Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band

Cowal Games will go down as a highlight of the 2008 season for DAPB for lots of reasons.  Again, we had an early qualifier, playing at 9.12am, but had a good performance and qualified for the Final, which didn't begin until 2.50pm!  What to do to stay fresh for the next 5 hours!  Several of the band had reasoned that they had time to go back to bed and get up again, so, being the good, considerate band that we are, we accommodated their request.  Do you know of any other band who goes to these lengths to keep their players happy?  I would think not.

Here's the band playing in the qualifier.

After another very good performance in the Final, it was fun time! The last bit of business was the March past.  Can you "spot the differences" in this picture?  Pipe Majors be warned; if you have a lot of girlies in your band, don't turn your back on them!  Is this a take-over bid for the P/M and P/S positions?  Funny things happen to bands at Cowal Games, so don't say I didn't tell you!!

Well, the band finished the season with a 4th place at Cowal.  Actually, we tied for 3rd, but lost our to Ensemble Preference.  Also, the pipers were 2nd overall, which was hugely pleasing.  As in previous years, Corona supplied the band with sponsorship for the day, and in return, we wore their t-shirts in the street parade after the march past.  Many thanks to all the friends from other bands and previous players who joined us for the Parade.  Also, thanks to the dancers and friends with the flags - Na Fir Gaelish - who contributed to making our contribution to the Parade very memorable!  As we came down last, we were allowed to take our time and entertain the crowds, which we thoroughly enjoyed, in our own town! 

Congratulations to Carly McIntyre, dancer, who won the Argyll Championship 13 years.  I think your teacher, Katrina Martin, had a few tears in her eyes over this, she being one of the few Dunoon dancers ever to have won this herself too!  Well done Carly and Katrina!!  Bet the new kilt and socks helped!

This huddle of drummers was gathered together during a slow bit in the parade by one of our guest players, Gus, who wanted to try something a bit tricky!  Don't know if the playing worked, but the snare drummers took their life in their hands a bit further down the road when they unexpectedly turned and walked backwards without missing a single beat.  You crowd pleasers you! 

Not to be out done, the pipers take a moment to practice DAPB's party piece - Glasgow City Police Pipers, with attitude! Do you like our t-shirts?  While we were willing to share them with our guest players, the ten crates of free Corona beer is quite another matter!  Anyone want to join our band??

Rothesay Games last year was a total wipe out with torrential rain all day, so this year, the band prepared to attend the Games with some trepidation!  Thankfully, the day was good, right up until the march past, when sadly, the rain started, ruining the chances of the bands playing down the road after the results were announced.  The band had one of their best performances of the season, but as so often happens, the judge wasn't hearing the same thing, and placed them fourth.  Anyway, a few Rothesay pies, and a fun afternoon around the town, more than made up for any disappointment about the result, and a trophy is still a trophy!  Would anyone like to know why someone would go to Highland Games with a pipeband, and come home with a divers helmet??  Yes, that's what I said...look for yourself!  If you really want to know the answer.....beats me....ask Margaret McVicar, mother of 2 girls in the band.  (That's one of them trying to get a 'tune' out of an Irn Bru bottle!  Ashley - seated, with the pink mobile phone, which she too looks like she's trying to get a tune out of it (pipers!) - was the only person who could get it on her head, but as she then couldn't breathe, we thought we better take it off again.

DAPB had an early start for the world's, due to an early slot in the qualifying round.  There were 4 heats due to the huge entry of 51 bands, with only 3 from each heat going through, so the performance had to be good.  Everything went well at the start of the day, with the bus being parked very near to the entrance to the park, and a very helpful steward getting the gazebo up in case of rain.  Despite a horrendous weather forecast, the weather remained good, and the band was delighted to qualify for the final.  Some in our band have strange ways of celebrating.....this picture shows our snare drummer, Scott, going into 'snail' mode!?!

(Oops!  Sorry Scott....I don't know how to turn the picture around now!)

As we then had several hours to wait before playing again, the BBQ's were set up, and a feast fit for a king......or a hungry pipe band... was prepared.  We had 2 players with the band who were competing with us for the very first time in Karen Emmerson, tenor drummer, and Nicola Rae, piper, so as the afternoon wore on, the nervous excitement was becoming noticeable.  PM Colin Prentice did a grand job keeping everyone as calm as possible, and the band drew an appreciative crowd, as he put them through the motions of setting up again for the Final.  Despite giving a pretty good performance, and the drummers getting 5th place (hooray), it wasn't enough to make the prizes, and the band finished a slightly disappointing 8th.  Still, out of 51 bands, that's not too bad! 

PS.  Our bass drummer, Ashley McVicar has a unique claim to fame - she features on the trailer for the BBC TV programme of the World's, and so has been seen on TV dozens of times in the lead up to the programme!  Beat that, if you can!!

Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band had a fantastic weekend in Northern Ireland, staying at the same hotel as the last 4 trips, in Newtonards.  Unfortunately however, we were unable to produce the standard of performance at the European championships that we would have liked.  We did however, qualify for the finals, but had a few problems with the finals performance.  As this was the strongest field we have played against so far this season, we weren't strong enough, and slipped out of the prizes for the first time this season!  Never mind, we are looking to fix the things that went wrong, and hope to be back in the 'hunt' next time. 

For pictures etc of our trip, and an overview of the great time we had, look at the Photo Album section.  (Other stuff can be found on bebo sights, but this website is censored, so we can't use some of that material!!!  Enough said!!)

Dunoon Argyll getting ready to perform at Lisburn, Northern Ireland - great weather, great venue.

Despite being without a few key players at Balloch, Dunoon Argyll pipe band was delighted to come in 3rd.  This was an opportunity to play a couple of players who are new to the band, so welcome back to drummer, Jim King, well done Ashley who was playing the bass drum for the first time in competition, and welcome to piper Mark Berry (although he also played at Helensburgh). 

As people will notice, we have a couple of drummers who no longer want to be with us, but thanks to the great attitude and effort made by the remaining drum corps, we are still in business!  If I'm not mistaken this will be the first time this season our drum corps has beaten Stamperland, our 'friendly rivals'.  Once again, well done to everyone for a good result!

Lest we forget, here is our German drum major, Florian Faust, in full flight, competing in a competition in Germany last year, where he came first for Dress and 2nd for Marching and Flourishing.  Looking good Florian!!  Florian will be with the band at Cowal this year, and will be a welcome addition to our parade down through the town at the end of the day.

The band continues in its winning way this season, and was delighted to win grade 4 at Helensburgh, on Sunday 22 nd June.   What's more, we also played up into grade 3, and finished 3rd in the grade 3 competition too!  This was the first time this season we played our selection in grade 3, and so it was great to get into the prizes with our performance.  Excellent preparation for the British Championships in Birmingham on Saturday 28th June.

The band had a very busy weekend with both the Glasgow & West of Scotland branch championships and Ardrossan Games falling on the same weekend.  Despite being down on numbers however, the band came second in the confined and open competitions at Shotts, and a slightly disappointing 3rd at Ardrossan, compensated for by the drum corps achieving their first 1st place of the season!  Lets hope there are many more to come.

First, a picture from the branch championships at Shotts

And here is the winning drum corps of the day at Ardrossan.  Now here's a cheery lot! Missing is side drummer Emma Louise Kerr, who is on crutches presently, and who was sick as a parrot over missing this special occasion.  Never mind, next time Emma!

Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band's grade 4 band are delighted to have finally made it into the prizes at a Major Championship.  On Saturday, 24th May, they came 6th in the grade 4b competition, which started with 24 competing bands.  The grade 4 band was set up in 2006, and has been very successful in getting through to the final stages, but had a frustrating season in 2007 with finishing 7th most times.  Not this year!  The band is an amalgamation of existing grade 4 players, a few who have joined them from last years 3A band, which did not have enough players to compete this year, and a few players who have never played, never mind competed, with a pipe band before.  Oops, I almost forgot, we also have a couple of guest players from Ireland too, who we met in Lorient at the Interceltic Festival there over the past 2 years.Quite a challenge for P/M Colin Prentice and Leading Drummer Joost Heijgelaar!  Congratulations to them and all the players alike, who had a very good run in both the qualifier and the final on Saturday.  Two competitions and 2 trophies - a great start to the season! 

Who do you think has the biggest smile!?! 

The bus journey home was memorable, as was the lad's 'wee stop', where somehow Des, one of our Irish guests, got stuck in the busHes, and had to fight with a wheelie bin to get out again!!  WHO PUT THAT THERE P/M??

Here's how to rest up on the bus and get some practise in before the party back home!  Who says on women can multi-task!

SUCCESS  AT  GOUROCK

Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band started their 2008 season with a bang at Gourock where they were delighted to take first place in the Grade 4 competition.  As the band was fielding 5 young players all under 17 years of age, who have not competed with the band before, the result was met with delight and a little surprise!  The drummers were equally delighted to be placed 2nd overall, as 4 of the new players were within their ranks.  Everyone has returned home with beaming faces, not only due to their success, but also due to the day being very sunny ALL DAY!  Everyone is keen to get to work and prepare now for their next outing, which will be the Scottish Championships at Dumbarton.

Here's a smart looking band coming on at the March Past.  Welcome to Jennifer McVicar, piper beside the 'serious' Pipe Major, who competed for her first time with Dunoon Argyll.

Here's a happy Pipe Major - Colin Prentice with the Darroch Cup for 1st place in grade 4.  Dunoon Argyll last won this trophy in 1995, when Colin's piping tutor, Jim Henderson, was Pipe Major.  Good footsteps to follow in, Colin!  ( Does anyone notice the white bits at the side of Colin's eyes - he had sun glasses on with wide legs, and ended up with these marks on his face!  Sorry to spoil the moment, but it did look funny!!)

A cheery bunch!  The 4 girls grouped in the middle are our newest members.  Congratulations to Caitlin (with the squinty sporran) and Michelle in the middle, who were both competing in their first ever competition with any Pipe Band!  Great way to start girls!

2008 Season Competing Band - Grade 4B                                              

Pipers                                                       

                                                                                        Tjapko Heijgelaar