Park alive with the sounds of Scotland

9th June 2009

CONVERGING on Ipswich in a flurry of tartan, the Queensland Pipe Band Championships made its presence known at Limestone Park at the weekend.

BAG OF AWARDS: Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band members Katrina Stead, Nell McGhee and Brian Robertson.

Queensland Times/Sarah Keayes

CONVERGING on Ipswich in a flurry of tartan, the Queensland Pipe Band Championships made its presence known at Limestone Park at the weekend.

Hosted by the Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band, bands from throughout Queensland and Northern New South Wales were drawn to the city to compete in the championships.

The two-day Scottish extravaganza included highland stalls, the Queensland solo piping and solo drumming championships and a mini band concert.

Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band member Katrina Stead said the event had been six months in the planning, with the sight of the bands in full chorus reward enough for the proud bagpipe player.

“It is all about the camaraderie. The band is like my family,” Ms Stead said.

“We pretty much play every weekend, but the competition takes it up a notch.”

In overall results for the weekend, the Ipswich band in the grade three category, took out the Legato Shield and Quintin Baillie Memorial Trophy for best drum corps and also the awards for best dressed and best drill.

They were also placed second in their category behind the City of Brisbane band.

Adding to their swag of awards, the band also took out the Bill Sawyers Trophy for Best Dressed and Drilled Band with a Drum Major.

Ms Stead said the band, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year, had their sights set on international glory overseas next year.

“We have been invited to participate in the Nova Scotia Tattoo in Canada and we have also been invited to Switzerland,” she said.