Christchurch was a beautiful city. It was filled with gardens, tree-lined streets, an elegant Cathedral and historic facades. Trams nudged gently through city streets and largely peaceful suburbs stretched to the Port Hills and sweeping Brighton beach.

At 12:51pm, one year ago, Christchurch experienced the greatest natural disaster in New Zealand’s history. Hundreds of victims were unfairly taken from their families, tens of thousands left either without a roof or a home, and hundreds of thousands left affected. We were very fortunate that all we lost were the bricks and mortar of the elegant Caledonian Hall on Kilmore Street. We were also very thankful that no one from the immediate band had perished, but we are very aware of the effects this event has had on our band members. In particular, we remember the grandparents of band member George Stick – Earl and Beverley Stick – who lost their lives on the 22nd.

One year on, houses are still being rebuilt, people’s lives are still being reclaimed, and businesses are still assessing the impact the earthquakes have had; however, the resilience of the Canterbury people is strong and the rebuild is on track. We were determined to attend the 2011 World Pipe Band Championships, and despite the hardship the band faced, we attended and came within 1 point of qualifying. The band was extremely lucky to have support from various groups and individuals in the United Kingdom who helped us with our trip there, as well as phenomenal support from our local base through fundraising and organising. As well as this, since February 22nd, Richard Hawke has been honoured with an MNZM for services to Piping and Pipe Band, the band gained second at Palmerston North Square Day 2011, the drum corps received a Premier endorsement, our solo pipers have accumulated the most prizes out of any other band in the country put together, and the band has grown in numbers and standard.

We as a band are greatly appreciative to all those from New Zealand and around the world who so generously offered us support – financial and moral – at the time. We still greatly appreciate the efforts which people from around the world went to to help the band even from remote locations. One we would like to thank in particular is the generous support that Pipes|Drums editor Andrew Berthoff offered through a Paypal donation account, which contributed an overwhelming $2500 to our cause. The incredible support we received through other mediums should not be forgotten too – so to all those who did anything for the band during that time, we thank you. To name all of you would just be too greater task.

So, while we remember those who have left us and pay tribute to the hard work still being done, we look to the future with optimism and strength. We are nearing 130 years old as a society, and we are stronger than we have ever been. The band too is in a strong position, and looks set to grow in strength in the near future. We are still committed to the vision we begun with 3 years ago, and the goals we set ourselves every year.

We are so looking forward to competing at Tauranga on the 9th and 10th of March, to honour the lives lost in our city, and to remember those who have given so much to us.

We will rebuild our city, but we will never forget.

Grade 1 MSR

1st NZ Police (2,2,1,1)

2nd Manawatu Scottish (1,1,2,2)

Judges – Ross Wilson, Ian Fergusson (Piping), John Hanning (Ensemble), Lepper (Drumming)

Grade 1 Medley

1st – Manwatu Scottish (1,1,1,1)

2nd NZ Police (2,2,2,2)

Judges – Phil Mair, Nigel Foster (Piping), Mark Weir (Ensemble), Prebensen (Drumming)

Grade 2 MSR

1st ILT City of Invercargill (2,1,1,1)

2nd Temuka (1,2,2,2)

Judges – David Burrows, Liam Kernaghan (Piping), Geoff Hallberg (Ensemble), Gavin Manson (Drumming)

Grade 2 Medley

1st ILT City of Invercargill (1,1,1,1)

2nd Temuka (2,2,2,2)

Judges – Iain Blakely, Blair Ellis (Piping), Ian Mowat (Ensemble), Scott Mitchell (Drumming)

Grade 3 MSR

1st Canterbury Caledonian Society Royal Stewarts (1,1,1,1)

2nd South Canterbury Highland (2,2,2,2)

3rd John McGlashan College (3,3,3,3)

Judges – David Burrows, Liam Kernaghan (Piping), Geoff Hallberg (Ensemble), Gavin Manson (Drumming)

Grade 3 Medley

1st Canterbury Caledonian Royal Stewarts (1,2,1,2)

2nd South Canterbury Highland (2,1,3,1)

3rd John McGlashan College (3,3,2,3)

Judges – Iain Blakely, Blair Ellis (Piping), Ian Mowat (Ensemble), Scott Mitchell (Drumming)

Grade 4 MSR

1st Mataura Kilties (2,1,1,1)

2nd ILT City of Invercargill #2 (1,3,2,4)

3rd Waimatuku (3,6,5,3)

4th Riccarton and Scottish Society (4,2,7,7)

5th City of Dunedin (5,5,4,2, penalty of 6)

6th Canterbury Caledonian Balmorals (7,8,3,6)

Judges – Iain Blakely, Blair Ellis (Piping), Ian Mowat (Ensemble), Scott Mitchell (Drumming)

Grade 4 Medley

1st Mataura Kilties (1,1,1,1)

2nd City of Dunedin Mathieson (2,3,3,2)

3rd Riccarton and Scottish Society (4,2,2,6)

4th ILT City of Invercargill (3,4,4,3, penalty of 1)

5th Waimatuku (5,6,5,5)

6th Canterbury Caledonian Balmorals (7,5,6,7)

Judges – David Burrows, Liam Kernaghan (Piping), Geoff Hallberg (Ensemble), Gavin Manson (Drumming)

Juvenile Marches

1st ILT City of Invercargill (1,1,1,1)

2nd John McGlashan College (3,2,2,2)

3rd City of Dunedin (2,3,3,3)

4th Waimatuku (5,4,4,4)

5th Waitaki District Schools (4,5,5,5)

Judges – David Burrows, Liam Kernaghan (Piping), Geoff Hallberg (Ensemble), Gavin Manson (Drumming)

Manawatu started the weekend with wins in all sections, apart from one, tying with the New Zealand Police Pipe Band for best drum corp. Canterbury Caledonian spent Sunday in Ashburton in overcast, cool conditions, winning both the Set and Medley.

Full results available soon.

Music Judges

Piping:              Brendan Eade, Nigel Foster, Brian Niven, Brian Switalla

Drumming:  Stuart Eeles, Robert Turner

Ensemble:     William Livingstone, Craig Meinsmith

Other non music judges have also been appointed for the event and they are :

Drum Major’s competition Robert Buckton

Dress                                                    John Agnew

Mace Flourishing                       Rod Millar

Marching                                          Peter Eeles, Rod Millar, Jill Vincent

Display                 Ensemble          tba

     Non-Music       Malcolm Irving

     Guest                  Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby

Kitto Trophy:                                 tba

Numbers this year are reportedly down, and as a result fewer tutors than usual have been employed. This is not taking away from the experience this week, with several interesting workshops and evening activities planned.

The Foundation Youth Pipe Band is attending the week, and will be spending the afternoons working on their intensive competition and concert repertoire. On Wednesday night they will be practicing under the direction of Jack Lee, Reid Maxwell and Tyler Fry.

Tonight is the annual Tutors Recital, with special appearances from groups and soloists. This is $10 and begins at 7pm at Christchurch Boys “Big Room”.

The week will culminate with a Students Recital on Thursday, where all students will perform; including the Youth Band.

PBNews will be on hand all week, taking photos and videos and will be uploading them as available. Stay tuned for more news from the 2012 National Summer School.

It is a voluntary position which has very few demands; the only one being that you deliver the news fast, efficiently, and to the best of your ability. Occasionally you may be asked to write specific articles for specific purposes, but most often it will be up to you.

We want people with a passion for piping and drumming and who have a bit of a way with words.

If you’re interested, contact either the Owner or Editor with expressions of interest.

Manawatu Scottish Medley

Canterbury Caledonian MSR

Canterbury Caledonian Medley

Auckland and District MSR

Auckland and District Medley

NZ Police MSR

NZ Police Medley

Pipe Band Club MSR

Pipe Band Club Medley

A Hogmanay to Remember

I’d only been to Waipu a few times before for the New Year (15+ years ago; gulp!) and had planned just to have a quiet one with a few cans and a few friends. When I got the call up to join in with a few others in a road-trip from the Central North Island, I couldn’t say no. And I’m glad I didn’t. Attending arguably the best highland games in the country was such a treat and an insight not only into the world of solo piping, but the world of solo drumming.

We set off for Auckland on the 31st and were to meet several others who were, like me, road-tripping to Auckland. A few young lads in one car, a female or two in another, and a few already there meant my first New Year in Auckland was a bit of a highlight. The chat was piping and the focus was clear… but serious chat was left for another day, and just for one night we let our hair down… or so I thought.

Waking up onto the 1st day of 2012 and the travel from Auckland to Waipu took a different turn – all cars in the “Te Hikoi” convoy dressed up in patriotic flag attire and blasted the Dave Dobbyn and Six60. The Swat Team led the front, and with all the rest of us falling behind, we set off to the township of Waipu, just short of Whangarei, and home to the legend of Bain McGregor and his onslaught. Several stops for photo opportunities and public consumption were just part of the magic that was Te Hikoi Ō Te Āninu Māhunga Kaiwhakatangitangi Te Waipū.

There is an annual memorial medley competition, recognising the life of Bain’s late wife Helen, and the love she had for piping music. 6 pipers took to the stage – apparently down on last year where they had a record 22 compete – and what a musical spectacle it was. Bain did note although the numbers were down, the standard was high. The highlights were definitely a rendition of Davey Websters 40th, a Fred Morrison horn-reel, an amended John Pattersons Mare, and a modern Breton Dance followed by a few jigs from Paul Hughes. The night ended with Martin Frewen being announced the winner, the two stews/stus finished second and third, and Liam Kernaghan finishing off the prize list. A few drams, a catch up with some old friends, and the end to the first night of what undoubtedly was going to be a cracker start to 2012.

The next day brought about some early rain but the skies cleared and we were treated to a beautiful day under the scorching Northland sun. We arrived just after 9, and already the A Grade March and the A Grade Strathspey and Reel were under way, as were the lower grades. We parked up at the Open board and spent the day walking back and forth between the drumming and the piping. One of the great things about Waipu is that the boards – although well spread out – are not that far away, and the ease in which we could watch a competitior in the A Grade MSR on the Drumming board and jump down to the Under 21 piobaireachd was especially comforting, considering any form of physical exercise on this day was sure to enduce some major sweats.

The Drumming Solos were well attended, but again, apparently down in numbers on last year. I wish I’d got my sticks out and competed, because the relaxed atmosphere which was conducive to such musical performances would have been a fun way to start the year. However, I sat and enjoyed a few good tunes on the drumming board for parts of the day and would encourage anyone and everyone to give it a go some day.

In comparison, it was clear the piping board was full of formality.. and rightly so. The names of the competitiors playing, according to the lady sitting beside me, was “first class.. undoubtedly a very high standard”. There were 12 open piping competitors, all names even I recognised as a drummer. The professionalism and the music was outstanding all day, with pipes to match. One of the judges reported the standard of the pipes at the contest was very high. What would I know though.

The lunchtime spectacle was something that I will forever remember and enjoy; the annual pipers march. All the pipers – regardless of grade – and some drummers lined up and march around the field with clans and supporters in behind, playing such favourites as Green Hills of Tyrol, Bonnie Dundee, Orange and Blue and the Flower of Scotland. Under the sun and the climbing heat, at least 40 pipers stood and played for the masses, with highland dancers dancing to the strathspeys. A visual treat for the masses which culminated in several thousand people crowding around to see what was happening.

As the day draw nearer to sun-set, the piping board became more populated. The drumming solos had finished and with the prize giving having been completed, we set off to the piping, and we sat down to my highlight of the day – the A Grade Hornpipe and Jig. At least 60 people were watching this display of excellent music which was without doubt the “crowd-pleaser”. To say there were several highlights would be to do injustice to the high level of competition in this event… but there were some tunes which even the older generation had their feet tapping along to.

The Prize Giving happened, with each of the prize winners being recognised for their performances and presented with the ever-important prize money. There was a tribute delivered by Allan Cameron to the late Lewis Turrell MBE, who passed away just before Easter in 2011, and who was a major contributor to piping and a staunch advocate for the Waipu Highland Games. The day at the park finished with a few more drams, a bit of chat and some more catching up. It was about 7:30 that we ended up returning to Bain’s house for a BBQ, some tunes, and a fantastic night.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Waipu 15 years on… but now I know I’m never doing another New Years again. Waipu was without question perhaps the greatest way to herald in the new year.

A Grade Piobaireachd

1st Greg Wilson, Scarce of Fishing

2nd Stuart Easton, The Unjust Incarceration

3rd Jamie Hawke, The Lament for the Earl of Antrim

4th Martin Frewen, Glengarry’s March

Judges – Brian Switalla, Iain Hines

A Grade March

1st Martin Frewen

2nd Greg Wilson

3rd Stuart Easton

4th Callum Gilchrist

Judge – Iain Hines

A Grade Strathspey and Reel

1st Liam Kernaghan

2nd Greg Wilson

3rd Stuart Easton

4th Stewart McKenzie

Judge – Brian Switalla

A Grade MSR

1st Martin Frewen

2nd Greg Wilson

3rd Stuart Easton

4th Jamie Hawke

Judges – Brian Switalla, Iain Hines

A Grade Hornpipe and Jig

1st Liam Kernaghan

2nd Martin Frewen

3rd Stuart Easton

4th Jamie Hawke

Judges – Brian Switalla, Iain Hines

Helen McGregor Memorial Medley

1st Martin Frewen

2nd Stewart McKenzie

3rd Stuart Easton

4th Liam Kernaghan

Judges – Brian Switalla, George Mason, Iain Hines

The Under 21 results were mixed, with William Rowe, Scott Marshall and Blair Hodson winning the Under 21 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel and Piobaireachd respectively.

A Grade Hornpipe and Jig