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January 18 2009 - Band Hold AGM.
Innerleithen Pipe Band held its AGM on Sunday 18 January 2009 in the Vale of Leithen Social Club. In a low-key
affair attended by 21 of the band's members, the band elected a new chairman in Steven Gibb to replace Ronnie Laidlaw
who resigned because of work committments, elected Tom Hamilton and Ross Brown to the committee and elected a new Leading
Drummer in Callum Murdoch. All other committee members were re-elected and Bruce Gillie and Andy Lyon were re-appointed Pipe
Major and Drum Major respectively. Various aspects of band business were discussed before the meeting was closed just after
2pm.
April 25 2009 - First Contest of 2009 a Truimph for Tweedvale Pipe Band.
Tweedvale Pipe Band played in their first contest of the season last Saturday 25 April at the annual RSPBA Lothian
& Borders Branch Solos and Mini-Band contest held in Peebles High School. Tweedvale entered two mini-bands in both the
Grade 3 and Grade 2 contests, named A and B. There was a large entry in the Grade 3 contest with Tweedvale drawn to play 9th
and 12th out of 19 bands. In Grade 2 there was an entry of 11 bands, with Tweedvale drawn to play 2nd and 9th in this event.
The test piece for both contests was a medley set, and both mini-bands played Tweedvale’s new set comprising the tunes
“Calum Ian, Out of the Air, The Radar Racketeer, Big Mikey’s Farewell, Maids of the Black Gen, Keel Row, Tail
Toddle and Dancing Feet”. Also new to the band this year were the bands leading drummer Calum Murdoch and bass drummer
David Elder, who performed with the band for the first time on Saturday. For more details, click here.
May 9 2009 - A Blow-Out at Dunbar for Tweedvale Pipe Band!! Tweedvale Pipe Band travelled to Dunbar last Saturday to
take part in the twenty seventh annual pipe band contest at Winterfield Park, traditionally the first outdoor pipe band contest
of the new season in the Lothian and Borders area. Travelling through to Dunbar, the weather promised to be ideal with plenty
of sun. This was to change however and by the time the band entered the contest field the conditions were overcast with a
very gusty wind blowing. For more details click here. May
16 2009 - Not Quite Seventh Heaven at Scottish Championships by Tweedvale Pipe Band. Tweedvale
Pipe Band travelled to Dumbarton on Saturday 16 May to take part in the 100 Pipers Scottish Pipe Band Championships at Levengrove
Park, the first major championship of the season. The event “enjoyed” mixed weather – the band endured a
major downpour whilst tuning up – but when the band entered the contest arena conditions had settled to dry and breezy.
For more details, click here. 30 May 2009 - Brilliant Bathgate Brings Out Best
in Tweedvale!! The
last Saturday of May saw Tweedvale Pipe Band travel the short distance to West Lothian to take part in the Bathgate &
West Lothian Highland Games. The band’s attendance at the Bathgate contest was made by generous coach sponsorship from
Graham McGrath Ltd. Tweedvale Pipe band was drawn to play second in the Grade 3 pipe band contest out of 12 entered bands.
Playing in beautifully sunny and warm conditions, Tweedvale played their new medley set for the first time in outdoor competition
this season. The performance was one of the best that the band has played in recent memory, with no mistakes and a solid bright
sound throughout. For more details, click here.
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June 2009 - Far from Seventh Heaven
for Tweedvale Pipe Band. Tweedvale Pipe Band left empty handed from the
8th Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships in Victoria Park Innerleithen, after two below average performances in the Grade
3 and Grade 2 contests left the band well out of the prize lists. The weather conditions on the day were changeable, though
thankfully no serious rain affected Tweedvale’s preparations for the Grade 3 medley contest. For more details, click here.
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July 2009 - Disappointing Return to Contest
Field for Tweedvale Pipe Band. Tweedvale
Pipe Band resumed their competition schedule last weekend when the band travelled to Battery Park Greenock to take part in
the European Pipe Band Championships, the third of five major championships in the pipe band contest calendar. Playing in
the Grade 3B event which required the performance of a medley set, the band put in a disappointing performance which showed
a fair degree of ring-rustiness coming as it did exactly six weeks to the day after the band’s last competitive performance.
For more details, click here.
8 August
2009 - Better Performances for Tweedvale Pipe Band!! Tweedvale
Pipe Band resumed their competition season last Saturday at the Royal Burgh of North Berwick Highland Games. In stark contrast
to the weather of last year, the North Berwick contest was played out in dry sunny conditions that brought out large crowds
to view the pipe band contests. Playing sixth in the Grade 3 contest, the band put in a solid confident performance of their
medley set before going on to perform in the Grade 2 contest where the band played their March Strathspey and reel set. For more details, click here.
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August 2009 - Tweedvale Pipe Band performs at World Pipe Band Championships. Tweedvale
Pipe Band travelled to Glasgow last Saturday to participate in the largest pipe band contest on the planet, the World Pipe
Band Championships. Held on Glasgow Green, the World’s attracts over 250 bands from all across the globe to compete
for the coveted title of World Champions. Tweedvale Pipe Band arrived in Glasgow just after mid-day in order to prepare for
their performance and found Glasgow pleasantly dry- the rain that had been affecting the west of Scotland had passed leaving
sunny and breezy conditions, though underfoot conditions were definitely soggy. For more details, click here.
22 August 2009 - Seventh
Place for Tweedvale Pipe Band at Melrose.
Last weekend saw Tweedvale Pipe Band travel to Melrose to participate in the 14th Melrose Pipe Band
Championships. The 2009 event saw a change of venue with the pipe band contest taking place in Gibson Park after many years
of being held in the grounds of St Mary’s School. Another luxuriously late departure time saw the band travel down to
Melrose well rested and in good spirits having plenty of time to prepare for their performances. For more details, click here.
29 August 2009 - Super Second Place for
Tweedvale Pipe Band at Cowal Championships!!
Tweedvale
Pipe Band travelled west last Saturday 29 August to participate in the last major pipe band championships of the year at the
Cowal Highland Gathering, the self-styled “biggest highland games in the world”. Everything went like clockwork
on the journey through to the ferry, so much so that Tweedvale managed to get a ferry 30 minutes ahead of schedule. This put
the band in a relaxed frame of mind and gave the band plenty of time to set up after arriving at the Dunoon Stadium. Click here to read more.
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September 2009 - SEXTET OF PRIZES AT PEEBLES CONTEST FOR TWEEDVALE PIPE BAND!!!!
Tweedvale Pipe Band’s contest season was brought to a close with a rousing
rendition of “Scotland the Brave” and “On St Ronan’s” as the band paraded along Peebles High
Street at the end of the Peebles Highland Games last Sunday. Held back in its traditional venue of Hay Lodge Park, the Peebles
Highland Games enjoyed some spectacular September sunshine which made all the difference to the quality of performances that
all bands were able to offer. It also ensured large crowds came out to enjoy the day. For more details, click here.
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