The Best of 2013 – The Results

Most Defining Moment of 2013

St Andrews College winning the World Championships

St Andrews College winning the World Championships was almost exclusively the winning choice for the people’s choice voting, and the only choice for the experts. Never before in the history of pipe banding has New Zealand won a world championship.

On the 19th of August, 2013, St Andrews College Pipe Band made history.

Pipe Major Ben Murray wrote back in August, in a PBNews exclusive, that “The day itself was one that I know we won’t forget for our entire lives.  Thinking over the hours of practice we had put in as individuals and as a band, the vast amount of fundraising, the spectrum of emotions that swam through everyone’s brain in the two weeks leading up to the competition, was all absolutely overwhelming.  The moment the announcement was made that we had taken out the competition was the most rewarding, relieving and ecstatic feeling anyone could have ever felt.  I would not hesitate to say that it was indeed for me, and for everyone in the band, one of the happiest days of our lives.”

Some comments from our experts:

• If any category had a “gimme”, this was it – St Andrews winning the worlds is huge for New Zealand.
• The band played their hearts out – the nice guys do finish first sometimes. What a victory for them, for their parents and for their tutors.
• We may not see the significance of this until 10 years down the track. These guys will make up the future of New Zealand pipe bands and will be hungry for more success. They know the formula, they can make it happen.

Also in consideration:

• Manawatu and Canterbury qualifying for the Grade 1 final
  This was, arguably, the second most important moment of 2013 – two kiwi bands making the 2013 Grade 1 Final. No doubt this is a historic moment for New Zealand as well, and puts the world on notice that New Zealand pipe bands are coming.