The band came in seventh in the field of 11 competitors, which considering the challenges faced tuning the drones while they filled with water, and rain dripping off of faces and chanters, causing for slippery fingers and finally the water wheel effect of the tenor mallets flinging rain back into the faces of our mid-section, wasn’t bad. Combine all these elements with the adrenaline and nerves brought on by the pure wonder and awe of the first competition for a Washington youth pipe band in Scotland since 1969, the band was happy to end up near the middle of the grade. Below you you can see a good shot of the band, followed by a closeup of the rain.
The band and rain at North Berwick Highland Games
The close-up:
Close-up shot of the rain on the competition field
The band also challenged up to Juvenile to compete against their friends to the North, White Spot Pipe Band. In a field of seven competitors, NWJPB placed 5th, one behind White Spot performing their Selection Medleys. The rain stopped in the afternoon, and the Grade 2 and 1 bands had a much easier time of the afternoon. North Berwick is a beautiful city by the sea, and some band members managed to make their mark at North Berwick in other ways as you can see by the photo below. More photos of North Berwick are now posted in our photo album.
NWJPB leaves it's mark at North Berwick
Sunday morning brought a new day and a new opportunity to perform as well as possible. The forecast predicted a low chance of rain, we reached final tuning and the rain began, but lightly and briefly. The air was warmer and fingers managed to keep their feeling. The band competed in Grade 4 (as they do in the US and Canada) since there was no Juvenile competition. The band was a little intimidated by the huge class of 24 pipe bands in Grade 4, a competition so long that the judges were given a half hour break from judging after twelve bands. In addition, we had no preparation in advance that the group would be this large, because Perth and the RSPBA did not post information in advance of the games about the number of bands who were signed up. NWJPB arrived and unloaded the instruments from the coaches and dived in to prove that they could do better than Saturday. Saturday’s competition was now a distant memory as the tuning and warm-ups took over.
The band was drawn to play 6th of the 24 bands, which made some members nervous. The judges would need to really remember the band’s performance through several hours of judging talented band after talented band, from all over the world. The Royal Army of Oman pipe band was parked next to NWJPB and several members took pictures with them and received lapel pins. The Oman pipe band is a military band from Oman, with the most unique and beautiful uniforms (Best Dressed Band at Perth).
Washington’s Keith Highlanders Grade IV band was at the games when NWJPB arrived, and they were drawn to perform just after NWJPB. The bands compared notes about the games, the rain, the North Berwick Games, and the many KHPB members who flew in Saturday evening after 10:00 pm after spending more than 30 hours on flights to get to Glasgow.
Royal Army of Oman Pipe Band
The time flew by and NWJPB’s turn on the competition field was near. The pipes well set, the drums tensioned and dried after a few sprinkles, and the band approached final tuning just after the rain had started coming down, so with plastic covered drums, the band practiced and touched up tuning on the drones and drums. The steward called for the band to enter the field, and the rain had stopped. Taking the line with confidence, the pipers and drummers of NWJPB put their game faces on, and performed the March Medley as well as it has ever been performed in competition. Most of the band stayed behind to watch the Keith Highlanders perform, then returned their instruments to their cases on the coach so they could have lunch and watch more of the bands. Oran Mor is a Grade 1 band in the Eastern US Pipe Band Association, competing in Grade 2 in Scotland. Back in June, they had a fire on their tour bus going to a competition in Ohio. The band asked to borrow a bagpipe cover from us (possibly because they haven’t fully recovered from the losses suffered in the fire), and we were happy to loan one to them. Oran Mor came in first in their competition, and our bagpipe cover was “there to hear it” as they competed. We’re proud to support another US band going to Scotland and playing very well.
Massed Bands was enormous. There were 42 bands on the field, which was the center of the horse track at Perth. The announcements began with the Drum Major competitions and moved to bands. They announce Grade 4 first, then placings from top to bottom. Grade 4, 1st place: Northwest Junior, USA! After a brief moment of confusion, screams of excitement, pride and joy erupted from the band and supporters around the field. Our once ”little” pipe band from Shoreline, Washington had come to Scotland and won in a field of 24 pipe bands from around the world.
The Grade 4 bands competed in “the winners circle” at the racetrack. We went back there for photos with our Perth Band Trophy, and took group shots as well as individuals with the trophy. The most poignant moment of the day was when a piper and a couple of drummers, Elliot, Bryce and Stephen stepped into the competition circle and began playing the Streaker hornpipe and Paddy’s Epic Journey, a favorite tune set from the band’s 2007 Medley Selection. Some looked around wondering what was going on, but this was a spontaneous and joyous celebration of the events of the day, and piper after drummer after piper quickly made their way to join in on the fun in the circle, playing the tunes from the heart and truly enjoying the last moments for the band in Perth, Scotland on a day the band members will not soon forget.
First place Grade 4 of 24 bands at Perth, Scotland, UK
NWJPB, Number 1 at Perth, UK
NWJPB Pipers in the Winners' Circle
NWJPB Grade 4 snare drummers at Perth
NWJPB Grade 4 Midsection
3 Responses to “NWJPB First at Perth, Scotland”
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Congrats’ from back at home!
Best of luck,
Patrick Sutherland
[...] doing well, placing 5th out of 24 bands from around the world. See the news from NWJPB on the NWJPBlog>>. The placings at Perth on the RSPBA [...]
You all should be very proud, as we are bursting with pride here for all of you! What a great group and kudos to all that helped in making this fantastic journey come true.
Proud Aunt of Aaron and Amber Stone,
Gayle Helmke