COWAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (2015)

What a day and what a sound we produced.

2nd Grade 4 (March Selection)

Place
 Band
P1
P2
D
E
T
1
 Lanark & District
1
1
1
1
4
2
 Wolverhampton
3
2
4
3
12
3
 Mid Argyll
8
3
6
2
19
4
 Williamwood
4
5
5
6
20
5
 Kirkcaldy & District
2
4
7
8
21
6
 Rothesay & District
9
7
2
4
22
7
 Kibarchan
6
6
3
9
24
8
 Uddingston Strathclyde
5
10
8
5
28
9
 Peeble Ex-Servicemen
7
9
11
10
37
10
 Fraserburgh RBL
10
13
9
7
39
11
 Dunoon Argyll
11
11
12
11
45
12
 East Kilbride
12
8
14
12
46
13
 Helensburgh
13
12
10
13
48
14
 Glasgow Battalion BB
14
14
13
14
55

A little bit of reed manipulation was all that was needed at the start of the day and once we'd done that and got the pipes settled down, the sound was powerful, sweet and fairly well matched

One note error came through (duly commented on by one of the piping judges) and a little bit of 'mucky' playing in places but overall a reasonable performance

Judges comments included..... "Chanters well set with a robust and true tonal quality, pleasing harmonic effect - well played. A good choice of tunes!"

A great result (no disgrace being beaten by the 2015 Scottish, British and European Grade 4B Champions who were clearly way ahead of the rest of the field!)

So, congratulations all round - a brilliant result

Particular mention to 'Fireman Pete' competing with us for the first time - not a bad result to get on your first competition outing - well done (now the work really starts!)

1st Grade 4 (MSR)

Place
 Band
P1
P2
D
E
T
1
 Wolverhampton
1
1
4
1
7
2
 Williamwood
3
3
3
2
11
3
 Kirkcaldy & District
2
2
5
3
12
4
 George Watson's Junior
4
4
1
5
14
5
 Kilbarchan
5
5
2
4
16

The sound improved further for this event and produced an even better chanter match

Unfortunately the playing in the arena didn't match the quality of performance from the tuning park (isn't that always the way?), some lack of integration in places and a trailing drone at the end.

However some of the Judges positive comments included "Pipes quite sweet tonally, chanters holding intonation well. Chanters well pitched. Technique - clean & clear. Playing musically"

An excellent result

4th Grade 3 (Medley)

Place
 Band
P1
P2
D
E
T
1
 Isle of Islay
1
2
2
1
6
2
 Coalburn IOR
2
1
3
2
8
3
 Bothwell Castle
3
3
1
3
10
4
 Wolverhampton
5
4
6
4
19
5
 Cowal
4
5
8
5
22
6
 Fraserburgh RBL
6
6
7
6
25 EP
7
 East Kilbride
7
7
4
7
25
8
 Kilbarchan
8
8
5
10
31
9
 Uddingston Strathclyde
9
9
9
8
35
10
 Glasgow Battalion BB
10
10
10
9
39

The excellent sound held during the tuning and into the circle but towards the end of the performance a clear problem developed with one of the reeds causing a dischord on 'E'. This, coupled with some untidy playing in places and again trailing drones, combined to spoil the overall performance.

We weren't too pleased with our own performance here, so the result when it was announced was a 'pleasant surprise' - to put it mildly.

Considering the three bands ahead of us are Grade 3 (as are three of the bands behind us!) this was an excellent result.

Well done everyone!