In their final competitions before the World Championships this Saturday the two Johnstone Pipe Bands headed for North Berwick at the weekend to see if they could continue this season’s fine form. On a successful day for the bands, the Grade 4 Band won their competition with the Grade 2 band placing second in theirs and also placing fourth in the Grade 1 competition beating two of the top grade bands who will be competing at Glasgow Green this week. With the Worlds only days away, both bands will be hard at work all week to give themselves the best possible opportunity on the day when the Grade 2 band will be competing against 24 other bands from across the globe in their competition and the Grade 4 band facing a huge 66 other bands.
Grade 2 Pipe Major Keith Bowes Jr commented, “The band had a great day out at the North Berwick Highland Games which was perfect preparation for the World Pipe Band Championships. The grade 2 band played three times, allowing us perfect some areas that needed improvement. The results also provided us with some great confidence that will undoubtedly have the heads well up going into the biggest and most important competition of the year. I have everything crossed that both bands will put in good accounts of themselves and I trust in the band that they will put everything they have into making those performances count.”
Grade 4 Pipe Major Keith Bowes Sr commented, “I was happy to get a good run a North Berwick and it allowed us to pick up on a few areas which we will be working on this week to ensure the band is in the right place to give the best possible account of themselves on Saturday. It has been a great season so far with Scottish and European titles for the band and this is a huge opportunity for them to go for the big one.”
Johnstone Pipe Band are currently on the lookout for sponsorship to help enable them expand and progress the band and their educational activities, for further information please contact the band on 07751 500520. Details on the band’s learner setup can also be found by calling the same number.