Pipe bands put on a show

Congratulations to both the Police pipe bands, who did the organisation proud at the 2016 New Zealand Pipe Bands Championships in Feilding.

The New Zealand Police Pipe Band came second in the Grade 1 Championship, runners-up to the perennial and reigning champs from the Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band.

It was a remarkable turnaround for the band, which came fourth in the grade last year but this year won the piping, finished second in drumming and joint second in ensemble. The band won the Grade 1 title in 2007.

“The competition was very well supported and we came very close to coming first,” says Drum Major Andrae Peipi. “We’re getting very close to being New Zealand champions.

“From coming fourth to coming second is a major feat. We’re the best pipe corps, which is quite something. Overall we’re very happy with what we achieved and I’m sure the band will continue to do well in the future.”

That future includes the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow in August.

Meanwhile, the Auckland Police Pipe Band – fresh from its role last month in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Wellington – finished fifth in Grade 3, but with creditable performances in individual sections, as well as scoring second in the street march event.

President and Police Commanding Officer Inspector Scott Webb says the band is entering a period of rebuilding as the 2016 competition season opens.

“It was a good competition to be part of,” says Scott. “We did better than last year and the members thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

He says they are able to enter the new competition year completely focused on their competition repertoire with the tattoos in Wellington in February and Edinburgh in August 2015 behind them.

The championships featured 42 bands, including two from Australia. The finale featured a mass performance by 400 pipers, drummers and drum majors at Kowhai Park, Feilding.

Photos: Neil Doherty, Jacqui Dick and Debbie Benton