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MASSIVE CROWDS WATCH PIPE BAND WORLD CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN GLASGOW
The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Vancouver, Canada have been crowned World Pipe Band Champions at Glasgow Green this afternoon in front of an audience of more than 40,000 pipe fans. The runners up were Field Marshall Montgomery from Northern Ireland with third place going to St Laurence O’Toole from Ireland. The Strathclyde Police Pipe Band came fourth. The event, which has been held in Glasgow for more than 60 years, drew people from all over the world to see 8,000 of the very best pipers and drummers compete.
This year more than 200 bands from 16 countries were at Glasgow Green for the World Pipe Band Championships. Competition started early this morning with the newly crowned World Champions being announced after more than nine hours of fierce competition.
The World’s, as they’re affectionately known, ended with the amazing spectacle of the thousands of pipers and drummers who had been competing throughout the day taking part in a march past before the world champions were crowned in front of tens of thousands of people. Glasgow Green also played host to some of the strongest men in the world in a Highland Games.
The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Winter, Chieftain of this year’s Championships, said: “It was a great privilege to be Chieftain and experience so many wonderful performances. The World Pipe Band Championships are a major event for the city and being part of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrations has added something to them.
“People travelled from all over the world for these championships and have enjoyed a day that will live long in the memory.”
Also attending the Worlds, Mike Russell MSP, the Scottish Culture Minister, said: “My heartfelt congratulations to Simon Fraser University and of course to all those competing in today’s competition. The Worlds is truly one of the finest spectacle in Scotland’s cultural calendar.
“I had the great pleasure of visiting Simon Fraser University last year and was greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm for Scotland and all things Scottish that exists there.
“As we welcome visitors from all over the world for the Homecoming celebrations, it is incredibly sad that we did not see the Patiala Pipe Band from Pakistan as a result of refusal of visas by UK authorities. I’m doing everything in my power to ensure that such situations are avoided in the future.”
Ian Embelton, Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association said: “Every year the standard of competition is so high but the fans this year have seen something extra special. Planning for next year is already underway but we are going to have to pull out all the stops to improve on these championships.
“Despite an early deluge, the weather held off and the skies cleared, allowing tens of thousands to enjoy the very best in world piping.”