Pipe Major Drew Sinclair was really pleased the Band kicked off the new season by winning Grade 2 at Gourock but warned there is still work to be done before the first major of the season.

The Band made the long journey south to join 40 other Pipe Bands taking part in the competition in Gourock Park, part of the Gourock Highland Games, on Sunday May 9th 2010.

10 Bands took to the field in a competitive Grade 2 March, Strathspey and Reel competition which was hampered by changeable weather and cold winds.

Grampian Police Pipe Band were placed 1st and 2nd in Piping, 2nd in Drumming and 1st in ensemble.  The Band didn’t fair quite so well competing in Grade 1, receiving a 5th place.

Pipe Major Sinclair said: “I’m really pleased to have won our opening competition, especially as we were up against really good Bands. 

“We played well and I was reasonably satisfied with the overall sound given the conditions and our first outdoor performance of the season.  We were delighted to have 9 side drummers competing for the first time in a long time.”

He added: “This was a very positive result, especially for our new drum corps in their debut competition.”

But PM Sinclair added there was clearly more work to be done.  He said: “We are capable of playing and sounding better, as will be the case with other bands. I am in no doubt we need to lift our performance for the forthcoming major to challenge at the very top of the grade.”

The Band now head to this year’s first major of the season, the Scottish Championships in Dumbarton on May 22nd.

ENDS