NEWS 2015

WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015 : GLASGOW GREEN

August 16th 2015

Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia were named 2015 World Pipe Band Champions after a grueling two days of competitions at Glasgow Green.

The victory was the first for a Scottish band since Shotts won 10 years ago.Shotts and Dykehead won the overall title as an aggregate over Medley and March, Strathspey & Reel events against 11 other bands. A surprising fourth-place to Field Marshal Montgomery ended the band’s four-year run of World’s victories and was the band’s lowest finish at a major championship in many years. The event was the final competition for Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe-Major Ross Walker, who earlier had informed his band that he would retire. 

Yet again,Stephen's O'Toole's corp won the drumming - a huge congratulations to all the players.

Full summaries for all grades can be found on the RSPBA website. 

Grade 1 : Overall 

1st Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia (Scotland)

2nd St. Laurence O’Toole (ens.pref.) (Ireland)

3rd Inveraray & District (Scotland)

4th Field Marshal Montgomery (Northern Ireland)

5th Simon Fraser University (Canada)

6th ScottishPower (Scotland)

Drumming: St. Laurence O’Toole

Medley 

1st Shotts & Dykehead (3,1,2,2)

2nd St. Laurence O’Toole (2,4,1,3)

3rd Inveraray & District (4,3,3,1)

4th Field Marshal Montgomery (1,2,7,4)

5th ScottishPower (5,5,5,7)

6th Simon Fraser University (ens.pref.) (9,7,4,5)

Judges: 

Peter Snaddon, James Campbell (piping)

Paul Turner (drumming)

Gordon Lawrie (ensemble)

MSR 

1st Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia (ens.pref.) (3,3,2,2)

2nd Inveraray & District (2,1,3,4)

3rd St. Laurence O’Toole (5,4,1,1)

4th Field Marshal Montgomery (1,2,8,3)

5th Simon Fraser University (4,5,6,8)

6th Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia (7,6,9,5)

Judges: 

Ken Eller, Dixie Ingram (piping)

David Brown (drumming)

Jim Baxter (ensemble)

St.Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band : MSR (Final) @ The World Pipe Band Championships 2015

St.Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band : Medley (Final) @ The World Pipe Band Championships 2015

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015 : DUMBARTON : GRADE ONE RESULT

26th July 2015

Held in warm & breezy,but slightly changeable conditions at Levengrove Park,Dumbarton,the band drew it's number two medley selection,which gained a 2,1,1,2 from the judges to emerge as winners by six points from Field Marshal Montgomery.St. Laurence O’Toole emerged as Scottish Champions for 2015,the band's first major championships win since the Worlds in 2010 and also the first for P/M Alen Tully,since taking over from his Dad,Terry,at the end of the 2013 season.

Drum Sgt. Stephen Creighton's drum corp also took the drumming prize,making it a very satisfying day indeed......... 

A huge congratulations to all involved that made it happen on the day !! 

Full summaries for Grade One can be found on the RSPBA website.

Grade 1 - Medley (12 competed) 

1 - St. Laurence O’Toole (2,1,1,2)

2 - Field Marshal Montgomery (1,2,8,1)

3 - Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia (3,6,3,3)

4 - Scottish Power (7,3,2,5)

5 - Inveraray & District (4,4,6,4)

6 - Greater Glasgow Police Scotland (6,5,5,7)

Judges: 

Sam Young and Jim Wark (piping) 

Greg Dinsdale (drumming)

John MacInnes (ensemble)

St.Laurence O'Toole's winning medley at The Scottish Championships 2015...
The Garb of Old Gaul,Boys of Ballymote,The Hen's March,Boolavogue,Buntata's Sgadan,Sabhal Mòr Ostaig,The Ferryman,Blond Haired Maid,The Ferryman.
Many in the UK will be familiar with the band's opening march, The Garb of Old Gaul, from annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony in London where it is played as the slow march of the Scots Guards.
The tune was written by General John Reid (1721 - 1807), an officer in the Black Watch as a quick march (as played here).

ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015 : OMAGH 

4th July 2015

Field Marshal Montgomery and defending champions St.Laurence O’Toole went head-to-head at the 2015 All-Ireland Championships along with Cullybackey and Ravara, and it was FMM that emerged overall champions. 

But SLOT gave the 2014 World Champions a run for their money by obtaining a tie in the Medley section, with FMM wining on ensemble preference.

MSR

1 - Field Marshal Montgomery (1,1,1,1)

2 - St. Laurence O’Toole (2,2,2,2)

3 - Cullybackey (4,3,3,3)

4 - Ravara (3,4,4,4)

Judges:John Moles and Winston Pollock (piping) ,Sandy Steele (drumming),Ciaran Mordaunt (ensemble)

Medley

1 - Field Marshal Montgomery (2,1,2,1)

2 - St. Laurence O’Toole (1,2,1,2)

3 - Ravara (3,4,4,3)

4 - Cullybackey (4,3,3,4)

Judges: Tony Sloane and Finbarr Connolly (piping), Gordon Craig (drumming), Peter Snaddon (ensemble)

St.Laurence O'Toole - MSR @ All Ireland Pipe Band Championships 2015

EUROPEAN PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIP 2015 - FORRES

27th June 2015

In an extraordinary three-way tie for first with FMM,Shotts and SLOT,the only way the bands were separated was on the ensemble result,which meant that SLOT finished in 3rd position overall.

Stephen and his drum corp retained their European Championship drumming prize which they also won last season at the same venue.....congratulations !!!!

Weather was warm and sunny with a high around 20 degrees at a venue that was very popular with competitors.

Full results for all grades can be found on the RSPBA website

Grade 1 (MSR, 11 competed)

1st Field Marshal Montgomery (ens.pref) (3,1,4,1)

2nd Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia (ens.pref) (1,4,2,2)

3rd St. Laurence O’Toole (2,3,1,3)

4th ScottishPower (6,2,7,4)

5th Inveraray & District (4,7,5,5)

6th Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia (5,5,6,8)

Drumming: St. Laurence O’Toole

Judges: Cameron Edgar, Winston Pollock (piping ), Gordon Craig (drumming), Alan Ronaldson (ensemble) 


Listen to the band's performance below.......

In a Grade One competition which was very tight at the top St Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band from Dublin tied with Field Marshal Montgomery and Shotts & Dykehead and was awarded third place on the basis of the bands' ensemble rankings. 
St. Laurence O'Toole Drum Corps under Drum Sergeant Stephen Creighton was placed first for drumming.

UK PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015 - BELFAST

13the June 2015

St.Laurence O'Toole PB gave another strong performance at the recent UK Championships,held in the grounds of Stormont,Belfast.

The band drew our #1 set on this occasion which was placed 4th overall on the day.

Full results for all grades can be found on the RSPBA website - here


Grade 1 (medley, 11 competed)

1st Field Marshal Montgomery (1,1,3,1)

2nd Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia (2,2,2,4)

3rd Inveraray & District (3,3,6,2)

4th St. Laurence O’Toole (4,4,5,3)

5th Greater Glasgow Police Scotland (5,5,1,7)

6th Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia (6,7,4,6)

Drumming: Greater Glasgow Police Scotland 

Judges: Harry Stevenson, Jim Semple (piping) , Gordon Parkes (drumming) , Ciaran Mordaunt (ensemble) 

Listen to the band's performance below....... MEDLEY #1

St Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band, Pipe Band - Medley at the 2015 UK Pipe Band Championships at the Stormont Estates in Belfast on 13th June 2015.
The band's medley was: Allan Dall MacLeod, Tom Anderson, Shelly's Jig, Tommy Tully's Air, Haydee Grant, Callum Campbell of Benbecula, Hogties, The Pile Driver, Arnish Light

BRITISH PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015 - PAISLEY

20th May 2015

The UK championship season got started in the West Lothian town of Bathgate under mixed weather conditions, often sunny but with a cold northerly wind making for testing conditions.

The band gave a very solid performance and narrowly missed out on a top three finish only on ensemble preference.

Full results for all grades can be found on the RSPBA website.

Grade 1 (MSR, 11 competed)

1st Field Marshal Montgomery (1,1,5,1)

2nd Inveraray & District (3,4,4,2)

3rd Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia (4,3,3,4)

4th St. Laurence O’Toole (2,5,2,5)

5th Greater Glasgow Police Scotland (6,6,1,7)

6th Peoples Ford-Boghall & Bathgate (5,7,7,3)

Drumming: Greater Glasgow Police Scotland

Judges:

Willie Garrett, George Wilson (piping) , Sandy Steele (drumming) , Jennifer Hutcheon (ensemble) 

Listen to the band's performance below....... MSR #1

St.Laurence O'Toole @ The British Championships, Bathgate in 2015.

*** ANNOUNCEMENT *** 
PREMIER PERCUSSION APPOINT SLOT LEAD DRUMMER AS HEAD OF MARCHING EDUCATION

Stephen is the lead drummer of the world renowned St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band from Dublin, Ireland who are the current holders of the Champion of Champions Grade 1 drumming title.
Recognised for his musicality and tonal perfection, Stephen has won two World Grade 1 titles as well as the British, European, Scottish and seven All-Ireland Grade 1 titles.
As an accomplished soloist, he has consistently been ranked in the top 12 senior drummers for 22 of the last 24 World Solo Champions.
The newly created position will see Stephen’s responsibilities include the development of a marching education programme, creating a long-term strategy that will strengthen the Premier brand and its relationship with players, partners and tutors.
The programme will also focus on creating tuition aids for players and teachers whilst working closer with community and charitable outreach projects to further promote Premier within the marching drum community.
In addition, Stephen will join Premier’s product development team to work closely alongside Keith Keough, generating ideas for the improvement of current pipe band products,
and identifying opportunities for new products that can be added to the range.
“Having performed on Premier’s world-class products for a number of years, I am thrilled by this appointment,” said Stephen.
“This is an exciting opportunity to pass on my experience and knowledge, taking Premier to ever greater heights, whilst championing the importance of music education.”
Vikki George, Premier’s general manager commented, “We’re delighted to be working with Stephen.
We’ll be able to further develop our overall education programme and enhance our current range of pipe band products.
Stephen’s commitment and enthusiasm are infectious which mean he will play a key part in ensuring Premier’s continued success.” 

© Copyright 2024
St.Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band - All Rights Reserved

facebook

X

instagram

youtube