October 9, 2000 - Nicol-Brown Invitational

The Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational contest was held on Saturday, October 7, 2000 in Hartford Connecticut.  12 of the best Grade One competitors from North America were invited,  and as you'd expect this was an excellent and memorable event.

Daughter Alison was invited for a  second year (as a representative of the BCPA), and in my view the contest was much better this year than last. The contestants were, I think, all very close in skill (and all truly excellent); the difference between first, second, third and not in the prizes was amazingly small. Overall this event is inspiring to see / hear for me, in part because nearly all the competitors were 16 - 18 years of age, and in part because they (the competitors) are all so nice, friendly,  and 'normal' (I mean for pipers).

The venue was much better (compared to last year) for warm up / tune up, excellent and comfortable tuning rooms this year (this was a new location for the contest), and the competition stage was very good too. The contest started at 9:00 AM, and was over by 7:00 PM, and ran comfortably. No stresses, no problems.

The personal touches added by all the volunteers made the experience even more enjoyable and memorable. (It is not possible - well, it would be really boring to read - to mention all the helpers, there are DOZENS of them, they all work very hard to put on this excellent contest - most impressive.)

Once again it seems sad that there are other piping events on the date of the NB - it deserves a larger audience.  (There is a nearly local  Highland Games on the same date as the NB)

Results (very unofficial):
6/8:
Andrew Hayes
Glenn Brown
Alison Dunsire

MSR
Glenn Brown
Andrew Douglas
Tristan Wilson

Piobaireachd
Erin McCarthy
Andrew Douglas
Glenn Brown

A really interesting piece of information (to me at least) - next month nearly all these same competitors will meet at the George Sherriff invitational.. Should be a really interesting rematch.

(BTW - Alison made a small mistake in her Piobaireachd, and a small one in her MSR - not like her to make mistakes, but at this level of contest, that is the difference between finishing well, and .. being even more highly motivated for the next contest)

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August 27, 2000 - Jori Chisholm has a great day at Cowal

On Friday the 25th, the Cowal Gathering solo events were held. (This is a prestigious contest in Scotland.) Pipe Band events were held on Saturday - but with no representation from the Pacific Northwest.

In solos - Grade B, Jori Chisholm (from Seattle) finished second in the Piobaireachd, second in the March, and first in the Strathspey & Reel contest. A great showing! Congratulations to Jori.

In related news, also in solos - Grade A, Stuart Liddell (sometimes from Burnaby), finished second in Piobaireachd, second in Strathspey &  Reel, and sixth in the March contest.  Another great showing! Congratulations to Stuart too.

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August 17, 2000 - Western U.S. Drum Majors Finish Strong in Scotland

(Many thanks to an anonymous reporter for this information.)

Jacy Anderson of the LA Scots placed 5th in the Juvenile Drum Majors at the 2000 World Pipe Band Championships.

David Cubberly of MacTarnahan's Prince Charles Pipe Band places 1st at Inverkeithing and Bridge of Allan in adult Drum Majors.

Kevin MacHeffner of the Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band places 2nd at Inverkeithing, 3rd at Bridge of Allan and 10th at the World Championships, being the best overseas adult Drum Major.

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Aug 12, 2000 - Whidbey Island Highland Games

OK - it was not Glasgow, Scotland, but there was a piping competition.  And, as the crow flies, the event was only about 2 miles from home (the crow can go over the water, we must drive around it, so it took us nearly 2 hours to get there). 

Whidbey Island - A very nice day, clear skies, with a slight breeze.

Band judges were: John Dally, Ian MacDougal, and Gregor Merry

PIPING:

DRUMMING:

Pipe Band Quartet
Washington Scottish

PIPE BANDS:

(4 competed)
Medley
1 - Washington Scottish
2 - Keith Highlanders
3 - Northwest MacGregor

Pipe Band - Best Drum Corps
Northwest MacGregor

Please let me know if I've made any errors in placing or spelling - Bob

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August 12, 2000 - World's Championship:

In Grade one: The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band finished third; first was Shotts & Dykehead; Field Marshal Montgomery finished second.   Best Drum corps was RUC, best Bass section the 78th Fraser Highlanders (who finished 5th overall).   Alberta Caledonia qualified to play in the finals.

In the Grade two contest: Prince Charles Pipe Band (from Northern California)  was first, and they were  best Bass section. Lothian & Borders was second, and they were best drum corps.  Niagara Regional Police was third. Maple Ridge did not qualify for the Grade two finals.

Also from the West Coast - RP Blandford & Son PB, from Southern California,   fnished second in the Grade 3 A class.

Thanks to the EUSPBA mailing list for the following (received just hours after the completion of the contest):

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August 7, 2000 -Bridge of Allan - Scotland

The only results posted so far from the Bridge of Allan contest show:
Hamilton (USA)  first
Maple Ridge second,
Grampian Police third,
and Prince Charles from Northern California in fourth.

At this time I have no more details.

I will post all results I find from BCPA bands in Scotland.

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August 5, 2000 - Maxville Grade 2 contest:

Just a few hours ago the Robert Malcolm Memorial Senior Pipe Band finished second overall in Grade 2 at the North American Pipe Band championship in Maxville Ontario.  First place overall was the Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band, and a close third overall was the Midlothian Pipe Band from Chicago Illinois.

Our reporters wife (Diana Dunsire) says the contest was great fun, (scary too), with spectacular crowds, and the largest beer tent she has ever seen.  The Grade 2 contest consisted of both an MSR and a Medley, played within minutes of each other -   there were 13 bands in Grade two.

Thank goodness for cell phones.. (Bob)

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July 29 & July 30, 2000 - Pacific Northwest Highland Games:

(Once again, many thanks to Robert MacNeil for gathering this information, and sending it to me)

King County Fairgrounds
Enumclaw, WA

Sunny and hot both days

152 individual competitors, 35 quartettes and drum corps, 21 bands

Individual Adjudicators: Andrew Bonar, Denver Cardwell, Jack Lee, Terry Lee, Rob MacNeil, Ian Mathieson, Ian McDougall, Keith Paton. Reid Maxwell, Ciaran Mordaunt. Brian MacLeod, John Nichol

Band Adjudicators (P,P,D,E): Saturday Ian Mathieson, Ian McDougall, Ciaran Mordaunt, Denver Cardwell. Sunday: Denver Cardwell, Ian McDougall, Ciaran Mordaunt, Ian Mathieson.

PIPING:

Open (Pub Piping - Non-Grand Aggregate events)

Strathspey & Reel "A"
1 Rob Bruce
2 Justin Leroux
3 Andrew Bonar
4 Alison Dunsire

Strathspey & Reel "B"
1 Elizabeth Dunsire
2 Michael McLeod
3 Marco Caturegli
4 Neil Frew

DRUMMING:

DRUM MAJORING

Open (3 competitors)

Dress, Deportment & Flourishing - Saturday
1 Brad Wayenberg
2 Bob Wiebe

Dress, Deportment & Flourishing - Sunday
1 Laird Will
2 Brad Wayenberg

PIPE CORPS - QUARTETTES

Grade 4 (13 competitors)

March, Strathspey & Reel
1 Salinas "A"
2 Oregon Pipers Society
3 Robert Malcolm Memorial "A"


Grade 3 (9 competitors)

March, Strathspey & Reel
1 Vancouver Ladies
2 Chilliwack & District
3 Robert Malcolm Memorial "C"


Grade 2 (6 competitors)

March, Strathspey & Reel
1 Robert Malcolm Memorial Sr "B"
2 Robert Malcolm Memorial Sr "A"
3 Maple Ridge "A"


Grade 1 (2 competitors)

March, Strathspey & Reel
1 Simon Fraser University "A"
2 Simon Fraser University "B"


DRUM CORPS

Grade 4 (4 competitors)

Fanfare
1 Crow Creek
2 White Spot
3 Northwest MacGregor


Grade 3 (1 competitor)

Fanfare
1 Robert Malcolm Memorial Gr 3


Grade 2 (0 competitors)

Grade 1 (0 competitors)

BANDS

Grade 4 (11 competitors)

Medley
1 Oregon Pipers Society
2 Robert Malcolm Memorial Gr4A
3 Crow Creek

Best Drum Corps: Oregon Pipers Society


Marches Selection
1 Oregon Pipers Society
2 Northwest MacGregor
3 Robert Malcolm Memorial Gr4A

Best Drum Corps: Northwest MacGregor


Aggregate: Oregon Pipers Society


Grade 3 (5 competitors)

Medley
1 Robert Malcolm Memorial Gr3
2 Chilliwack & District
3 Utah

Best Drum Corps: Robert Malcolm Memorial Gr3


March, Strathspey & Reel
1 Robert Malcolm Memorial Gr3
2 Chilliwack & District
3 Elliott Bay

Best Drum Corps: Robert Malcolm Memorial Gr3


Aggregate: Robert Malcolm Memorial Gr3


Grade 2 (3 competitors)

Medley
1 Maple Ridge
2 Robert Malcolm Memorial Sr
3 City of Regina

Best Drum Corps: Maple Ridge


March, Strathspey & Reel
1 Maple Ridge (on Ensemble preference)
2 Robert Malcolm Memorial Sr
3 City of Regina

Best Drum Corps: Maple Ridge

Aggregate: Maple Ridge


Grade 1 (1 competitor)

Medley
1 Simon Fraser University

Best Drum Corps: Simon Fraser University


March, Strathspey & Reel
1 Simon Fraser University

Best Drum Corps: Simon Fraser University


Aggregate: Simon Fraser University

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