Simon Fraser University Pipe Banda (BC, Canada) took their 6th World Championship title on Saturday night, beating 13 other Grade 1 Finalists to the title. In the MSR, Simon Fraser stormed home with convincing scores – two 1sts in piping, a 1st in drumming and a 3rd in Ensemble. In the Medley, Simon Fraser again rocked home with a closer – yet no less substantial – victory over the runner-up Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band. Many tipped Field Marshal Montgomery to win the coveted award this year, after a near-perfect season, and after having won all the Major Championships to date.

St Laurence O’Toole finished 3rd, and broke the “Top 3″ barrier which has been a key feature of the World Pipe Band Championship results since 1999 after two exceptional performances. Strathclyde Police came out in 4th after two very steady and clever performances. 2005 champions, and perennial scottish favourties Shotts and Dykehead finished 5th this year. Boghall and Bathgate finished 6th to round out the top 6.

The morning Qualifier also brought around a few surprises – The 78th Fraser Highlanders being left out of the final after a tough qualifing round which saw rain pelt down on some competitiors. The 78th Fraser Highlanders won the World Pipe Band Championships in 1987 – breaking the Strathclyde Police victory run – and has, since then, featured highly in the World rankings. Only a few years ago the band finished 4th.

Manawatu Scottish Society had a remarkable Qualifying round, finished 2nd and winning the piping by quite a margin. In the Final they recieved 11th in the MSR and 9th in the Medley, finishing once again in the top 10. A remarkable achievement considering the notable augmentation in standard of Grade 1 bands in general. Other qualifiers include Ballycoan, Australia Highlanders, Culleybacky, Fife Constabulary and Dowco Triumph Street.

New Zealand band City of Timaru featured highly in Grade 4 A, placing 6 in a very strong Grade 4 competition. Congratulations to both Timaru and Manawatu on representing NZ extraordinarily well, as well as Kiwis in other bands guesting.

Grade 1 Overall

1. Simon Fraser University
2. Field Marshal Montgomery
3. St Laurence O’Toole
4. Strathclyde Police
5. House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead
6. Boghall and Bathgate
7. Scottish Power
8. Vale of Atholl
9. Fife Constabulary
10. Manawatu Scottish
11. Culleybacky
12. Ballycoan
13. Dowco Triumph Street
14. Australia Highlanders

Grade 1 MSR

1. Simon Fraser University
2. Field Marshal Montgomery
3. St Laurence O’Toole
4. Strathclyde Police
5. House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead
6. Boghall and Bathgate

Drumming – Simon Fraser University

Grade 1  Medley

1. Simon Fraser University
2. Field Marshal Montgomery
3. St Laurence O’Toole
4. Strathclyde Police
5. House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead
6. Boghall and Bathgate

Drumming – Shotts and Dykehead

2nd August – City of Timaru has a cautious start to their campaign – 9th out of 12. Pipe Major Scott Shannon unable to play due to ailment on the leg from the plane – however the band went out and performed for their first time on Scottish Soil.

You can get all the details and expert analysis right here on PBNews. From 9pm on the 15th of August right through till the early hours of the morning, we will have people watching and commenting on the occurances of the night. We’ll have the results of the Qualifer posted as they come to hand, live from the online stream. We’ll also make sure we have all the results first and up.

Stay tuned for more from the World Pipe Band Championships 2009

According to their website, “The Band has a very busy itinerary lined up, including contests at North Berwick and Perth prior to the Worlds, along with performances at the Glasgow Pipinglive! Festival. The Band will be based at Stirling University from Sunday 2nd August until Sunday 9th August, and then will move to Queen Margaret’s Halls in Glasgow for ‘Worlds Week’.”

The Band’s itinerary is as follows:

• Arrive Stirling Sunday 2nd August
• Practice Stirling Monday 3rd August – Friday 7th August
• North Berwick Highland Games Saturday 8th August
• Perth Highland Games Sunday 9th August
• International Quartet Challenge, Pipinglive! Tuesday 11th August
• Performances at George Square and Piping Centre Street Café, Pipinglive! Wednesday 12th August
• Concert at the Oran Mor, Thursday 13th August
• Rehearsal Glasgow Green, Friday 14th August
• World Championships Glasgow Green, Saturday 15th August”

“The Band is very pleased to announce its return to the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, this coming August”  their website said.  “It will be the Band’s sixth trip to Scotland and follows the extremely successful 2007 trip when the Band placed 9th overall at the World Championships, after winning the Grade 1 Qualifier event in the morning. The Band is pleased to report a very strong team of 22 pipers, 6 bass section and 8 side drummers are confirmed for this year’s campaign, comprising players from New Zealand, Australia and the UK.”

The Band qualified first in 2003 and finished 13. In 2005 the band returned and finished 10th.

The Band will play 12th in a 15-band qualifer event, which sees the 78th Fraser Highlanders having to qualify due to their 7th place in 2008

We wish Manawatu every success at their campaign and look forward to regular updates from the team.

In a statement to Pipes|Drums, Grigor Stirling, Producer of Sport Programming, said that the Grade 1 Qualifier, MSR and Medleys will be covered, and that the March-Past and the prize-giving ceremony will both be broadcast live via the Internet.

This recognises the interest in the World Pipe Band Championships as the premier event for the pipe band communtiy world-wide.

PBNews will be reporting the action from the Worlds, live as it happens, and will endeavour to bring you results as they happen.