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season review 2004

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winter 2003

Following the formation of the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band in March 2004, the band met for the first time at the Annan Anglers Club and immediately began experimenting with competition sets and even after the first practice, a March, Strathspey & Reel and a Medley were drawn up and played in rough fashion.  As April wore on the band improved steadily as the different players began to gel and familiarize with each others abilities.  A trip to the Scottish Championships in Dumbarton only served to motivate the band further to get out on the competition field.  As the band improved, the decision was made to enter the contest at Hawick on June 5th in order to get an idea of how far the band had progressed.

In the meantime, the band had decided to make their first public appearance at the St. Andrews Lodge Fete at Annan's Newington Club on May 30th.  An almost full line-up of 21 members played for the assembled crowds.  As well as the founder members from Annan's former bands, there was also a welcome to three new members, Derek Coyle, Mike Ramsay & Callum Ramsay, to the Pipe Corps.  Just around the corner was the band's first competition and enthusiasm was high.

The band got to Hawick early on June 5th and were extremely enthusiastic to see just what impact they would make on the contest and the bands that attended.  Amongst the opposition were Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue, a new band which resulted from the amalgamation of Houghton-Le-Spring & City of Newcastle Pipe Bands.  As it would turn out, the two newly-formed bands would be very close in the prize lists all year.  As the band tuned up, expectations were high from the members as things were going well on the tuning park.  On the Grade Three contest, the performance was fair although not up to the standard of final tuning, therefore confidence was not high.  In Grade Two, the band entered a calmer and more controlled performance.  

At massed bands it was announced that the band had finished second behind Tyne & Wear in Grade 3 and also finish second in Grade 2 behind Scottish Champions Drambuie Kirkliston.  For the band's first contest together, the result was extremely satisfying and a suitable warm-up for Annan Riding of the Marches, which was a huge contest for the two former Annan bands and even more so now for the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band.

For years on end, pipe band enthusiasts considered Annan Riding of the Marches to be a derby day.  No matter who competed in the pipe band contest, nine times out of ten, the question would be?  Who won? Ex-Service or MacLean?  The two bands would trade wins over the other several times but this year, for the first time in over 25 years, only one Annan band would play at Annan R.O.M.

A highly anticipated day for both bandsmen and Annan residents, the day started with the Procession which, along with the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band, also featured the 52nd Lowland Regiment and Annan Town Band.

After playing to a packed Annan High Street, it was off to the playing fields at Annan Academy for the R.O.M Pipe Band Competition.  The band featured players who were making their first competition appearance and everyone who came in handled themselves well in a high-pressured environment.  The band played in Grade 3 and played fairly well although not to potential.  Tyne & Wear and Pontefract & District also gave strong showings as the rain started to pour on Annan Academy for the first R.O.M in a number of years.  A short break later and it was time to play in Grade 2, however the band did not pull out a good performance and left with hopes of a prize in Grade 3.

Annan High Street dried up in time for the Massed Pipes & Drums in the evening and, as usual, it was a memorable sight and sound.  The results were announced by former MacLean Pipe Major Neil Hodgson.  The band placed third in Grade 3 behind Pontefract & District and Tyne & Wear.  However, the biggest cheer was saved for the R.B.A Drum Corps as they were announced as Best Corps of Drums in Grade 3, a highly satisfying result for Scott Smith and his corps.  The band did not place in Grade 2 as the members had predicted but the band went away satisfied with their days work.  R.O.M concluded with the band joining Annan Town Band for a medley of tunes which wowed the jam-packed audience.   But for the band, the day was not over as the members retired to the Corner House Hotel for the 1st annual Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band R.O.M Dance.  The band celebrated long into the night as the curtain came down on a memorable and historic day in the bands history.

dundonald
saturday 7th august 2004

In the second successive AD&G Branch competition, the band experienced perhaps their best performances of the season at a sun-drenched Dundonald Highland Games, sadly the band did it on the final tuning park and ony pulled out an average performance in the circle.  However, unlike Annan R.O.M, the band vastly improved in Grade 2 and put on a good show.

The band would go on to finish third in Grade 3 behind Strathclyde Fire Service and Ayr Pipe Band Society and finish second in Grade 2 behind the 52nd Lowland Regiment.  Much improvement would be needed but two performances and two prizes capped off a successful day for the band.

Only 24 hours later, the band travelled to Bridge of Allan as the big names were out in force in a warm-up for the World Pipe Band Championships the next weekend.  Again the sun was beating down and made things slightly easier for bandsmen and spectators alike.  The band played their March, Strathspey & Reel for the first time in a contest this season.  However, the MSR contests would not treat the band well.  

The performance in the medley in Grade 2 was an improvement however placings in the bottom half of both grades made this a disappointing end to the weekend.  Much practice would be needed to make an impact at the World Championships.

The World Championships in Glasgow Green was a packed with spectators and bandsmen and the weather treated the bands very kindly.  The band again played the MSR in Grade 3 and once again struggled to achieve a satisfactory performance on the tuning park.  Despite a valiant effort in the competition circle, it would be a bridge too far this year as the band once again finished near the bottom of the grade.  Certainly a learning experience for the band and one which should motivate the band to do better at next years event.

It was back to the Lothian & Borders branch for the band in order to restore some pride after the previous two contests.  A pleasant day led to a pleasant performance in the Grade 3 event, after a promising build-up, the band played fairly well in the competition circle.  However, several members of the band were not confident of a result, perhaps doubts had crept in after the disappointment of Bridge of Allan and Glasgow Green.  

At the march past, the results were announced and the band were placed second behind Coalburn IOR, beating such bands as Tyne & Wear and Williamwood, who were enjoying a strong season so far.  This result served to restore confidence and continued the band's prize-winning ways in the Lothian & Borders branch and with Cowal just around the corner, the band were confident of an improved result at the last major of the year.

The weather at Cowal was not as impressive as the likes of Dundonald and Bridge of Allan but nonetheless a packed coach travelled from Annan and enjoyed a great day.  The band were in good form also as tuning went off without a hitch and confidence was running high of a good result in the grade.  Unfortunately, the band did not replicate this form in the circle and came away disappointed as a chance to make a strong impact had come and gone.

The band would finish around the middle of the pack but ultimately it was a disappointing day playing-wise.  However, the band was treated to a virtuoso performance during a beer stop in Hamilton as the chairman of the band belted out the Rolling Stone's 'Honky Tonk Woman' to an appreciative audience!  Perhaps one of the best performances of the season and ended the day on a high note.

A depleted band took to the field at Peebles to bring down a memorable first season.  With many members missing due to work commitments and holidays, confidence was not running high but those who attended were determined to end the season on a high note and continue the good fortune they enjoy in the Lothian & Borders branch.

In Grade 3, the performance was marred by mistakes but the band tried their best to recover in the second half of the medley selection.  In Grade 2, the band played with more composure and eliminated the mistakes from the previous outing.  The efforts of the band in Grade 3 was rewarded with a third place however there would be no double as the band did not make the prizelists in Grade 2.

As the band wound down and took a break after a very hectic six months, news filtered through from the RSPBA Music Board that the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band would be downgraded to Grade 3B.  Obviously this decision came as a gigantic shock to the bands as all members considered the season to be a success.  However, the band's performance at the World Championships would ultimately be the factor in the bands downgrading.

Following much discussion amongst the members, the band decided not to appeal against the downgrading, instead choosing to compete in Grade 3B with the intention to earn promotion back to Grade 3A as soon as possible.  All members remain motivated to make an impression in Grade 3B and this assures yet another exciting and unpredictable season in 2005.

royal burgh of annan pipe band