By Chris Story

Last updated at 11:35, Monday, 02 July 2012

Stirring sounds filled the air as thousands of musicians battled it out to be crowned the best of British.

The Royal Burgh Of Annan Pipe Band

Thousands more spectators followed as 130-plus bands competed in the British Pipe Band Championships.

A tide of tartan engulfed Annan with some of the world’s top names among those who played at the town’s academy.

Their tunes are set to be a real hit for the region’s tourism industry – with visitors bringing in a welcome cash boost.

Organisers say they were delighted with how Saturday’s event went.

It was the finale of a three-year deal to host the championships in Annan.

Those who helped secure it hope the success of the town as a venue will put them in a pitch-perfect position to push for an encore when bidding for further competitions comes around.

Dumfries and Galloway Council deputy leader Brian Collins said: “It is essential for the region that we attract events such as this.

“It brings in visitors who might be coming in for the first time and will hopefully encourage them to come back again.”

The British championships is one of the biggest dates on the pipe band competition calendar and there was keen local interest.

The Royal Burgh of Annan were in the grade three B competition. Their performance got one of the biggest cheers of the day.

Pipe Major Euan Cowan said: “It’s great to be able to play a major competition in your home town. It is really good for Annan.”

Veteran piper John Salton, of Carleton, Carlisle, was among those who enjoyed the gathering.

The 78-year-old is a tutor with Lochmaben Royal Burgh Society, who had a busy day competing in grade four A before getting a police escort across Annandale to make it back to Lochmaben to play at the town’s gala.

He said: “It’s wonderful. It’s nice we have had it in the area. I enjoy meeting people and all of those here are friendly. We all have something in common.”

In the premier grade one competition, Annan pipers Kevin Bell, 29, and Jamie Smith, 22, played with 15-times world champions Shotts and Dykehead.

Jamie said: “It’s been great to have the competition locally. It’s been quite well received.”

Other local interest saw the Royal Burgh of Annan Juvenile Band compete in the novice juvenile section and Annan Royal British Legion Scotland Juvenile in grade four B.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary’s band played in the second-top grade two section. Success for Annan-based musicians included that for pipers David McCracken and Gary Hawkins and drummer Paul Oliver, who were among the ranks of grade two winners Glasgow Skye.

Meanwhile, Pipe Major Ross Cowan, who is from Annan, steered North Lanarkshire Schools to third in novice juvenile.

In grade one, Lockerbie piper Callum Moffat was a member of the Scottish Power band that finished in second place. Brothers Christopher and Steven Gray, also from Lockerbie, are players with Inverary and District, who were third in the premier tier.

The day’s top prize of British champions in grade one went to the reigning world champions, Irish band Field Marshal Montgomery.

Dumfries and Galloway Council organised the championships in conjunction with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.

Its president, George Ussher, gave hope that they could turn to Annan again, having been impressed with the town’s academy as a base.

He said: “Annan is fabulous as a venue.”

First published at 11:25, Monday, 02 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk