Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band

For us, the Cowal Championship Pipe Band competition is the culmination of a week of activity around the Cowal Highland Gathering.  It's a week full of activities, and one that is often also full of mixed emotions as we reach the end of another competing season.  Here are a few pictures that capture some of what this busy week is all about for Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band

Whilst the grade 1 bands advertise where they are rehearsing for the World's Championships so that people can drop by, we don't advertise where we are during Cowal Games week, but still got visitors to our hall from Fife, America, Italy and Renfrew!  Here we are rehearsing for Dunoon's Thursday Night Live show that had to be moved indoor to the Queen's Hall due to inclement weather, but which is usually an open air showcase of local and guest performers.

Performing with the band Still Talkin' was one of the highlights of the year for us.  The rock version of The Gael was awesome!  Looking forward to next year guys!

Capes were just a precaution, as the rain stayed away for both the qualifier and final performances, thankfully.

It's always nice to come down the road at our own Cowal Games with a trophy, even when it is a horn!  We had a few 'extra' players again this year - thanks to Corona for supplying the t-shirts again.  Hope you liked the spectacle. We did gather quite a crowd behind us as the parade progressed!

This was the 2007 version - think we prefer the blue t-shirts, what do you think?

Yes, even wet, they look good!  And so do the t-shirts!  Hamish is a happy man!

Nearly there Florian!  Take us home! 

The Scottish Championships at Dumbarton became the first competition for the 2009 when Gourock Games was cancelled due to bad weather.  DAPB had a reasonable performance in the qualifying round, despite being a bit nervous, and were delighted to go on to be placed 3rd in the final!  Here is P/M Colin Prentice and L/D Emma-Louise Kerr with the first band trophy of the season

And here are the rest of the troops, including our Irish piper - Des!

Dunoon Argyll's pipers have travelled to Sunderland several times now to compete in the annual Trio Piping competition run by the NE England branch in the month of March.  This year, they enjoyed considerable success, taking 4firsts, 3seconds and a third place in all the grade 4 and grade 3 events.  The purpose in competing in this event however, is to allow the Pipe Major, Colin Prentice, to see if his pipe corps is ready for the competition season, by having the opportunity to play the pieces practiced throughout the winter, under competition conditions.  The 6 pipers that took part felt the benefit of having to aim to be ready for March rather than May, and are now able to look forward to the coming season with confidence.

Starting the season with 4 trophies already under the belt is a good position to be in!

What a smart looking Trio!

The other smart looking Trio...although I think the others get the prize for presentation! Nice flashes John!!  And finally, who do you think the cute piper with the big smile in the next picture is????

It's none other than the RSPBA Chairman, Mr Kevin Reilly!  Pity your Pipe Major made a blooter at the beginning, as it was going well.  I'm sure it says in the rule book that you can fine him for that.......a few cans of lager maybe?  If it's not there, you put it foreward for the AGM, and I'll Second the motion.  That should do it!!!  Either that or you could take his fancy pipe cords off him!!!