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news archive 2006

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update on rba winter personnel changes

As the band prepare for the upcoming RSPBA season, there have been personnel changes throughout the band during the winter.  Therefore we would like to keep our supporters updated as to who is joining or leaving the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band.  Here are the new arrivals and departing members so far this year:

DRUM CORPS

• Side Drummer Ashley Grant left the band following the 2005 season.  Ashley played in the Annan Ex-Service Club Pipe Band from 2001-2003 and the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band from 2004-2005.  We wish her well with her future endeavors.

• Side Drummer Jamie Cochrane joined the band in October 2005.  Jamie had previously played with the MacLean Pipe Band throughout the 1990's.

• Side Drummer Jan Verweij joined the band in January 2006.  Jan joins us from the Grade 4 Concord Pipe Band in Holland.

PIPE CORPS

• Richard Lupton rejoined the band in February 2006 following a spell with the Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary Pipe Band.  Richard had played with the Annan Ex-Service Club from 1998-2003 and with the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band during the 2004 season.

rba sweep festival trios for 2nd year running

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band got the 2006 season off to a fantastic start with a clean sweep in the Adult Trio Contest at the Dumfries Music Festival, held in Locharbriggs Primary School on Saturday 4th March.  The band entered four trios in the Adult section.  The band had also completed a clean sweep at the 2005 Dumfries Music Festival.

In the Adult section, the trio of P/M David McCracken, Garry Hawkins & Kevin Bell claimed first place, with P/S Chris Shearer, Grant Schoolar & Tim Schoolar in second and the trio of Chris Shearer, Irvine Torbett & Ian Nicholson in third.  David McCracken, Donald Robson & Lee Maxwell comprised the fourth trio and finished in fifth place.

With the band looking to achieve promotion to Grade 3A this year, this result gives the band a confidence boost with the outdoor season just around the corner.

rba open season with 5th place at dunbar

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band opened their 2006 RSPBA Season with a slightly disappointing fifth placing at a sunny Winterfield Park in Dunbar on Saturday 13th May.  Despite a strong performance, the band just missed out on the prizelist in Grade 3.

Grade 3 was won by Coalburn IOR, with Linlithgow & District in second, Denny & Dunipace in third and Pitlochry & Blair Atholl rounding out the prizelists in fourth.  Linlithgow & District took the drumming prize.

rba take 3rd place at scottish championships

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band placed third in Grade 3B at the first major contest of the 2006 season, the Scottish Championships, held at Levengrove Park in Dumbarton.  Despite a shaky start, the band were pleased with the overall performance; the pipe corps placing 1st and 2nd.

In Grade 3B, the Scottish Championship went to Dunoon Argyll, with Williamwood in second place.  The Clan Pipers - Frankfurt & District were placed fourth, Gortaclare fifth and Beeston & District in sixth.  Dunoon Argyll also won the Drumming Prize.

silverware success continues into may & june

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band have enjoyed a mostly successful period over the past month as they attempt to capitalise on their third place at the Scottish Championships.

The band played at the Bathgate Highland Games on Saturday 27th May on a cold and wet day in Bathgate.  Despite the band's satisfaction with the performance, there would not be a place in the prizelist this time around.  George Watson's College Juvenile went on to win the Grade 3 contest.

The Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway Branch Championships took place the weekend after in Girvan.  The band played fairly well and came away with a haul of trophies, winning Grade 3 and the Drumming Prize, placing third in Grade 2 and winning the Branch Championships in Grade 3.  A successful day all round.

On Saturday 17th June, the band travelled to Innerleithen for the first time and continued their winning ways, taking the top prize in Grade 3 and placing 2nd in Grade 2, beating several Grade 3A bands in the process.  A perfect way to go into the British Championships in Pitlochry, where the band hope to replicate their Championship win at Tain in 2005.

disappointment for rba at british ch'ships

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band failed to repeat their success at the British Championships in Pitlochry on Saturday 26th June.  The band had won the British Championships in 2005 in Tain.

A disappointing performance saw the band finish eighth in Grade 3B.  Beeston & District won the grade, as well as the Drumming prize, with Wallacestone & District in second.  Dunoon Argyll were third, Pitlochry & Blair Atholl were fourth, Turriff & District placed fifth and Rothesay & District completed to prize list in sixth place.

rba win grade 3 at annan rom

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band had a fantastic day on home turf at Annan Riding of the Marches on Saturday 1st July by winning three trophies, including a first place in Grade 3, the band's first win at Annan since forming in 2004.

The band took first place in Grade 3 with Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue in second place, Tyne & Wear in third place and Dunoon Argyll in fourth.  The Drum Corps completed the sweep in Grade 3 by winning Best Drum Corps.

In Grade 2, the band placed third behind The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards & Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary, who placed first and second respectively.  Tyne & Wear rounded out the prize list in fourth.

rba take second place at europeans

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band got their season back on track in fine style by placing second in Grade 3B at the European Championships in Greenock on Saturday 29th July.  The band had placed eighth at the British Championships in Pitlochry in June.  This result places the Royal Burgh of Annan back in contention for the Champion of Champions title which will be decided after the World & Cowal Championships in August.

Williamwood are the Grade 3B European Champions, with Gortaclare in third place, also winning the European Drumming Championships. Rothesay & District were fourth, Ayr Pipe Band Society were fifth and GSPC Milngavie placed sixth.

Williamwood currently top the Grade 3B Champion of Champions table with 11 points, Dunoon are second with 10 points and Royal Burgh of Annan are third with 9 points so it is all to play for going into the last two major championships.

rba tune up for worlds with dundonald double

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band prepared for the upcoming World Championships by taking home two trophies at the Dundonald Highland Games.

The band had to be satisfied with second place in Grade 3, behind an impressive GSPC Milngavie, with Ayr Pipe Band Society, with Heather Pipes & Drums of Copenhagen.  The Royal Burgh of Annan Drum Corps placed first although there was no drumming prize.

In Grade 2, the band placed fourth behind winners 52nd Lowland Regiment, Lomond & Clyde and Strathclyde Fire Service who placed 1st, 2nd & 3rd respectively. 

world championships letdown for rba

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band failed to make the prizelists after a disppointing showing at the 60th World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green on Saturday 12th August.

In Grade 3B, the World Championship went to Aughintober, with Cottown in second place.  Beeston & District were placed third, Cullen place fourth, Dunoon Argyll kept their impressive season going by placing fifth and Pitlochry & Blair Atholl finished sixth.  Aughintober also won the Drumming Prize.

rba take second place at melrose

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band recovered from a disappointing showing at the World Championships by placing second in Grade 3 at the Melrose Pipe Band Championships on Saturday 20th August.

Grade 3 was won by 3A World Champions Denny & Dunipace with George Watson's College Juvenile in third and Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia rounding out the prizelist in fourth.  The band also played in Grade 2, but a poor performance saw them miss out on the prizelists.  Grade 2 was won by the Highlanders.

rba take third place at the cowal games

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band completed their 2006 competition season by taking home two trophies at the Cowal Highland Gathering on Saturday 26th August in rainy Dunoon. The band placed third in Grade 3B whilst the Drum Corps also took home a trophy by placing second in drumming.

In Grade 3B, the Cowal Championship went to GSPC Milngavie, with Beeston & District in second place.  Hometown favorites Dunoon Argyll placed fourth, Williamwood took fifth place and Cumnock & District finished sixth.  Beeston & District also won the Drumming Prize.

Thanks to this result, the Royal Burgh of Annan finished in joint third place with Williamwood in the Grade 3B Champion of Champions table, which was won by Beeston & District.  The season had been open and competitive with several bands fighting it out for the top prizes and time will now tell which bands will be promoted to Grade 3A for the 2007 season.

rba upgraded to grade 3a

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band have been officially upgraded to Grade 3A by the RSPBA grading committee.  The decision was made official at the National Council meeting on Saturday 21st October.

The band competed in Grade 3A for the six months of the 2004 season, following the band's formation, but were surprisingly downgraded at the end of that season.  In 2005, the band won the British Championships and finished third at the World Championships in their first season in Grade 3B and maintained that form into this season, taking top three finishes at the Scottish, European & Cowal Championships.

Some of the band's joining RBA in Grade 3A are Beeston & District, Williamwood, Dunoon Argyll, GSPC Milngavie, Aughintober, Cottown, Piltochry & Blair Atholl and the University of Strathclyde, who won promotion from Grade 4A to Grade 3A.  Inverclyde & District will also be playing in Grade 3A after being downgraded from Grade 2.

On this evidence, Grade 3A will be one of the most competitive grades of the 2007 season.

rba are double branch champions 2006

The Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band were awarded the 2006 Champion of Champions title in both bands and drumming by the Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway Branch of the RSPBA.  The results were announced at the latest branch meeting, held on Sunday 22nd October.

A successful run at branch contests saw the band accumulating 18 points in both band and drumming categories following wins at Girvan, Annan Riding of the Marches and a second placing at Dundonald.

The band will be presented with the Champion of Champions trophies at the AD&G Branch Annual General Meeting on Sunday 19th November.

gary duignan leaves for new zealand

This past November, the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band said goodbye to one of it's most colourful characters.  Piper Gary Duignan has left Scotland to start a new life in New Zealand.  

Gary was a dedicated member of the MacLean Pipe Band and also served as their Secretary.  When the MacLean Pipe Band merged with Annan Ex-Service Club to form the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band, Gary was one of the original playing members and was also heavily involved in the initial steering group/committee as the band found it's feet and eventually went on to achieve considerable success.

In addition to his playing contributions, Gary also liked to drive the Pipe Major insane.  Famously, while serving as secretary of the MacLean band, he entered the band into the contest at Melrose and had everyone in the band in stitches as the announcer on the day introduced the band:

"Now competing in Grade 3, The MacLean Pipe Band, they are wearing the Ancient MacLean tartan and their Pipe Major is PHIL McCRACKEN!"

A great friend and band member, Gary will be missed.  Everyone at the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band wish to thank Gary for his contributions to the band and wish him, Susan, Kaesy & Bailey good fortune and happiness in their new home.

royal burgh of annan pipe band