Sixth Place on Home Ground for Tweedvale Pipe Band

Tweedvale Pipe Band made a little piece of history last Saturday 16 June when, whilst participating at the 6^th Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships in Victoria Park, the band performed for the first time ever at Grade 2 level. The weather conditions on the day were frankly dreadful for producing a quality pipe band sound – cold and damp, though thankfully no rain - but Tweedvale Pipe Band persevered manfully to produce in Grade 3 a reasonably strong and controlled performance in front of the four adjudicators. When the results were announce, the band found itself placed 6^th out of 11 bands – a fairly creditable performance which meant that once again Tweedvale had beaten two well-established local Grade 3 bands. The Grade 3 contest was won by George Watson’s Juveniles, with Williamwood, Pitlochry & Blair Atholl and Royal Burgh of Annan pipe bands taking the other places. The band’s history making performance in Grade 2 was less assured though, with nerves very apparent. Tweedvale Pipe Band was placed last out of 6 bands in Grade 2, with George Watson’s Juveniles Pipe Band again taking top honours in this grade. Though not making the prize list on the day, Tweedvale’s performance was the best of any of the Lothian & Border Branch bands which means that the band has earned themselves another six points towards its standing in the RSPBA Lothian & Borders Branch Champion of Champions table.

Tweedvale Pipe Major Bruce Gillie, speaking after the Innerleithen Championships, said "Our Grade 3 performance was reasonable considering the weather conditions but we are capable of so much more. For some unknown reason, the performances that we achieve in the practice hall and tuning up park are not being brought onto the contest park. That said, this season was always going to be a steep learning curve as the band is being asked to play more difficult material to a higher standard than it was used to in Grade 4. In view of this, I’m reasonably happy with our progress in Grade 3 so far.”

Tweedvale Pipe Band will now take an enforced break from the competition circuit until August. The band was scheduled to take part in two Major Championships during that time but cost and player availability has led the band to withdraw its entries from both. Tweedvale Pipe Band will next be on the competition trail at the North Berwick pipe band contest to be held at North Berwick Rugby Club on Saturday 4 August. The North Berwick event is a “contest within a contest” as the RSPBA Lothian & Borders Branch championships are held at the same time. Tweedvale Pipe Band has entered both the Grade 3 and Grade 2 events at North Berwick. North Berwick is one of the 6 local events that count towards the RSPBA Lothian & Borders branch Champion of Champions title.