News
U B THE JUDGE 2012
Seven Towers Pipe Band presents "U B The Judge" Invitional solos, N. Ireland's premier entertaining solo piping competition. The crowd judges the best 4 at the end of the night with a Perpetual Cup and top prize money over 4 prizes.
Date: Saturday 3rd March 2012
Time: 7.30pm sharp
Venue: Michelin Athletic Club, Ballymena
Each player gives a 15 minute recital.
The Pipers (in no particular order) are:
Emmett Conway (Field Marshal Montgomery)
Scott Wallace (Field Marshal Montgomery)
Kris Coyle (Field Marshal Montgomery)
Sydney Moore (Strathclyde Police)
Alan Ferguson (Matt Boyd Mem)
Alan Glenholmes (Cullybackey)
Amos Gilmore (Seven Towers)
Glen Cupples (Unattached)
Richard McGrath (Bellaghy)
Andy Wilson (Unattached)
Bradley Parker (Cottown)
Ross Hume (Cullybackey)
Scott Barr (Ravara)
Hope to see you there!
Seats for the Worlds
We have a few seats left for the World Championships, Glasgow Green. We are leaving on the Friday morning (13th) returning on the Sunday evening (15th) and we are staying in the Premier Travel Inn on Ballater Street which is a 5 minute walk from Glasgow Green.
The Cost is £170 and includes Boat, Bus, Hotel and Breakfast. If you are interested in traveling with the band please get in contact with any band member or email us on: info@seventowerspipeband.co.uk
24th July - Heart O' Down Championships, Newcastle
Donard Park, Newcastle hosted the Heart O' Down Championships for 2010. Overlooking the mountains and the sea it is great spot for tourists. After a 2 week break it was back to the competition scene for the band as a warm up for the Europeans next week. After some discussion, it was decided that it would be a medley competiton to follow with the Europeans. We also had decided to play up in grade 1 alongside Ballycoan and Cullybackey. In grade 2, we had an average performace with some bits we were pleased with and others bits that didn't satisfy us. It was a short break then on to play a MSR of choice, so we played the Number 1, Highland Wedding Set. It was a much better performance that pleased the band after a shaky start in grade 2. We finished in 2nd place in grade 2 and 3rd in grade 1 with the best section lifting the trophy in our own grade. Well done to Lauren who lifted a 1st place prize. The band with be on number 8 at 14.33 next week at the European Championships, Stormont.
3rd July - All Ireland Championships, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Ballina, County Mayo was this year the location for the All Ireland Championships. We decided to take a bus to this years championships as it wasn't just as local as normal contests! The bus was due to arrive in Ballymena at 6.30 with the hope of leaving at 6.45 to get to Ballina. However, as we found out, things don't always go to plan!! Turns outs that the bus driver needed more sleep than the rest of us and had slept in! Anyway, we got going and stopped in Kesh for breakfast at 9 o'clock, hitting the road again at 9.45am. We arrived in Ballina around 12, with the band meeting back at 1.15 to prepare for the competition. We were 1st on at 3 o'clock and played a super medley with every single band member happy with our performance and we were quite right to be with another 1st place overall, claiming the title of Grade 2 All Ireland Champions. We also finished 1st in piping to win back the trophy we picked up last year. The celebrations continued the whole way home on the bus! Lauren picked up a 5th place finish at this years contest.
19th June - Co. Down Championships, Bangor
The Castle Grounds was once again the venue for the Co. Down Championships and with another warm day, with a cool breeze, the band was again playing the medley selection. We were drew number 3 at 14.44. After another solid, pleasing run we had a couple of hours before the finale. With grade 3a bands doing the beloved centre duty bands, we had a relaxed wait before heading in to find out our fate! It turned out to be very good with the band picking up another 1st place and joined 1st in piping alongside Ravara, who finished 2nd. Lauren finished in 2nd place, with another trophy to add to here ever growing collection! Well done again Lauren! We finsihed with the street parade to cap off another sucessful day for the Seven Towers Pipe Band. We will not be competing at the British Championships next week, but we wish all the bands the best of luck! Our next competition is the All Ireland Championships in Ballina, Co Mayo on Saturday 3rd July. Summeries for Bangor can be found here.
12th June - Mid Ulster Championships, Cookstown
It was time to again visit the grounds of Cookstown High School for the Mid Ulster Championships. It was hard to believe we would get another good day, with no rain so far this year! Again the band decided to play up in Grade 1 against Cullybackey, Ballycoan and St Laurence O'Toole. This week it was medley in Grade 2 with Grade 1 being a draw on the line MSR. Anyway, The band took to the ring at 3.35pm with our medley and had a performance to be pleased with. It wasn't long then before we were heading to to the arena to play in Grade 1 at 4.15pm. We drew the Number 1 Set and again, we were happy with the performance. The band was also a centre duty band this week along with SLOT and Ballycoan. In our grade, we took home a 1st place along with Best Drums and Best Bass Section and in Grade 1 we finished in 4th place winning M&D! Lauren was placed 2nd in her Drum Major grade, so well done again! Thanks to Ballymena Borough Council for giving the band Cuff Links, its much appreciated. The Summeries can be found here.
5th June - Co. Antrim Championships, Larne
This year the County Antrim Championships were back in Sandy Bay, Larne. The band had decided to play up in grade 1 as well as competing in grade 2. Grade 2 was MSR and Grade 1 was Medley. With grade 2 being played first, we decided to play our Number 1 (Highland Wedding, MAggie Cameron and The Rejected Suitor) MSR. With a decent run, we then got ready for playing in grade 1 which was being contested alongside Cullybackey and Ravara. We had a good medley, with the band happy how we performed. We finished with a 2nd place in Grade 2, being just pipped by Ravara and 2nd in Grade 1 with Cullybackey topping the table and Ravara in 3rd. Congratulations again goes to our Drum Major, Lauren Abraham who finished in 2nd place, also taking 2nd the week before in Enniskillen. The Summeries of the contest can be found by clicking here.
22nd May - Scottish Championships, Dumbarton
The first major of the season has arrived and as usual it was in Levengrove Park, Dumbarton. We all arrived for the bus at 5.45am or there abouts and set off towards Larne with a few picks ups along the way. We arrived at Larne Port just in time to miss the boat but luckily we got on the Cairnryan boat 15 minutes later! After a bit of extra travelling we arrived at the Park around half 12. After we got changed and a quick bite to eat we met back at the bus to prepare for the competition. Unusually, it was a warm day in Dumbarton, somewhere in the mid 20's, so we didn't need alot of time to blow pipes before competing. We hit the line at 2.57 and drew the Number 1 set, The Highland Wedding, Maggie Cameron and The Rejected Suitor. AFter an excellent run, with everyone extremely happy, we gotchanged again and relaxed until the bus left to head back to the boat. We got the news through after 7 o'clock to say we had finished 2nd to Grampian Police, with Ravara coming 3rd. The bus went into uproar with delight at our result. Again, Congratulations go to Lauren who landed a 2nd place as well. It was a great day had by all. The band will next be competing at the County Antrim Championships in Larne on the 5th June. For Full Summaries of the Championships, Click here.
15th May - Co. Tyrone Championships, Dungannon
Dungannon saw the start of the 2010 season for the band, with the weather mostly dry and sunny, we were on at 15.14. The contest was MSR as is next week, the Scottish Championships, in Dumbarton. We played our Number 2 MSR (The Argyllshire Gathering, Atholl Cummers and Loch Carron). The band was placed third and with a hard week of practise we will be heading to sunny Dumbarton on Saturday morning. Congratulations go to Lauren who finished 2nd in the Junior Drum Major Competition. There are still a few seats available and contact details can be found below. For Full Summaries, Click here.
Seats available for Dumbarton
We have a few seats available for a day trip to the Scottish Championships in Dumbarton on Saturday 22nd May. If you are interested please email the band (info@seventowerspipeband.co.uk) or contact a band member asap.
20th March - U B The Judge
The results for U B The Judge 2010 were:
1. Andrew Carlisle
2. Ashley McMichael
3. Kris Coyle
4. Scott Wallace
Well done to all the winners and a big thanks to all the players and to everyone that supported the event.
U B The Judge 2010
The Seven Towers Pipe Band is again hosting the "U B The Judge" competition. The format for the competition is a 15 minute recitial from each player and as the name suggests, you have the chance to vote at the end of the evening for who you thought deserved to win.
The draw is as follows:
1. Jonathan Lamberton (7.30)
2. Connor McCallion (7.50)
3. Jonathon Greenlees (8.10)
4. Glenn Cupples (8.30)
5. Alan Ferguson (8.50)
6. Andrew Carlisle (9.10)
20 Minute Interval
7. Amos Gilmore (9.30)
8. Mark Faloon (9.50)
9. Ashley McMichael (10.10)
10. Scott Wallace (10.30)
11. Kris Coyle (10.50)
The event will take place in the Michelin Athletic Club, Ballymena on Saturday 20th March at 7.30pm. The cost is £6 which is payable at the door. Come along for a great night of piping and craic! For directions click here.
Merry Christmas
The Seven Towers Pipe Band would like to wish their friends, supporters and all other bands a Merry Christmas and a happy and successful 2010.
