Tweedvale Pipe Band perform
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 before 1.00pm in order to prepare
for their performance and found Glasgow deluged with rain and Glasgow Green turning into Glasgow Brown due to the pedestrian
traffic across areas of the park – mud was everywhere!! The weather conditions made setting up any kind of band sound
difficult but luckily, when it came to performance time the skies had cleared slightly and allowed Tweedvale to perform in
one of the rain free spots of the day. Playing eleventh out of 25 bands in the Grade 3B contest, the band put in a confident
performance of their medley selection. When the results were announced in the early evening, Tweedvale were placed 21st
out of 25 bands, with the Grade 3B title being taken by the Cullen Pipe Band from the Republic of Ireland. This result, whilst disappointing, was a good showing from the band in their first ever performance at the
World Championships as a Grade 3 band. Tweedvale’s attendance at the World Pipe Band Championships was made possible
by coach sponsorship from Peebles Hotel Hydro, to whom the band extends its thanks.
Speaking about the outcome of the World Championships, Tweedvale Pipe Major Bruce Gillie said "It was a slightly disappointing
result on Saturday. The band played well enough, though not as well as the previous week at North Berwick, but I think nerves
got the better of us because of the fact it was the World Championships we were playing at. This seems to afflict the band
on an annual basis!! We gave the judges easy ways to criticise our performance, especially with blowing issues in the pipe
corps. Nevertheless, it was a good run out and it’s given myself and the band a good idea of how far we have to progress
before we’ll be in a position to compete for prizes at a major championships. I’m sure the band will pick itself
up from this slight setback and give a good account of itself at the Melrose contest this coming Saturday."
Tweedvale’s competition season continues this weekend when the band travels down the Borders to participate in
the Melrose Pipe Band Championships. Held in the grounds of St Mary’s School, Tweedvale Pipe Band is scheduled to play
7th out of 11 bands in the Grade 3 contest. Tweedvale Pipe Band’s attendance at the Melrose Pipe Band Championships
has been made possible due to generous coach sponsorship from the Union Club, Innerleithen to whom the band extends its thanks.
The band is also scheduled to play 10th out of 11 bands in the Grade 2 contest at Melrose. Following on from the
Melrose contest is the last Major Championships of the year, the Cowal Pipe Band Championships in Dunoon.
