Latest News

Entries for the NI Novice Solos and for the All Ireland Solos (Piping, Drumming and Tenor events) can be viewed online at Competitions

Instructions on how to enter Solo Competitions can be found in the attached document

Entries for the Bass Section of the All Ireland Solos and for the Adult MSR Qualifer should be emailed to the branch secretary (danielle.mccartney@rspbani.org) or submitted to the Branch Office 

Closing Date for all Solo Events - Saturday 2nd September at 12 Noon

Please contact the branch secretary if you have any issues creating an account or entering the solos

Yesterday concluded the Mid Ulster Piping and Drumming Summer School which ran for five weeks in the Burnavon Arts and Cultural Centre, Cookstown. The Mid Ulster Council Vice Chairman, the RSPBA President, Parents, and Guardians attended the finale which was marked by a certificate presentation to each student and performances by all students in various groups.

Thanks to Mid Ulster District Council for partnering RSPBANI in this project.

The following link shows the route for this year's parade after the Portrush competition, this is the same route that was taken last year. The attached picture shows the parade termination point. Bands can either turn in the direction of the East Strand Car Park or towards Bath Street. Over the past number of years, the Branch Executive have been concerned about the safety implications of terminating the parade at an open road junction. We've tried a number of stewarding options but none of these have delivered the safety improvements that we feel are necessary. This termination point allows us to disperse the parade in a safe pedestrian area with the minimal impact to the normal parade route.

We must also remind Drum Majors that, following a robust risk assessment process, high throws will not be permitted on the parade and flourishing must be restricted to close body work.

https://goo.gl/maps/9Du6vpHpZ1x

Friday 18th August from 10 am North West Highland Dancing Competition at Kerr Street Green, Portrush.

Saturday 19th of August, North West Pipe Band and Drum Major Championships, Portrush Recreation Grounds, Ramore Head commencing at noon.

NEW for 2017 - Live Concert & Fireworks on Saturday 19th August from 8 pm at Lansdowne North, Portrush.

The RSPBANI Branch will hold a World Drumming Solo Pre-Qualifier in which two competitors will have the chance to secure a place in the Semi Final of the 2017 World Solo Drumming Championships.

The Pre-qualifier will be held in Greystone Primary School Antrim, Friday 8th September 2017 at 7 pm.

Competitors must be over 18 as of 1st November 2016, two MSR's to be submitted, minimum 4 parts each and the set to play will be chosen by the Director responsible for overseeing the qualifying heat. All competitors and accompanying pipers must wear band uniform.

Closing date for entries Saturday 2nd September at noon, entry fee is £10.00 and must be paid before the entry closing date.

Please send names along with both MSR's to the Branch Secretary, danielle.mccartney@rspbani.org or to info@rspbani.org and post entry fees to Unit 34 Crescent Business, Park, Ballinderry Road, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, BT28 2GN.

 Please see attached syllabus and entry form.

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, Northern Ireland Branch is extremely proud of all our competitors (and indeed supporters) who travelled over to Glasgow Green for the World Championships and acquitted themselves so well. 

Our warmest congratulations to Tullylagan Drum Corps on becoming the Grade 4A World Champion Drum Corps; to Jason Price on becoming the World Champion Adult Drum Major; to James Kennedy on winning the World Champion Juvenile Drum Major grade and to Rachel Lowry who won the World Champion Junior Drum Major grade.

A good number of our competitors were also successful in progressing through the heats to the finals and the prize lists all featured Northern Ireland Bands and Drum Majors.  We look forward to the next World Championship back on Glasgow Green in 2018 and to our final contest of the Northern Ireland season at Portrush on Saturday.

Bands

Grade 1

2nd: Field Marshal Montgomery

Well done also to the Police Service of Northern Ireland on qualifying for the final.

Grade 2

Well done to Closkelt on qualifying for the final.

Grade 3A

3rd Marlacoo 

Grade 3B

3^rd Quinn Memorial

5^th Major Sinclair Memorial

Grade 4A

2nd Tullylagan

3rd McNeillstown

5th Cullybackey

Drums

Tullylagan

Well done also to McDonald Memorial on qualifying for the final. 

Grade 4B

2nd Kildoag

3rd Lisnamulligan (Also Champions of Champions Band for 2017)

Well done to Ballyboley and Major Sinclair Memorial on qualifying for the final.

Drum Majors

Adult

1st Jason Price (Also Champions of Champions Adult Drum Major for 2017)

2nd Alicia Dickson Hamilton BEM

3rd Andrea McKeown Gibson

4th Lauren Abraham

6th Lauren Hanna

Congratulations also to Vikki Singer on qualifying for the Semi-final.

Juvenile

1st James Kennedy

2nd Lana Gibson

3rd Emma Barr (Also Champions of Champions Juvenile Drum Major for 2017)

5th Kathryn McKeown

6^th Jason Nicholl 

Junior

1st Rachel Lowry

2nd Jamie Cupples (Also Champions of Champions Junior Drum Major for 2017)

3rd Abigail Wenlock

5th Lucas Adamson

6th Kara Gilmour

Drum Major dress time for the North West Championships is 11.00 am.

The draw for the North West Championships is now online and can be accessed by clicking here.