Check back for news and updates of what's going on with UCPB and the rest of the piping world.
To view previous years' News Stories click on one of the following links, 2001, 2002.
Jim Kilpatrick Star Attraction at Drumming Festival
Upper
Crossgare have finalised the arrangements for this years Drumming Festival,
incorporating the Veteran Drumming Contest. This year we are very proud to
be able to have Jim Kilpatrick MBE to do a recital at the veteran drumming
evening on Saturday 10th April at the Abbey Lodge Hotel, Downpatrick. It
is a great honour to have the 14 time World Solo Champion with us for the
evening and we look forward to a very successful night of drumming and
entertainment. Hope to see you all there. For more information on the success of
Jim over the years visit the House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe
Band website at www.sdcpb.com
Crossgare Clean Up At The Ulster's
The last contest on home soil for 2003 was held in Lurgan. A good entry and a large crowd of spectators were there for what proved to be a very interesting day's piping and drumming. The usual favourites took Grades 1, 3A, 3B, and 4 but the shock of the day was in grade 2 where Upper Crossgare managed to pip Bleary on Ensemble Preference as well as winning the best drumming in the grade. A perfect end to what has been a somewhat up and down year for UCPB. Well done to Trevor and Ian, great to see the band back on form, and they were really on form at the Ulster Championships. For full results as always click here.
Large Crowds at the Port
The North West Championships attracted a massive following this year the street was filled to capacity for the parade of the town after the contest. The weather was perfect for piping and the bands gave an excellent display of their talent throughout the day. FMM dominated Grade 1 as usual and look in good form for the Worlds next week, as do Bleary in Grade2 and Killadeas in Grade 3A. So lets hope the NI bands do us proud next week in Glasgow and bring hole the silver. For full results of the North West Championships click here.
Upper Crossgare Win Piping at Scottish
The scene was set for the first exciting installment of the big 2 in Grade 2. All the pre and early season talk and results seemed to point the finger at Clan Gregor from Scotland and Bleary from NI. Both bands had an air of expectancy about them as they walked on to play. Well yes Clan Gregor did do it, they managed to scrape first place, but only just, helped by the fact that they won the Drumming and Ensemble, and Bleary managed third, some disappointing by their standards. The surprise of the day was when Upper Crossgare claimed first in Piping, an excellent result for a wee country band. Who needs 15 or 19 pipers, it's what you can do with what you have that counts, and Crossgare showed the BIG 2 that at the Scottish. For full results of the Scottish Championships click here.
Field Marshal Champs at Malahide
The competition in Malahide on Saturday 10th May was the first outdoor of the season in Ireland. The weather held up well and every band managed to stay dry until after the Finale. Field Marshal Montgomery got the year off to a flying start winning all the Grade 1 prizes, including the drumming under new Drum Sergeant Keith Orr. Bleary look hard to beat in Grade 2 this year, but with about 10 Grade 1 players you have to ask which grade they should be in. Next week we're off to Dumbarton for the Scottish Championships, so don't expect any results here until Sunday evening. For full results of the Malahide contest click here.
UCPB Take Banbridge Indoor Title
The Co. Down Section Indoor Contest was held on Saturday 26th April in Banbridge High School. There was a large entry of 38 bands in the five grades. A large crowd of supporters and spectators arrived early in the day and the hall was well filled for most of the grades. Upper Crossgare made an excellent start to the season, having a very good run with their Medley Selection to put them in first place with both Piping Adjudicators and Ensemble and second in Drumming. The scene is now perfectly set for the rest of the year, and the next competition in Malahide on Saturday 10th May. For full results of the Banbridge contest click here.
The Pipe & The Fiddle Concert a big success
On Saturday 15th March Upper Crossgare held a concert in the Newcastle Centre, Newcastle, Co. Down. The bad put on a really good show and were supported by the excellent folk group, Over The Hill. The hall was packed to capacity and everyone there seemed to enjoy the performance and the crack during the evening. For more photos of the event click here.
Upper Crossgare Open Night Another Success
On Monday 24th February 2003 Upper Crossgare hall was filled to capacity for the annual Open Night. The band played very well and delighted the audience with some new arrangements. One of the main talking points was the new drums which UCPB are playing this year, but as was commented on the night, the old ones did the drum corps no harm last year as they won the Worlds on them. The night was a great success and was enjoyed by all from near and far. For more photos of the evening click here.
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