Saturday 28th August. Cowal Highland Gathering.

Not for the first time this season, we were blessed with an extremely early draw! This meant the band had to leave for Dunoon at 5am. Some of the players, as has become a tradition had stayed in Dunoon and met the rest of the band to tune up for the grade three contest at 7am. The grade three bands warm up went well considering the very cold conditions and we were very optimistic as we prepared for the contest. Our performance in the circle went very well too and we were hopefull of achieving a high placing!

Next it was the turn of the grade 4 band who were to play at 12.26pm. The weather was still not much better but the band still set up with a nice sound. Just as the grade four band headed up to the line however there was a heavy shower. This did not however stop the band putting in probably one of their strongest performances of the season!

The Grade three band were placed in fourth place, placed second in piping, which was very pleasing. Again Seven Towers won the grade and were also crowned RSPBA Champion of Champions. The grade four band achieved fourteenth place out of 30 bands, which was also a very positive result! The bands ensemble was placed 6 th which is a great achievement! Lanark and district won the grade and Kircubright and District.

The grade One contest was won by the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band to add to their Scottish, European and World Championship titles. They were also crowned RSPBA Champion of Champions.

The March through the town after the marchpast was a fitting way to end a very enjoyable day, despite the heavy showers!

Full results available from RSPBA online