0:00:19 > 0:00:22Hello and welcome back to the grounds of Stormont Estate.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Now, all eyes and ears will be here on arena one
0:00:25 > 0:00:29when 13 Grade 1 bands will compete for the coveted title
0:00:29 > 0:00:32of UK Champions 2014.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34And, as the first Grade 1 band make their way to the ground,
0:00:34 > 0:00:36I'm joined by a man in a class of his own, Robert Wallace.
0:00:36 > 0:00:37Good to see you again.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39We're with the big boys now, the big hitters.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41What does it take to be a Grade 1 champion?
0:00:41 > 0:00:44We're looking for clarity and purity of tone,
0:00:44 > 0:00:48excellence of technique and musical expression.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50And all that has to work together with the drummers.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Any band that produces that today
0:00:52 > 0:00:55at a high level consistently throughout their performance
0:00:55 > 0:00:57can be considered a possible prize-winner.
0:00:57 > 0:00:58But it's going to be very, very tough
0:00:58 > 0:01:01for the bands in the middle and the bottom order.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04So far this season, the top six are very hard to beat.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07But I'm looking forward to a great afternoon of pipe band music.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08And there are such narrow margins here
0:01:08 > 0:01:10but this is the creme de la creme, isn't it?
0:01:10 > 0:01:12So let's see how they get on.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:02:02 > 0:02:05THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:02:19 > 0:02:22THEY PLAY A REEL
0:02:42 > 0:02:44APPLAUSE
0:02:44 > 0:02:47- Well, Robert, how was that for you? - Quite a good performance, Ralph.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49But some of the tone was a bit thin in the top hand.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Some of the work wasn't quite together in places, as well.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55It's a new pipe major for this band, Douglas Murray,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58and it'll take a wee while before he has them knocked into shape.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:03:33 > 0:03:36THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:03:50 > 0:03:52THEY PLAY A REEL
0:04:13 > 0:04:16APPLAUSE Local heroes, Ravara, there.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Robert, what did you think?
0:04:18 > 0:04:19A young band, only 13 pipers.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22They're really up against the big boys.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Very nice fingering in places, Ralph.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27They've done a lot of work. You can hear it in the playing.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:05:40 > 0:05:43THEY MOVE ONTO A STRATHSPEY
0:06:42 > 0:06:45THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:07:40 > 0:07:42CHEERING
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Undefeated for an entire season last year.
0:07:45 > 0:07:46Was that a vintage performance?
0:07:46 > 0:07:48That's the benchmark for today, so far.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Anybody that can play better than that
0:07:50 > 0:07:52thoroughly deserves to win this championship.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55The quality of the fingering, there, was just remarkable.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58For 23 pipers to play with that precision,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01it's remarkable stuff that we're hearing.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Those were great comments that were given about your performance.
0:08:05 > 0:08:06Were you pleased with it too?
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Yes, we're pleased with the performance.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10When you're in the circle, of course, you can hear
0:08:10 > 0:08:13maybe slightly more and I'm a perfectionist. It was very good.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15There's a few errors I'd like to improve on
0:08:15 > 0:08:17for the World Championships but it was still very good.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:08:52 > 0:08:55THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:09:08 > 0:09:11THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:09:43 > 0:09:45APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Well, Robert, one of the big hitters for sure
0:09:47 > 0:09:49but to your expert ears, did that hit the high notes?
0:09:49 > 0:09:51They're a top six band, there's no doubt about it
0:09:51 > 0:09:54but I felt it was a wee bit lacklustre.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Now they're a very, very well-skilled band,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59a lot of very good playing in there but I would've liked to have
0:09:59 > 0:10:01heard the tempos up to really make an impression.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03If you're going to beat Field Marshal,
0:10:03 > 0:10:05you've got to play on the line.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:10:40 > 0:10:43THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:11:12 > 0:11:15THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:11:37 > 0:11:39APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Well, Robert, first outing of the season for Ballycoan,
0:11:42 > 0:11:43do you think they were up to speed?
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Well, you could tell it's their first outing,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48I would definitely say this band's ring rusty.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Some of the players, obviously the nerves might have got to them.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Pipe major was trying hard to get them to get it together
0:11:54 > 0:11:56but it just didn't happen for them, I'm afraid.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:12:31 > 0:12:34THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:13:03 > 0:13:06THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:13:37 > 0:13:40APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Coming off a very successful tournament at Bathgate.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44That was pretty good to my ears,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46do you think that the judges will be impressed?
0:13:46 > 0:13:48I think they couldn't fail to be impressed with that.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50High A's, that's a top note on the chanter,
0:13:50 > 0:13:52just a wee bit shrill at times, you know.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54And I'm not convinced they had the precision
0:13:54 > 0:13:56and the technique that Field Marshal had.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:14:21 > 0:14:23THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:14:54 > 0:14:56THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:15:18 > 0:15:20APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Another fine band flying the flag for piping in Northern Ireland.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Cullybackey, did they cut the musical mustard for you?
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Number of issues with the tone today
0:15:28 > 0:15:31and the blowing was beginning to flag as they went on.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34And the woolly sound out the bass drum as well was not distinct,
0:15:34 > 0:15:37it was hard for the pipers to play to that.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:16:01 > 0:16:03THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:16:24 > 0:16:26THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:16:48 > 0:16:50APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:16:50 > 0:16:52The conditions in Stormont are just about perfect,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54was that a perfect performance?
0:16:54 > 0:16:56Well, it wasn't a perfect performance
0:16:56 > 0:16:58but it was a very enjoyable performance.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00They began to struggle a wee bit through the difficult passages
0:17:00 > 0:17:03of the reel. I thought they handled their opening march very well,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06The Braes of Castle Grant's a difficult tune that for a band
0:17:06 > 0:17:08but I thought they handled it very well.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:17:45 > 0:17:47THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:18:17 > 0:18:19THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:18:52 > 0:18:55APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:18:57 > 0:18:59St Laurence are always one of the firm favourites in Grade 1
0:18:59 > 0:19:01and always a challenge to Field Marshal as well.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Do you think that was a Championship-winning performance?
0:19:04 > 0:19:07It could well be, it was certainly a commanding performance
0:19:07 > 0:19:11and for a young pipe major like Alen Tully to take over
0:19:11 > 0:19:14and produce two Championship performances like he's done
0:19:14 > 0:19:18at Bathgate and now here today says an awful lot for him.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20The band's got great prospects under Alen's leadership,
0:19:20 > 0:19:22I'm certain of it.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:19:57 > 0:19:59THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:20:30 > 0:20:32THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:20:53 > 0:20:56APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Now, Robert, I have to admit a vested interest and MacLean tartan
0:21:00 > 0:21:03always gets my heart going and I have to say a good performance, I thought.
0:21:03 > 0:21:04What did you think?
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Good performance, I would say a middle order performance.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Ryan Canning, er, I think he's a Northern Irishman, he's only had
0:21:10 > 0:21:13the band a short while so again it's a bit of a work-in-progress.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16It's those little narrow margins, isn't it? That's what it's all about.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19That's all it takes, you know, this is the level we're talking at,
0:21:19 > 0:21:21people should understand that.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23It doesn't mean they're a bad band because they don't make the list.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27If you're Grade 1, you're a good band, make no mistake about that.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:21:51 > 0:21:53THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:22:23 > 0:22:26THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:22:47 > 0:22:49APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Robert, to my layman's ears that sounded pretty good. What about you?
0:22:53 > 0:22:55The standard of their fingering
0:22:55 > 0:22:58and their control in their phrasing in the march and strathspey...
0:22:58 > 0:23:01I thought the reel could've just flowed a wee bit more
0:23:01 > 0:23:03but they can be well-pleased with that.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:23:50 > 0:23:52THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:24:22 > 0:24:24THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:25:09 > 0:25:12APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Robert, as this enthralling Grade 1 battle gets closer to the end,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17we are hearing some great playing, aren't we?
0:25:17 > 0:25:20That was, you know, really superb piping
0:25:20 > 0:25:22and from a piping point of view that was every bit as good
0:25:22 > 0:25:25as Field Marshal Montgomery and no question about it.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27THEY PLAY A MARCH
0:25:48 > 0:25:50THEY SWITCH TO A STRATHSPEY
0:26:19 > 0:26:21THEY SWITCH TO A REEL
0:26:42 > 0:26:44APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:26:44 > 0:26:47Rousing stuff from Greater Glasgow Police.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Robert, that was a great way to finish Grade 1, wasn't it?
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Oh, very, very high finish to the day.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55They'll be well pleased with that performance.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57And the standard across Grade 1, it's been very high, hasn't it?
0:26:57 > 0:27:00The standard on the march, strathspey, reel today
0:27:00 > 0:27:02which is a difficult discipline,
0:27:02 > 0:27:04extremely difficult discipline, to get all these pipers
0:27:04 > 0:27:07playing in unison like that in a march, strathspey, reel
0:27:07 > 0:27:10is extremely difficult and they all handled it very well.
0:27:10 > 0:27:11We had perfect conditions, of course,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14so they didn't have any excuses, you know.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22It's a brilliant venue, there's so much space for the bands,
0:27:22 > 0:27:24for the people who come to watch them play.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Since I've arrived I've had the opportunity
0:27:26 > 0:27:29to talk to a couple of bandsmen and they've been raving about the venue
0:27:29 > 0:27:32and the grass, in particular, and with the sun shining,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35everyone's happy and jovial so it's just a great day.
0:27:37 > 0:27:38I couldn't agree more.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42It was certainly a great day for Field Marshal Montgomery
0:27:42 > 0:27:46who took the title UK Pipe Band Champions 2014.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Runner-up place went to ScottishPower
0:27:49 > 0:27:53and St Laurence O'Toole were happy to accept third prize.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Well, that's it from us here at the UK Pipe Band Championships.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07It's been a fantastic competition and I have to say, Helen,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09a really fun day as well.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Yeah, wonderful, and people have been talking about
0:28:11 > 0:28:14how fantastic Stormont Estate is as a location
0:28:14 > 0:28:17and you just look around you and you can see how sociable it is
0:28:17 > 0:28:19and the best thing of all, it hasn't rained.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Oh, we got lucky on that front.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23All tastes catered for, no question about that,
0:28:23 > 0:28:26especially if you love good pipe band music.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30- So from everyone here at the UK Pipe Band Championships...- Bye-bye.