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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Taylor Murray

Kilbarchan Pipe Band become European Champions

Kilbarchan Pipe Band have made it three competition wins in a row after being crowned European Champions.

This comes just weeks after they became British champions.

Three of the four judges placed the Renfrewshire band in first place, with the fourth judge putting them second - which saw them snap up first place out of 110 bands who competed.

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Michael Kerr, Pipe Corporal and Secretary, is delighted and is very proud of the musicians' efforts as they went on to secure a third trophy of the season in Inverness. The band is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year after being reformed in 2002.

He said: “It is a fantastic achievement and not many pipe bands can say they have won three major championships in a row within one season.

"It is also fantastic as it is within our 20th year anniversary as a pipe band.

“It is honestly amazing and this trophy is the cherry on top of the cake. The band has done so well this year.”

The band has enjoyed plenty of success over the years, however, Michael has put this recent run down to members' high level of commitment.

Over the lockdown period, the band were one of the few who practised over Zoom, something that was a lot harder than it looked according to Michael.

He explained: "“The commitment of all the band members during lockdown is what has led us to be where we are right now. We were one of the few bands who went on to have practice on Zoom and that required a lot of commitment from our members as it is not the best way to have band practises.

“As soon as restrictions allowed, we went to outdoor practises by following all the safety precautions and I think that the togetherness is amazing and testament to the commitment to the members.”

Thirty band members travelled to Inverness and some of them have been involved since the very beginning.

Michael says they are like "one big family" and have stuck together through the good times and the bad, not losing a single member during the lockdown period.

The World Championships could see them snap up four major trophies in one season, which would be a monumental achievement.

“Currently, we are sitting top of the Champion of Champions table for our group, which is absolutely fantastic for us. If we want to achieve the goal that we want - to finish top - then we need to do very very well in the World Championships, which are coming up in August. However, first we have the Scottish Championship at the end of July.”

The band is holding a week-long intensive education program at Kilbarchan Scout Hall that welcomes anyone who wants to learn how to play the instruments. Application for the program can be viewed on the Kilbarchan Pipe Band Facebook page.

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