stirling, PM S Cassells; City of Brechin, PM C Black; Bro Matt Boyd Memorial, PM A Ferguson; Seven Towers, PM R Todd; City of Glasgow Kinning Park, PM S Brownlie; Chicago Highlanders (USA), PM J Wilson; West Yorkshire Fire Service, PM J Gall; West Midlands Fire Service, PM K Walker; Cullenfad, PM A Shilliday; Hawick, PM C Renwick.
Juvenile: Lord Selkirk Boy Scouts (Canada), PM B Fraser; Arbroath RB, PML R Kennedy; Bucksburn and District, PM L MacDonald; Lochgelly High School, PM T Brown; Dunoon Grammar School, PM A Grant; Inverness Schools, PM I J MacAffer; MacNaughton’s Vale of Atholl, PM A Renwick; Paisley, PM C Johnston; Burntisland and District, PM A Forbes; Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia, PM A Kerr.
Grade 3B: Moneygore, PM Hodgen; Pride of Murray, PM J McGinn; Johnstone, PM K Bowes; Hollymount, PM R Newell; Holbaek (Denmark), PM D Lundgreen; Colmcille, PM B Hasson; Ballydonaghy, PM S MacAuley; Regimental Pipes and Drums The Calgary Highlanders (Canada,) M MacDonald; Inverclyde, PM R Archibald; Tullintrain, PM S Neely; Bready, PM R Campbell; Big Rock (Canada), PM D Trew; Turriff and District, PM W Hepburn; University of Luton, PM T Doherty; Cottown, PM C McClelland; Kinross and District, PM A Murphy; Ayr Pipe Band Society, PM K McPhate; Perth and District, PM S Murray; Kirkcaldy and District, PM D Young; Pontefract and District Caledonian Society, PM A MacKay; Howard Memorial, PM R Kirkland; Major Sinclair Memorial, PM D Wilson; Inverness, PM A McAffer; Fintan Lalor (Ireland,) P Byrne.
Grade 3A: Annan Ex-Service Club, PM C Cowan. St Finbarrs (Ireland), PM B McCarthy; Cumber Claudy, PM T Wray; Oban, PM I Hurst; St Laurence O’Toole Clondalkin (Ireland,) P Duffy; City of Amsterdam (Holland), PM F Bronius; Delville (South Africa), PM I Jansen; North Belfast WMC, PM R Campbell; Lord Edwards Own Narraghmore (Ireland), PM C Murphy; Strathclyde Fire Brigade, PM R Shaw; Dornoch, PM W Fraser; Toronto Police (Canada), PM B Urkosky; Culter and District, PM N Selbie; Dingwall RBLS, PM P Harrison; Mountjoy, PM R Jack; Dr Wright Memorial, PM J Ferguson; Frank Rainey Memorial, PM F Smith; Cyril Scott (USA), PM C Marlatt; Banbridge, PM A Gourlay; Beeston and District, PM D Huskinson; Killadeas, PM K Ferguson; MacLean Annan, PM D McCracken; Tullylagan, PM W Robinson; Milngavie, PM T Campbell; 1st Batt Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, PM G M Rowan; R P Blandford and Son, PM K Blandford; Leapoughs, PM R Greer; Woodgrange, PM G Bready; Coalburn IOR, PM D Williams.
Grade 2: Upper Crossgare, PM T Connor; Denny and Dunipace, PM C Whyte; Ballinderry Bridge, PM V McCann; Polkemmet, PM S Young; Lothian and Borders Police, PM C MacLellan; Pipes and Drums of the Baron of Lee, PM D Ogilvie; Heather Pipes and Drums of Copenhagen (Denmark), PM T Harboe; Ravara, PM S Connelly; Dumbarton and District, PM G Lawrie; Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, PM B Brotherton; Newtongrange, PM R Burns; Monkstown Mossley, PM C Rankin; Tayside Police, PM L Ellis; Killeen, PM P Boyce; Dunoon Argyll, PM D Wotherspoon; Cullybackey, PM A Gilmore; Grampian Police, PM D Sinclair; Prince Charles (USA), PM B Woodley; Maple Ridge Pipe Band Society (Canada), PM A McPherson; Drambuie Kirkliston, PM G Wilson; Bagad Cap Caval (France), PM H Le Floch; City of St Andrews, PM N Horn; Richmond Avenue (South Africa), PM R Davies; Northern Ireland Prison Service, PM I Browne; Queensland Highlanders (Australia), PM J Palfrey; Clonoe Independent, PM J Hanna; Bleary and District, PM N Davidson; Houghton Le Spring, PM C Noble; Bucksburn and District, PM S Rhynas; Chivas Regal, PM K McDermid; Hamilton (USA), PM D Frobese; City of Glasgow, PM J Nevans; Scottish Gas, PM G Campbell; Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, PM C Watson; MacKenzie Caledonian, PM I McRobbie; Niagara Regional Police (Canada), PM A Ash; Wallacestone and District, PM D Anderson; 1st Batt The Highlanders, PM M Gray; 1st Batt King’s Own Scottish Borderers, PM E Stuart; Ballycoan, PM A Rea; Cabar Feidh (USA), PM G Thompson; Glassdrummond, PM I Bryson; Torphichen and Bathgate, PM M Bennett; Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia, PM E Jones.
Grade 1 Qualifier: McNeilstown (N Ireland), PM F Andrews; Hydro Electric Buchan, PM R A Skinner; 78th Fraser Highlanders (Canada), PM W Livingstone; St Laurence O’Toole (Ireland), PM T Tully; Los Angeles Scots (USA), PM S MacDonald; Glasgow Skye Association, PM I Roddick; Toronto Police (Canada), PM I MacDonald; David Urquhart Travel, PM A Fletcher; Halifax Regional (Canada), PM R MacLean; Royal Ulster Constabulary (N Ireland), PM T Sloane; Dysart and Dundonald, PM B Lamond; Peel Regional Police (Canada), PM J Elliot; Alberta Caledonia (Canada), PM A McIntyre; City of Wellington (New Zealand), PM F MacKinnon.