Parades & Events
British Pipe Band Championships
Paisley 2019
On Saturday 18 May 2019, more than 4,000 Pipers, Drummers and Pipe Majors of all ages braved wet weather to take part in the British Pipe Band Championships at Paisley. The event, said to be only second in size to the World Pipe Band Championships, featured 123 bands and attracted a large crowd to see pipers from as far afield as the USA, Belgium and Denmark. I went along for a few hours around lunchtime and left just as the top-level Grade 1 heats began. Next time I hope to stay longer and wait for the prize giving and massed march past at the end of the day.
Included here are shots of the various band members (mainly from the lower-grade outfits but no less entertaining), pipe majors, athletes and other characters that were present fairly early in the day - even a few dogs, not all of which were suitably attired! Although the playing fields can`t compete with Levengrove Park with its dramatic backdrop of Dumbarton Castle which will host the Scottish Pipe Band Championships this coming July, the Paisley event was first-class and a great day out, despite the unsettled conditions. Parking close to the venue at Paisley was easy with no visible traffic congestion while I was there. Despite the large number of participants and visitors, much of the available ground at St James was unused and having attended the Scottish Championships at Dumbarton several times in recent years, there seemed to be more room at Paisley with the various arenas better spaced.
British Pipe Band Championships
Grade 1 victors this time round were St Laurence O`Toole (above) from the Republic of Ireland, followed closely by Scottish Power then Inveraray & District with erstwhile World Champions Field Marshall Montgomery `only` achieving a respectable 5th place. Most of the other bands would be more than happy with that position but no doubt Pipe Major Richard Parkes MBE (below) and the rest of Field Marshall Montgomery would look on it as a total disaster!
British Drum Major Championships
It wasn`t just the illegal use of drones that pilots on approach to the airport had to keep a lookout for on Saturday, but low-flying maces!
Highland Games
There was a Highland Dancing tent and a Highland Games area with various tests of strength including Throwing the hammer, Shot put, Log lift and Tossing the Caber to name but a few - another entertaining element to the Paisley event. All-in-all, an excellent family day out - decent weather would be a bonus!