Aiblins

A giant Terry Tully loomed over the throng and suffered the indignity of the compulsory winner's interview.

As stated elsewhere, I didn't really get to hear SLOT or FM, so I'm declaring a moral victory. If it turns out that Auckland were last, I'm going to buy a lottery ticket.

Apologies for the weird posting order but it was due to crummy cell reception which meant I couldn't reliably post. Next year I'm bringing my own cell tower.

Food is the next order of the day. I'll try to post a few post Worlds thoughts later but I have to admit that I am totally wrecked after today. The BPPV hasn't totally departed and I have been increasingly wobbly as the day has worn on. Ah well. Sure I haven't the wit to lie down....

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Surely the least likely bass drum to get nicked?

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Boghall let the drums hit the deck but it won't be long now until they are on for their Medley.

I have got over an hour and a half of video from the tuning park, so that will start to hit my YouTube Channel mid week.

From what I have heard SFU would still be my favourites but I didn't get close to either FM or SLOT, so I could be completely wrong.
I was so close to SFU I could have played with them. If I had the talent....

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The final band has played, Jim Kilpatrick has performed his traditional salute at the Pearl Tent (a change in allegiance over the year) and the crowd is milling about awaiting the results.
I now have so much video that the camera is full!

I'm off to look round the stalls. The purchase of yet another pair of sticks is guaranteed to infuriate the Missus!!

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The 78th Fraser Highlands qualified and I was glad to see it.

Over the past few years it had been sad to see them slip down the ladder and not to even qualify last year. They still sound a bit "thin" compared to today's top outfit but I'm glad they are back in the Final at least.

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One can but imagine that the RSPBA thinks that eBay either has no lawyers, or that they don't like pipebands and therefore don't come to contests....

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The bands are forming up for the Results. Clever spectators commandeer the abandoned grandstands from earlier grades awaiting the formal proceedings and the all important results.

In truth, this is the rubbish bit. No matter how enthusiastic Mervyn Herron tries to sound, it's basically a lot of bands moseying in to the accompaniment of 6/8s.

 

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You'll forgive me for skipping the Drum Majors, save to say that Northern Ireland was again fairly dominant. One has to wonder if the rest of the world is really trying....

Adult Drum Major bucked the trend and went to the SFU Drum Major (J Paquio). Was that an omen? I'm typing this as we go, so who knows?

Paula Braiden came a creditable second, keeping the Ulster end up. And now, as they say, the Bands...

Novice Juvenile

Drums - George Watson
Overall - Oban High School

Grade 4B

Drums - Upper Crossgare
Overall - Upper Crossgare

Grade 4A

Drums - Gransha
Overall - Gransha

Juvenile

Drums - Boghall & Bathgate
Overall - Dollar Academy

Grade 3B

Drums - Badenoch and Strathspey
Overall - Geoghegan Memorial

Grade 3A

Drums - St Finbarr's
Overall - St Finbarr's

Grade 2

Drums - Bagad Brieg
Overall - Ravara

Grade 1

Drums - SLOT
Overall - (in order)
SLOT
FMMPB
Boghall & Bathgate*
SFU*
Shotts
Scottish Power

Piping
MSR - SLOT
Medley - SLOT

[* - Edit - This was the order called on the day and thus is the order I'm leaving in this post, as a document of record. In fact, the results were later amended to have SFU in third, ahead of Boghall on Ensemble preference. The link to the offical RSPBA results page is here.]

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Speaking to a colossal crowd, the Chieftain has just told us precisely how colossal that crowd is. Apparently we number over 53000! That's a lot of haggis. Never mind neeps and tatties.

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Due to variable cell reception, the posts are slowing down. As am I.

You can see from the photos that there is now a gourmet eating spot in the Food from Argyll tent.

Haggis, neeps and tatties is my predictable (and delicious) fare but you can also have a roast Aberdeen Angus dinner or a venison burger. Brilliant!

I wholeheartedly commend the haggis. As I strolled the Green a number of passersby remarked on the bowl of goodness and sallied off towards the tent.

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