The Black Bottle Islay Pipe Band returned from Cowal Games last weekend having been placed first in Grade 4A winning the Hugh Matheson Memorial Rose Bowl in the process. The Cowal Games is the last major event of the piping calendar and the band won the Supreme Champion of Champions for both pipes and drums. Pipe Major Nigel Morris said: 'I would like to thank everyone involved with the band for all the hard work they have put in during the past year which has been the most successful competitive season in the history of the Islay Pipe Band. We will be upgraded to Grade 3B next year which will mean an even greater effort from everyone as we start to put together a new selection of tunes. We are particularly grateful to all our sponsors as without their generous financial support we could not have even entered these competitions. One of the many memorable moments from the Cowal Games for us came as we were marching through the streets of Dunoon carrying our three trophies. We were delighted to be joined by the Drum Major of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band who had won Grade One at the World Pipe Championships.'

This story was published with kind permission of the Ileach newspaper.

Tag: pipe band