Mid Ulster Pipe Band Championships 2025

Attending the Mid Ulster Championships 2025

Admission & Parking

Event Admission: Free

Parking at school campus:
£5.00 per car / £20.00 per coach – cash, card and contactless is accepted at the entry gate.

Accessible Parking:
Parking for Blue Badge holders is available at designated accessible parking zone – Gate Stewards will direct you. Please pre-book using Parking Pass Application Form. You must upload a picture of your valid Blue Badge when applying online and you must present and display a valid Blue Badge for an occupant of the vehicle on the day to be admitted to the accessible parking zone.

Band Coach Parking:
Buses must only park at designated coach parking zone – Gate Stewards will direct you. Please pre-book using Parking Pass Application Form.

Band Gazebos:
Gazebos must only be erected within the designated band practice area and parking for those will be at the designated parking zone close by. Limited to 1 per band – Gate Stewards will direct you. Please pre-book using Parking Pass Application Form. You must upload a valid Public Liability Insurance schedule when applying online. *If event organisers request gazebos to be taken down during for safety reasons, this must be complied with.

General Parking:
You must only park within designated general parking zones of the school campus – Gate Stewards will direct you. *Any cars parked inappropriately will be asked to move.

Motorhomes:
Unfortunately motorhomes and campervans are not permitted to enter the High School grounds of the campus and can only be parked at the designated area adjacent to the Primary School – Gate Stewards will direct you. Please park considerately.

Shuttle Bus:
A courtesy shuttle bus from the school carpark up to the contest area will be in operation all day. The roadway must be kept clear at all times and patrons should take extra care when walking or crossing roadways around the school campus. There will be signage, and stewards will be able to direct you.

Band Guidance

Contest Area:
Due to essential maintenance within the school, the contest area is moved to the top playing field for this year.

Practice / Final Tuning:
A designated area for bands to practice is located on the hillside below the contest area. Final Tuning for both arenas is a short walk from this area. Bands should make their way to final tuning in good time. 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.

Finale:
The finale will commence at approx. 17:15hrs with massed band. Nominated duty bands will be informed by email in advance. All bands and Drum Majors should take direction from the Senior Drum Major and Section Officials. All bands should be in place in good time to ensure the massed bands can commence in timely manner.

General Information

Programmes:
Will be available to purchase from the Registration Tent beside the RSPBANI van at a cost of £3.00.  Cash, card and contactless is accepted.

Food/Drink:
There will be a selection of food and drink vendors on the day.  Please note, some may only take cash.

Barbeques:
Fixed and disposable barbeques are not permitted within the school campus.

Toilet Facilities:
Toilets will be available at the contest area and also the main changing rooms adjacent to the hockey pitch (usual building). Please show respect to users of Accessible facilities as not all disabilities are visible.

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

Lost Persons:
Please report any lost persons immediately to any Section/Branch officials on duty or at the Central Event Marquee.

Litter:
Please dispose of all litter in the bins provided around the contest area, band practice area and around the school campus. Bands are responsible for clearing any practice space they occupy at the end of the event.

Dogs:
Assistance dogs are welcome at this event. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome but must be kept on a short lead and must be able to cope with large crowds and loud noises. Please ensure any dogs barking does not interfere with performances. Owners must clean up after their dogs and dispose of the waste in the appropriate bins.

Unacceptable Behaviour:
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.

Recording & Photographs:
Video recordings, audio recordings or photographs are not permitted without written permission from The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch Mid Ulster Section prior to the commencement of the Championships.

Visit Mid Ulster:
For things to see and do around Cookstown and the wider district, click here.

For any general event queries, please email contests@rspbani.org.
For specific Band/Drum Major queries, please email secretary@rspbani.org.  

Playing Requirements

Closing date for entries: Saturday 17th May 2025

Syllabus is available here

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