The Glasgow and West of Scotland Branch of the RSPBA has inaugurated a new competition for full pipe bands and solo drummers. The contest will take place on 25th April 2015; venue: Coatbridge High School. The band contest is indoor, full band and covers Grades 1 to Novice Juvenile and is open to all bands. Solo Drumming Sections are: Adult, entrants aged 18 years and over on date of contest, any grade – MSR and Hornpipe and Jig; Juvenile Section 2, MSR aged 17 years and under for players registered with Grade 1, 2, 3 and Juvenile and Juvenile Section 1 for entrants 17 years and under for players registered with a Grade 4 or Novice Juvenile band. Drumming starts at 9.30am and the band contest at 1pm.

Branch Chairman Gordon Hamill explained how the new contest had come about: 'The matter was raised at our branch AGM last December. The suggestion was that we do something for solo drummers and also the bands during the 'closed' season. The first thought was for mini-bands but this was rejected in favour of a full band contest. There will be four prizes in each grade of £100, £60, £40 and £20 and entry fee is £10 with trophies and medals for the solo drummers.

'We hope the bands will support the competition and we have scheduled it for a three-year run to see how things go. Each grade will be judged by two piping, one ensemble and one drumming adjudicator.'

Maureen Gilmour
Branch Secretary