The Pipes: Big winners. No real losers
Posted in News on August 31st, 2009 by gkrakow
Let me set the scene…
Glasgow, Scotland – Saturday, August 15th
45,000 spectators.
8,000 bagpipers and drummers from 16 countries.
One world champion.
Culminating a week of preparation and competition – with concerts all around the city – the new 2009 World Bagpipe Champions.
In front of crowds of more than 40-thousand fans – Simon Fraser University Pipe Band – from Vancouver, Canada – took the prestigious crown.
Even more fans watched the competition on the BBC’s live streaming coverage over the Web.
This year, more than 200 bands – from as far-flung locations as New Zealand, Pakistan and even the United States – converged on Glasgow Green – to partake in more than 9 hours of music and pageantry in the final rounds.
Despite a very cold, wet start (it was the middle of August) the skies parted late morning and provided a beautiful, sunny backdrop for “The Worlds”, as they are affectionately known.
A little history is in order: The competition is a very big deal and is taken very seriously by everyone involved – participants and spectators alike. The contest has been fiercely fought in Glasgow for more than 60 years.
This year, American bands were eliminated in the final round early in the day.
As the competition wound down the day ended with the amazing spectacle of the thousands of pipers and drummers who had been competing throughout the day taking part in a grand march past both spectators and judges before the world champions were crowned.
The 2009 Tier One champions – Simon Fraser University – have won the competition a number of times in recent years.
The runners up were Field Marshall Montgomery from Northern Ireland… with third place going to St. Laurence O’Toole from Ireland… and a local group, the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, came fourth.
All-in-all an amazing day of spectacle and sound taking place in a vibrant city – where everyone seemed to go out of their way to be helpful and friendly to visitors. Plus, great restaurants and even better whiskey (but that’s a tale for another day.)
And the music was amazing!
I can happily report a wonderful time was had by all.