NORTH WEST BRANCH MINIBAND CONTEST 2010

That has got to have been one of the longest contest days (certainly for a small indoor contest) that we've ever been involved in.

I know timings for events are always 'approximate' but what should have been a 1.15pm performance for our first mini band saw us eventually getting into the hall to compete closer to 4pm and our second band in the MSR event was completing its final tuning at 5.30pm!!!

Of course at 1.15pm the pipes were absolutely storming, but by 4pm despite all attempts to carefully manage the situation not only had the pipe tone suffered slightly but the pipers heads were definitely down after such a long period and numerous reassessments and adjustments of our anticipated playing time.

Heaped on top of all that was a points compiling error in the Grade IV March event, which meant we left the venue in the belief after the prize giving that we hadn't even made the top three placings despite us being pretty confident that we'd put in a good performance (endorsed by a number of knowledgeable spectators)!

However the error was spotted and we've now been informed of the following official results.

GRADE IV MARCH SELECTION

1 Scots Guards 'B'
2 Wolverhampton 'A'
3
GMFRS
4 Scots Guards 'A'
5
Chorley 'B'
6
Wolverhampton 'B'
7
Chorley A
8
Warrington
9
Sheffield

 

The A band put in a reasonable performance, although the placing of the pipers in the line could have been better to prevent the judge from being 'overpowered' by the harmonies (duly commented on by the judge) and their was an isolated finger slip (again spotted by the judge).

Unfortunately the tone in the B band just didn't hold up - a touch of nerves perhaps leading to some very poor blowing pressure, coupled with mistakes and some cutting in and out.

 

GRADE IV MSR

1 Scots Guards 'B'
2 Scots Guards 'A'
3 Wolverhampton 'B'
4
Chorley A
5 Chorley 'B'
6
Wolverhampton 'A'

After their poor performance in the March Selection event, the B band really put in a superb performance in the MSR event to take third place, with the A band pipers only one place behind them in 4th.

The tone was good and the playing was nicely integrated. The main criticism from the judge was the speed of the strathspey and reel playing for both bands. We just need to up the tempo slightly.

 

It doesn't matter how many times you say - "the pressure and nerves in a mini band contest are so much greater than a full band contest", you just have to experience it to fully understand it - ask Craig, our newest piper who was getting his first 'baptism of fire' at this event!

We also had a new member in drum corps, Daniel, getting a 'blooding' at this event.

Hopefully now with this one under their belts, the two new guys will learn from their experience and be much more confident and relaxed at future contests.