Ards & North Down Pipe Band Championships 2025

Attending Ards & North Down Championships 2025

Admission & Parking

• Parking is available at Regent House School campus (Circular Road, BT23 4AQ) which is 5 minute’s walk along the canal path. Parking is also available at town centre car parks, charges/restrictions may apply. Click here to see Council carpark information for Newtownards

• Limited car parking for Blue Badge holders is available at designated accessible car parking zone within the main venue. You must reserve a space in advance and you must have a valid blue badge for an occupant of the vehicle on the day. Motorhomes with blue badges can also book for this area.
  Please pre-book using Parking Pass Application Form.

• Band Coaches must only park at designated coach parking zone which is located at Regent House school campus.
• Please pre-book using Parking Pass Application Form.

• No overnight motorhome parking is available at the venue or at Regent House school campus. Please see Caravan and Camping – Ards & North Down for information.
• Daily motorhome parking for the event will be at General Parking. Pre-booked Accessible Parking (see above) for motorhomes is available if an occupant of the vehicle holds a valid blue badge which must be presented at the gate.

Band Guidance

• Gazebos must only be erected within the designated band tuning/practice areas
• Parking for gazebo transport is limited to 1 vehicle per band
• Please pre-book gazebo parking using Parking Pass Application Form.
  You must have valid Public Liability Insurance schedule when applying online. If you have previously provided evidence you do not need to reupload. *If event organisers request gazebos to be taken down during the event for safety reasons, this must be complied with.

• When your band is practicing/tuning, you must be aware of your proximity to any band and/or drum major contest arenas and must ensure that you do not get too close as to cause interference with them.
• Final Tuning will be clearly identifiable. Bands should only sound within the final tuning area to ensure there is no interference with any contest arenas for bands or Drum Majors. Bands should follow any requests from RSPBA Directors or Branch Stewards regarding this and must comply.

• The finale will start at 17:00hrs and will be a massed band advancing playing “The Battle’s O’er”.
• Bands should start preparing at 16:40hrs
• All bands and Drum Majors should be in place no later than 16:45hrs to ensure that the Massed Band Finale commences promptly.
• Nominated lead bands are Cleland Memorial, Kirkistown, Drumlough, and Gransha and will be informed by email in advance.

General Information

• Will be available to purchase from the Registration Tent at a cost of £3.00.  Cash, card and contactless is accepted.

• There will be a selection of food and drink vendors on the day.  Please note, some may only take cash.
• There is also a large selection of eateries within the town centre which is 8mins walk down South Street from the contest venue.

• Fixed and disposable barbeques are not permitted within Regent House Playing Fields or within Regent House school campus.

• Portaloos will be available at the event and will be detailed on the map within the programme.
• Please show respect to users of Accessible facilities as not all disabilities are visible.

• Accredited First Aid will be available at the contest area and will be detailed on the map within the programme.

• Please report any lost persons immediately to any Branch officials on duty or at the RSPBANI van.

• Drones are not permitted to be flown above any crowd or public event.  This restriction applies to all drones, regardless of size and weight.  This is to ensure public safety and to minimise the risk of accidents or injuries.

• Please dispose of all litter in the bins provided around the contest area and band practice/tuning area.
• Bands are responsible for clearing any practice space they occupy at the end of the event.

• No dogs except for Assistance dogs are allowed at this event.

• This event is made possible with the help of our volunteers who are on duty to help and assist you – please demonstrate respect to them always. There is a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse of our volunteers and event officials.

• Video recordings, audio recordings or photographs are not permitted without written permission from The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch prior to the commencement of the Championships.

• For things to see and do around the Ards and North Down borough area click here

Playing Requirements

Closing date for entries: Monday 30th June 2025

Draw

Band Draw is available here

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Drum Major Draw is available here

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Results

Results summaries will be available here after the contest ends