The World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition held in Glasgow , Scotland .
33-451: The World Pipe Band Championships have been staged since 1947, although the Grade 1 Pipe Band Competition winners at the annual Cowal Highland Gathering were recognised as World Champions as far back as 1906. The current venue is Glasgow Green . There are no qualifications to enter, and bands do not have to enter or win any other competitions. The only requirement is the band is a member of
66-625: A restriction on the number of events the band could play at threatened the future of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. Bradford and pipe-sergeant Duncan Nicholson resigned in protest, but returned in January 2010 after a new funding agreement was reached. Duncan Nicholson succeeded Bradford as pipe major in 2010. In 2013, territorial police forces in Scotland were amalgamated to form Police Scotland . The structure of
99-642: Is a list of some of the most successful pipe bands at the world championships. 55°51′08″N 4°14′33″W / 55.8523°N 4.2424°W / 55.8523; -4.2424 Cowal Highland Gathering The Cowal Highland Gathering (also known as the Cowal Games ) is an annual Highland games held in the Scottish town of Dunoon on the Argyll and Bute , over the final weekend in August. It
132-643: Is also important to note that these vary slightly throughout the world. For example, in North America, many regional associations have implemented Grade Five, an entry-level Grade, intended to help bands familiarize themselves with competition and in Australia, New Zealand and Northern Ireland there is no Novice grade at all. There is also no Juvenile grade in Northern Ireland. The highly coveted Grade One title remained in Scotland until 1987, when
165-822: Is done with both a standard 16 pounds (7.3 kg) shot and with the naturally formed 34 pounds (15 kg) Cowal Stone. There is a 5-kilometre fun run and a hill race from the stadium to the top of Tom Odhar and back again, and since 2007 there has been a Scottish backhold wrestling competition. Strathclyde Police Pipe Band World Drum Corps Champions : 1936, 1951, 1952, 1972 RSPBA Champion of Champions: 1967, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 British Pipe Band Champions: 1967, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2003 Scottish Pipe Band Champions: 1966, 1981, 1985, 1988, 2007 European Pipe Band Champions: 1964, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2006 Glasgow Police Pipe Band
198-787: Is drawn on the line. From 2019, the Grade 1 contest was adjusted so that the performances of bands on the Friday would now count. In 2024, the title is currently held by the Inveraray & District Pipe Band from Scotland. Until 2013, the World Championships took place on one day in August. Since 2013 the Championships have been held over two days. For all but Grade One bands, the competition remains as it was, with each grade competing in morning qualifiers and afternoon finals on either Saturday or Sunday. For Grade One, all
231-658: Is held at Dunoon Stadium . The first record of an organised Highland games in the town is in 1871, the same year as the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban started. In subsequent years games were held at New Year. The organisation of the Cowal events and other games around Scotland was due to a wide interest in Highland sports, partly stemming from Queen Victoria 's love of Scotland. The event that would evolve into
264-593: Is the highest of these categories, and Novice is the lowest. Grading and eligibility are overseen by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), and bands must apply for downgrading or upgrading. Because of time constraints, the RSPBA uses "A" and "B" designations in Grade 3 and 4, for major competitions. By doing this, bands are grouped based on prior-years' performances, and can receive promotions within their respective grade. It
297-419: The 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band from Canada became the first band based outside Scotland to win the title, and Simon Fraser University , also from Canada, came second, pushing Strathclyde Police into third place. The run of six consecutive wins remains a record, as does the twenty total wins accumulated throughout the band's history. MacLellan retired in 1992 and was succeeded by Harry McAleer, who led
330-456: The RSPBA or a Pipe Band Association recognized by the RSPBA. Normally several hundred bands will attend, traveling from all over the world. Competition starts at 9 am. Depending on the size of the grade - or in the case of Grade One, where a band has not secured automatic qualification - bands are required to perform in a qualifying round which takes place in the morning. The top bands at
363-826: The Strathclyde Police Pipe Band (known as City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band from 1912 to 1975) winning 20 times between 1920 and 1991, and the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band (winning 16 times). Other multiple World Champions include the Muirhead & Sons Pipe Band (8 times), the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band (eight times), and the Edinburgh Police Pipe Band (8 times). (C) indicates Champion of Champions * indicates Best Drum Corps The following
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#1732772386447396-806: The Canadian 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band became the first overseas band to win the award. In recent years, the title has travelled to Canada a further six times with Simon Fraser University Pipe Band , Northern Ireland 13 times with the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band , Australia with the Victoria Police Pipe Band in 1998, and the Republic of Ireland with the St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band in 2010. The most successful pipe bands in this competition remain
429-469: The Cowal Gathering was first held on 11 August 1894, and organised by local man Robert Cameron. 1906 saw the introduction of a pipe band competition for Army bands, at the suggestion of Malcolm McCulloch. Twenty-five bands entered in 1909, the first year that civilian bands were allowed to compete. The Argyll Shield, donated in 1906 by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll , is still awarded to
462-489: The Gathering Committee and the RSPBA , it was decided that after 2013 Cowal would lose its status as a major competition due to difficulties accommodating the number of bands. The pipe band competition continues to be held but with a reduced number of entrants. The Games hosts open graded pibroch , march , and strathspey and reel competitions, as well as juvenile and local restricted competitions. At
495-712: The Glasgow Police Pipe Band and begin to be known as Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band and change from their famous Royal Stewart kilt which the band wore for 108 years. Over the band's history, it has won a total of 90 major championships, including 20 World Pipe Band Championships, 4 World Drum Corps Championships, 14 RSPBA Champion of Champions titles, 13 British Pipe Band Championships, 5 Scottish Pipe Band Championships, 11 European Pipe Band Championships, and 23 Cowal Highland Gathering Pipe Band Championships. The band faced many name changes throughout its 138 year history due to boundary changes within
528-459: The Saturday for the World Championships. To ensure that there is a range of ages in the 12-15 category, four dancers are selected from the 12 years, four from the 13 years, and six each from the 14 years and 15 years. The older categories select their top 20 based on two separate heats which are randomised based on championship results for the previous year. The heats are about the same standard and
561-623: The alternate set on Saturday. Live streaming on social media is forbidden. Prizes at the Worlds are awarded in the following nine categories: In the Novice Juvenile and Juvenile categories, band members must be under the age of eighteen, with the exception of one "adult" player, often instructors, who may serve as the Pipe Major or Pipe Sergeant. The remaining categories have no age restriction, but are based on proficiency. Grade One
594-609: The band until 1996 when he was succeeded by Ian Plunkett. Plunkett was succeeded by James Wark in 2001. Wark retired and was succeeded by Donald Mackay in 2004. Under Mackay, the band enjoyed championship successes once again, winning the European Pipe Band Championships and Cowal Highland Gathering in 2006 and the Scottish Championships in 2007. Mackay stood down in 2008 and was succeeded by Don Bradford. In 2009, funding cuts and
627-613: The band was unchanged however the band changed its name to Greater Glasgow Police Scotland Pipe Band. The band performed in the annual Pre-Worlds concert in 2014 with the name Ceolry. Nicholson was replaced as Pipe Major by Iain MacPherson. In the following year, 2016, the band changed name again becoming the Glasgow Police Pipe Band and their leading drummer Eric Ward was replaced by David Henderson. In December 2019, Iain McPherson stepped down as Pipe Major and Alisdair McLaren
660-403: The bands (there will be no more automatic qualifiers for the finals) will be required to compete in a qualifying round on Friday, playing an MSR and a Medley. The 12 bands that qualify for the finals will then play a different MSR and Medley in Saturday's final for the championship. In 2014, the schedule was changed to hold the Grade 1 qualifying rounds on Friday, and the Grade 1 finals along with
693-478: The end of the qualifying round will play in a second event in the afternoon to determine the winner. To win, Grade One bands must perform in two events, a March, Strathspey and Reel event (known as an "MSR") consisting of three pre-arranged tunes - one March, one Strathspey, and one Reel, followed by a Medley event, which consists of a short selection of music chosen and arranged by the band. The band must prepare two MSR sets and two Medley sets, and then play one. This
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#1732772386447726-567: The games are held the Scottish National Highland Dancing Championships which is only open to Scottish residents, the Scottish (open) Highland Dancing Championships and the qualifiers and finals of the World Championships. The qualifiers happen at the same time as the Scottish (open) Championships for dancers age 12 and over. The top 20 dancers from each age category (Juvenile - 12-15 inclusive, Junior - 16-17 inclusive, and Adult - 18+) get to dance on
759-495: The loss of senior players through retirement had reduced the band's competitiveness. Under Angus MacDonald the band won every major championship except the Worlds. Ronald Lawrie succeeded Angus MacDonald as pipe major in 1967, but due to ill health Lawrie was succeeded by Ian MacLellan in 1972. In 1975, Strathclyde Police was formed by the merger of several police forces to form the second-largest police force in Britain, and
792-585: The lower grade qualifiers and finals on Saturday. In 2019, the grade one format was changed due to a smaller contest. "Grade 1 at the World Pipe Band Championships will be a two-day event with 15 bands playing both of the MSRs and medleys, one each on separate days, with all performances counting towards the final result." Every Grade 1 band has 2 separate MSR's and Medleys and is able to choose which one they play on Friday and then must play
825-400: The respective bands were merged into the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band under the leadership of Ian MacLellan. Under MacLellan and leading drummer Alex Connell the band won the World Championships in 1976 and 1979, being placed second to Dysart and Dundonald in 1977 and 1978. Strathclyde Police then won every year from 1981 to 1986, and then four consecutive times from 1988 to 1991. In 1987,
858-545: The top 10 from each category get to dance on the Saturday for a chance at winning the World Championship title. For dancers under the age of 12, there are no qualifiers as the Scottish (open) Championships are where they could win the title of World Champion. The Games features a variety of traditional Highland games events, including the shot put , caber toss , weight throw , weight over bar and hammer throw , as part of an international competition. The shot put
891-510: The winning band in the Grade 1 competition. The easy access of Dunoon by paddle steamer from Glasgow contributed to popularity of the games. The games also featured in early BBC television broadcasts. The global COVID-19 pandemic saw the cancelling of the highland gathering for 2020 and 2021, events normally attracting in excess of 1500 competitors annually. This was due both to travel restrictions for international participants, as well as uncertainty health-wise. A " virtual gathering "
924-486: Was William Bremer, who was succeeded by Walter Drysdale in 1890, who was in turn succeeded by Alexander Hutcheon in 1898. The band enjoyed a good reputation, and was recognised nationally for its quality. It wore a tartan designed and hand-spun by the Chief Constable and played two concerts annually to raise funds. . The chief constable's kilt was after the pattern of hodden-grey but with a purple stripe. Govan
957-593: Was a grade one pipe band from Glasgow , Scotland . Founded in 1883 as the Burgh of Govan Police Pipe Band , the band enjoyed its greatest competitive success as the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band . It ceased competing as Glasgow Police Pipe Band in 2021. The band was one of the first civilian bands in Britain when it formed in 1883 as the Burgh of Govan Police Pipe Band. The first pipe major
990-527: Was annexed into Glasgow along with Partick in 1912, and the band became the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band. In 1913 William Gray, a Gold Medal winner, replaced Hutcheon as pipe major, and the tartan was also replaced with the Royal Stewart. The band won its first World Championship in 1920, but due to Gray's focus on events other than competition the next time the band won the Worlds was 1936. Gray
1023-402: Was appointed. McLaren later stepped down in January 2020 due to unforeseen family matters. Following McLaren's resignation, Duncan Nicholson, former pipe major, was appointed. Later, the band announced Ewan Henderson would be appointed Pipe Major with immediate effect, succeeding Duncan Nicholson, who stepped in as interim Pipe Major. In 2021, the band announced it would cease competing as
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1056-545: Was succeeded in 1932 by John MacDonald, a student of Gray for many years and also a Gold Medal winner, having won at both the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting within a week. Under MacDonald, the band won the World Championships in 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939, and after the Second World War in 1946, 1949 and 1951. Angus MacDonald succeeded John MacDonald in 1958, and rebuilt the band after
1089-618: Was to be held for 2021, following a similar 2020 action. As the last major competition in the season, Cowal was historically where the Champion of Champions title for the best overall performance in the major competitions of the season was decided and awarded. Until the World Pipe Band Championships started in Glasgow in 1947, Cowal was regarded as the premier pipe band competition. Following discussions between
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