The day started wet and miserable but thankfully brightened up well in the afternoon. The conditions didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of Ballycoan and Cullybackey who both qualified for the Grade 1 Final. The grade 4 bands also got off to a good start with NI Branch bands making up 50% of both the Grade 4A and Grade 4B finals.
Only one first place prize is coming over to NI this year with the Killen band in Grade 3A, our congratulations to them on a magnificant achievement. NI Branch bands took many of the prizes on the day see below. We would also like to congratulate our frequent visitors from the I.P.B.A., Letterkenny and District who took first place in a closely fought Grade 4A and Thiepval Memorial who carried their title of favourites well and took first prize in Grade 4B.
Field Marshal Montgomery were just pipped again to the Grade 1 prize by Simon Fraser University in what is a very high standard at the top of the competition tree. Congratulations also to St Laurence O’Toole, another frequent visitor from the I.P.B.A., on breaking into the top 3 which has been ruled by FMM, SFU & Shotts for over a decade.
N.I. Branch World Championship Prize List
Grade 1
2nd Field Marshal Montgomery
Grade 2
2nd Ravara
Grade 3A
1st Killen
3rd Howard Memorial
4th McNeillstown
5th Aughintober
Grade 3B
2nd Castlerock
Grade 4A
2nd Quinn Memorial
3rd Geoghechen Memorial
4th Matt Boyd Memorial
5th Moneygore
Grade 4B
2nd Ballyboley
3rd William Kerr
5th Tullylagan
The N.I. Drum Majors did the Branch proud winning all 3 grades and supplying the majority of the finalists.
N.I. Branch Drum Major World Championship Places
Senior
1st K Megarry Calvin – Upper Crossgare
2nd P Braiden – Ballycoan
3rd B Wilson – Lomond and Clyde
6th R Ferry – Aughintober
Juvenile
1st L Hamilton – Killeen
2nd S Gordon – Banbridge
6th H Bell – Lisnamulligan
Junior
1st L Abraham – Seven Towers
2nd Z McDowell – Lisnamulligan
3rd B Martin – Raffrey
4th E Barr – Ravara
5th L Hanna – Drumlough
6th L Muldrew – Marlacoo
