The Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships had another successful event this year at their new venue in East King Street Park, Helensburgh with brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies throughout the day.

The emphasis this year was on the school pipe bands which doubled in number from last year with North Lanarkshire Schools entering two bands – one in the juvenile category and one in the novice section – while Tobermory High School attended for the second year and Renfrewshire Schools were present for the first time.

Other school bands who regularly attend the Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships are Kintyre Schools and Dunoon Grammar School.

Due to the European Championships taking place in Glasgow later this year, the Helensburgh competition was one of several which had to be rescheduled – but despite some bands, most notably Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun, being unable to attend after the championships were put back from June 17 to 24, there were still more than 250 pipers and drummers who entertained the crowds on the day with a total of 20 performances.

The champion pipe bands on the day were Lower Clyde Pipes and Drums (grade 4B),

4A – Kilbarchan (grade 4A), North Lanarkshire Schools (juvenile), Strathendrick (grade 3) and Williamwood (open).

There was also a Highland dancing display at the park to entertain the crowds after the dancing competition which usually accompanies the championships took place the previous Sunday, at the Commodore Hotel, again because of a clash with other competitions in the area’s dancing events calendar.

The dancing winners were Eilidh Gammons (11 years Premier and overall Premier winner), Grace Harlton (16 years Premier) and Abby McSorley (adult premier).