Pipe Band Hold All Major Championship Titles

Following the Scottish Pipe Band Championships, our Pipe Band and Drum Corps are now the current holders of all five Major Championship titles.

The Juvenile band and drum corps made a superb start to their season at Dumbarton at the weekend winning the Scottish Championships. As current British, European, World and Cowal Champions, this weekend gave them the clean sweep of championships.

The Novice band also played well taking third place in their grade with their drummers coming second. Both bands are in action again this Saturday at Bathgate Highland Games.

Mr Gareth Edwards, Principal, said of the milestone win, "The pipe band's success once again is tribute to the enthusiasm of all the elements that make up an effective school activity – young people eager to learn and perform, dedicated and talented staff, and a tremendously supportive and active group of parents, whom I want to thank in particular."

Off to Japan!

On Saturday 26 April, the George Watson's College Pipes & Drums will travel to Japan to entertain the public at the Sanix International Youth Rugby tournament at the Global Arena Stadium in Fukuoka.

They will also perform at Arita Porcelain Park, the Hakata Dontaku Parade and visit several schools playing for the children at assemblies.

Although this is the band's sixth trip to Japan, most of the 22 pupils going (S1 to S3) have never been to the Land of the Rising Sun before and are looking forward to the 11 day trip.

Pipe Band Hitting the Right Notes

The pipe band claimed top prize last Friday night (14 March) at the Glasgow Highland Club School Competition.

They also had a good evening in the various solo events winning four out of five events. Graham Horsman won the Senior Drumming and Myles McIntyre won the Junior Drumming. Meanwhile, the pipers blew their way to success in the piping competitions, with Euan Kerr winning Intermediate and Calum Watson, winning the Junior competition.

Well done to all concerned.

GWC win Mini Band Competitions

Our Pipe Band started their 2008 season on a positive note at the George Watson's College External Mini Band Competition on Sunday, winning both the Senior and Junior Mini Band Competitions.

Our pipers and drummers did well in the solo competitions. John Benson (S5) won the Senior Drumming event with Graham Horsman and Bobby Hamilton (both S5) finishing second and third respectively. Andrew Timmons (S3) was placed second in the Junior Piping, with Euan Kerr (S3) coming fifth. While in the Junior Drumming event, Myles McIntyre (S3) won and Christopher Trew (S2) finished third.

Well done to all the competitors who took part, making it a great competition.

Civic Reception for Pipe Band

The Pipes & Drums of George Watson’s College have been invited to a Civic Reception at the City Chambers by Lord Provost George Grubb, on Monday 4 February.

This is in recognition of their extremely successful season, which culminated in winning the World Championship and then being chosen to form a Guard of Honour for the First Minister of Scotland, Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, on St Andrew's Day.

Gareth Edwards, Principal, stated, "Our Pipe Band continues to bring honour to the school. This recognition is well deserved and is the result of a lot of hard work and commitment on behalf of the pupils, their parents and our Pipe and Drum Majors, Iain Simpson and Michael O’Neill."

Watson's on Top of the World CD Now on Sale

Our World Champions' CD Watson's on Top of the World is now on sale for only £10.

Click here to visit our online shop for more information (including the full tracklisting) and to download an order form.

World Champion CD Coming Soon

The Pipe Band finished their season on a high at Peebles Highland Games.

After winning the World Championships, Cowal Championships and the RSPBA Champion of Champions Award in August both as a band and drum corps, the Juvenile band won the Grade 3 competition at Peebles and also picked up the Lothian & Borders Branch Champion of Champions Title.

The Novice band was placed 6th at the Worlds, 2nd at Cowal and 3rd in the RSPBA Champions table whilst their drummers won all three! The band and drum corps won their event at Peebles and also lifted the Lothian & Borders Branch Champion of Champions Title.

The Juvenile band have just finished recording a new CD that will be available in November 2007

Canadian Trip

The Pipes & Drums have just returned from a fantastic trip to Ontario, Canada.

The first weekend (Friday 6-Sunday 8 July) saw the band participate in the Kincardine Scottish Festival on the shores of Lake Huron. The band played at the opening and closing ceremonies on Friday and Sunday respectively. The main competition is held on the Saturday and after winning numerous prizes in the solo piping and drumming held in the morning, the band and drum corps won the Grade 3 competition in the afternoon. Their competition performance received a standing ovation from very enthusiastic spectators and bandsmen/women alike.

The band returned to Toronto for some sight-seeing. This included trips to Canada Wonderland, Niagara Falls and the CN Tower. The band travelled west for the Chatham Games the following Saturday and were again well received. Results were favourable too as the band and drummmers won the Grade 3 competition after a good morning at the
solos. The band was invited to perform an impromptu concert immediately after results. This proved to be "awesome"!

On the Sunday, the band performed at Covent Market Square in London then were treated to "Pizza & Pop" and a few games of Bowls and Pool courtiesy of the London Fire Service Pipe Band. As we headed for the airport on Tuesday, the only question on everone's
mind was............ "When are we coming back?!"

British Champions Again

The Pipes and Drums won the Juvenile British Championships for the third year in succession in Ballymena, Northern Ireland on Saturday 23 June. The drum corps was also crowned British Champions. Our Novice Juvenile band also featured strongly in the prize list when they were placed third in the Novice Juvenile grade.

On 4 July, the newly crowned British Champions are jetting off to Ontario, Canada. They will compete at the Kincardine and Chatham Highland Games as part of their preparations for this year's World Championships. Whilst in Canada they will also visit Niagara Falls, Toronto and Lake Huron.

Clean Sweep at Innerleithen

The bands enjoyed a very successful day at Innerleithen last Saturday (16 June) winning every grade they entered. The Novice Juvenile band won their grade while the Juvenile band won the Grade 3 and Grade 2 competitions. The drummers won Best Brum Corps and Best Bass section in all three competitions. The Junior band picked up their first prize of the season gaining third place in the Novice competition to complete the day. Congratulations to all.

Four 1sts in Bathgate

The Novice band, under Pipe Major Ross Harvey, won their first competition of the season at Bathgate Highland Games on Saturday 26 May. The drum corps were also placed first. The Juvenile band and drum corps were also placed first in the Adult Grade 3 competition to complete a successful day.

Pipe Band Drummers Give us Six of the Best

The Juvenile drum corps won the Scottish Championships for the sixth year in succession at a wet and windy Levengrove Park, Dumbarton on Saturday 19 May. The Juvenile band were pipped into second place, narowly missing out on a sixth band title in a row. They were tied on points with the winning band, Kintyre Schools, and only lost out on ensemble preference. The Novice Juvenile band continued their strong start to the season, gaining a fourth place with the drum corps winning the Scottish title for the best drum corps for the third year in succession.

Success at Mini Bands

The Juvenile band continued their successful start to the 2007 competition season. After winning the Glasgow Highland Club School Competition they travelled to Peebles for the Lothian & Borders Branch Mini Band/Solo competition. The Juvenile band won their grade and also came 1st and 3rd in Grade 2. The Novice band were placed 2nd and 3rd in their grade.

Full results can be found in the Results section.

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