13 August 2011

The Results

Grade Novice Juvenile
Kintyre Schools
Drums Kintyre Schools

Grade 4B
Closkelt
Drums Bo'ness

Grade 4A
Scottish Borders
Drums Scottish Borders

Grade Juvenile
George Watson's College
Drums George Watson's College

Grade 3B
New York Metro
Drums New York Metro

Grade 3A
Oban
Drums PSNI

Grade 2
Seven Towers
Drums Denny & Dunipace

Grade 1
FMMPB
SFU
Scottish Power
Inveraray & District
SLOT
Boghall & Bathgate

MSR FMMPB
Medley FMMPB

Drums
Overall Shotts
MSR Boghall & Bathgate
Medley FMMPB

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The Finale

P3090

The playing is over, let the interminable nonsense of the Finale begin.

Having had a couple of wee vertigo wobbles, I have retreated to the safety of an abandoned stand and am waiting while over 200 bands dander slowly into the ring to the dulcet gulders of Mervyn Herron. There has got to be a better way of doing this.

Predictions?

Well, as usual I spent my time in the tuning park and can't account for the effect the ring may have had, nor can I comment on the actual performances in there. Furthermore, I didn't see SLOT at all, although one of their players told me their MSR had gone very well.

So, taking into account all those riders, I liked FMMPB, Inveraray, and SFU. Most of the others were competent but uninspiring. I know that sounds harsh when talking about such great players, but you know what I mean.

The overseas bands should be bringing up the rear - and some way back, to be honest. My nagging doubts about the judging remain - it sometimes looks like a few get into the Final simply by virtue of having travelled so far. It will be easier to confirm or refute that notion once I get a chance to watch the Internet feed from the BBC at home.

Anyway, not long to go now - stay tuned for the results.

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Almost Done

P3077

Following a brief shower, Inveraray are back in final tuning. They are sounding pretty special and may well be high in the top six.

The buzz is that FM were good. Unbeatable? Who knows?

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Almost Done

P3077

Following a brief shower, Inveraray are back in final tuning. They are sounding pretty special and may well be high in the top six.

The buzz is that FM were good. Unbeatable? Who knows?

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Billy No Mates

Compare the crowd watching Shotts to absolutely no one watching Oran Mor!

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Again! Do it Again!

Inveraray finish off the MSR competition and Scottish Power are already in final tuning to start the Medley!

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Wild Hairy Haggis

At points like this nothing can really be said.

I declined the kind offer to drench it in whisky!

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Crowds

P3055

I still think the numbers look down on last year, but there is a respectable mob surrounding the Grade 1 MSR Final with Manawatu in the ring.

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Cool FM?

P3051

Destined to deliver or to disappoint?

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Shotts

P3047

Through the Qualifier and looking happy.

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Oran Mor

P3044

Mistakes when practicing. Rushed reel. Indistinct drum sound. Contenders for last place?

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SFU in the House

P3039

Another biggie!

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Boghall

P3035

Sounding very nice. Drummers going brilliantly as usual under Gordon Brown (not that one).

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Cullybackey

P3031

Warming up for the MSR now is Cullybackey. Looking increasingly assured in Grade 1, they must be hopeful of a finish in the top half of the Grade but competition may perhaps be just too tight for them this year.

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Cullybackey

Warming up for the MSR is Cullybackey. Looking increasingly assured in Grade 1, they are no longer "also rans". Hopeful of the top half of the Grade?

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Scottish Power

P3024

Already in final tuning to kick off the Grade 1 MSR!

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Grade 1 Qualifiers

P3020

They've gone all low tech again. Instead of putting the names on the big screen, they have been at work with the felt tip and whiteboard.

Great to see Cullybackey in there. Some bug Scottish names missing, though.

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Just Arrived

P3016

Crowds perhaps a little lighter than last year but weather okay at the minute, so it may improve yet.

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06 August 2011

Live Blogging the Worlds 2011

Wpbc_2011_lores
For the second year in succession, I intend to try to Blog live from Glasgow Green this day week during the World Pipe Band Championships. As regular readers will know, the results of last year's efforts were a little patchy - but only due to the appalling cellphone reception at the Green. Whether O2 will have done anything about that remains to be seen, but I will be persevering anyway. I think that I managed to get the full Grade 1 results onto the web before practically anyone else and I'll try to do the same thing this year.

One addition this time round is the addition of autoposting to the Aiblins Facebook Page. I know that a lot of bandsmen are Facebook addicts, so it may be that this would be as good a way as any to keep up with what is going on. Each post should autopost immediately from the Blog and it will also be sent to the MrUlsterscot Twitter feed.

I will be roaming the Green, armed with video cameras as well - but the YouTube Channel won't be updated until I return to Ulster.

So - in summary - there is no excuse at all for anyone not to know exactly what is going on minute by minute at the Worlds this year. Between Live Blogging on here and the Grade One live streaming by the BBC, you are spoilt for choice!

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Normal Service Resumed

The abnormal sunshine of the last few days in Glasgow has been replaced by more usual grey skies and heavy spots of rain. This year we ha...