Drumming up success

ANNAN Pipe Band’s drummers were crowned the best in Grade 2 at last Saturday’s Scottish Pipe Band Championships in Dumbarton.

The major event saw 127 pipe bands play across the grades in front of thousands of spectators.

And the Royal Burgh impressed the judges as they scooped the Grade 2 Drumming Championship and finished third overall in the grade, out of 14 bands.

Meanwhile, drum major Gibb Fraser won another individual accolade.

Posting on social media, the band said: “The band were delighted to pick up the Grade 2 Scottish Drumming Championship title at the weekend, alongside 3rd prize in Grade 2.

“Massive congratulations also from all the band to our incredible drum major Gibb Fraser on winning the Scottish Championship Adult Drum Major title.”

Elsewhere, Dumfries Pipe Band blew away the competition at Levengrove Park to land their first ever major competition win.

Annan’s Travis McKenna Johnston and Eva Graham both competed with the Doonhamers outfit at the championships.

The band went up against 19 other bands in the 4B category. They played faultlessly and, as a result, finished first to become Grade 4B Scottish Champions.

Pipe major Alan Maltman was over the moon with the result, he said: “The young members were really excited. It was a great thrill. It’s great for the young folk in the band, especially after putting in a lot of work.

“For quite a few of them it’s only their first or second season in competition.

“It was fantastic. We got a coach up and down, and the atmosphere was great. All of us were delighted.”

It is the middle of competition season. And next up is the European Championships at Perth on Saturday August 9 before the World Championships at Glasgow Green a week later, on August 15 and 16.