13 August 2012

Normal Service Resumed

P604

The abnormal sunshine of the last few days in Glasgow has been replaced by more usual grey skies and heavy spots of rain.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 have seen the last (for the time being) of the one day Worlds format and next year will be a beast of a very different breed. Grade One will sprawl over two days with some top outfits playing a total of 4 times, if lucky enough to make it to the 12 band Final.

The lower grade bands will find their World largely unchanged, save for the fact they may end up having it on a Sunday.

It seems that the new format is chiefly aimed at placating the overseas Grade One contingent, who until now have run the risk of playing at 9am on the Saturday morning, not qualifying, and being reduced to spectators for the rest of the day.

One wonders if the RSPBA might have been better employed on looking at whether some of those overseas visitors really ought to be in Grade One at all. With the removal of some of the makeweights, the premier grade could be trimmed to manageable proportions, with say a 20 Band grade running in the existing final format, starting at about 11am. No need for the second day. The mutterings amongst the pipe band brethren are that the whole thing is financially motivated and there are still questions to be answered about the cost of the extra day for spectators and for bandsmen wanting to watch on their "non-playing" day.

This year's event seems to have been a broad success. The RSPBA made their now traditional blunder with the results, getting Grade 3 wrong this time. Last year it was the drum majors, the year before, Grade One. Bets are going on that next year they will print the programme upside down.

The Grade One results this time round were not without controversy. Few would argue that Field Marshal is the best band on the circuit but they apparently had a dodgy start to the MSR which certainly sent the online world a-flutter. SFU seemed strongly favoured on the Internet but the Judges clearly heard it differently. Power had great runs and seem to be approaching FM's standards of playing, if not quite getting there on sound.

The Boghall drumming prizes were very popular - and hopefully not overshadowed by the 3 month suspension doled out to Jim Kilpatrick. The absence of the fractured Shotts outfit left a bitter taste in the mouth for many, but Boghall has been perhaps overlooked as a corps in the past - perhaps unfairly.

One thing we can be sure of, any more rumblings about unfair judging and bias will once again be restricted to the physical Beer Tents and band halls - the thought police will make sure that the Internet will become sterile and docile.

So. Onwards to next year. Suppose I should be practising......

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11 August 2012

The Results

Novice Juvenile
Scotia Glenville USA
Drums George Watson's College

Grade 4b
Clogher & District
Drums Clogher & District

Grade 4a
New Ross & District
Drums New Ross & District

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

Grade 3b
Ballybriest
Drums Ballybriest

Grade 3a
Robert Malcolm Memorial
Drums St Laurence O'Toole

Grade 2
Denny & Dunipace
Drums Brieg

Grade 1
Med FMMPB
Drums Boghall
MSR FMMPB
Drums Boghall

Overall
Field Marshall Montgomery
Scottish Power
SFU
Boghall & Bathgate
SLOT
Strathclyde Police

Drums Boghall & Bathgate

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All is calm, all is quiet....

P571

At times like this, wise heads head for the abandoned stands to await the finale.

The cell connection is woeful as usual, which cuts down on posting but there was one juicy morsel I wanted to post earlier.

Scottish Power were heading for final tuning and found SFU in their way. Rather than stopping and walking round, they matched right up to them and kept playing at full pelt. The P/M from Power then sought out Terry Lee and asked him to shift his band. Power then paraded right through the middle of them. It was all pretty aggressive and I have some of it on video for posting next week. Perhaps Power are a little too pumped?

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Cullybackey at the Line

P566

Five to Seven minutes to go.

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Last orders

P561

Cullybackey is the last band left outside final tuning. Not long to go.

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Haggis, Neeps, Tatties

Gourmet Delights

SFU in the House

TorPol

P511

More interested in whatever madness they have planned for the medley...

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Traders and Food Stalls

P505

Doing a gear trade and ripping people off no end.

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FM just played in MSR

P501

.....to a rapturous response....

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FM's Year Again

P496

They are sounding fantastic

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Peel Regional Police

P491

Getting ready....

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Untitled

P486

Boggies in final tuning to kick off the MSR

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Photo for last post

Low Tech Again

Why can't they get this on the big screen? They managed it 2 years ago.

All around, you can hear people mutter, "How the eff are you supposed to read that?"

In other news, the suspended Jim Kilpatrick and his Shotts corps have just been drum saluting at the Pearl Tent.

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Kick off!

P473

The crowds look bigger than ever - thank goodness for my pre-paid ticket.

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10 August 2012

Blogging the Worlds - Again

P459

I know hardly anyone reads these ramblings, but that won't stop me polluting the Internet with even more of the same.

This year, the Worlds trip has been extended a little and I already have nigh on 2 hours of video of a few of the Big Bands practising. The photo is of Scottish Power, warming up in front of a truly packed National Piping Centre.

I'll be roaming the Green tomorrow and will post occasionally. These days, the video is king, and that will have to wait for my return home next week.

Posted via email from Aiblins

Blogging the Worlds - Again

P459

I know hardly anyone reads these ramblings, but that won't stop me polluting the Internet with even more of the same.

This year, the Worlds trip has been extended a little and I already have nigh on 2 hours of video of a few of the Big Bands practising. The photo is of Scottish Power, warming up in front of a truly packed National Piping Centre.

I'll be roaming the Green tomorrow and will post occasionally. These days, the video is king, and that will have to wait for my return home next week.

Posted via email from Aiblins

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...