The second outdoor contest of the Midwest Pipe Band Association’s contest circuit was held on Saturday, June 3 at Hart Park, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
I was in attendance at this contest. The day started out with rain and thunder in the mid-60s. The weather was poor enough that the solo contests had to be moved beneath bleachers, testing the strength of the pipers’ skills in tuning and focus in every grade level. As the day moved on, the weather improved to sunny and the temperatures moved up into the mid-80s.
The City of Chicago Pipe Band made its debut performance in the Grade 3 March, Strathspey, and Reel contest on the football field at Hart Park in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. They placed second overall in the event, tying the Chicago Celtic Pipe Band but losing on the ensemble preference tie breaker.
For my part, I took the field in the morning having initially planning not to compete. I performed in the Grade 1 Hornpipe/Jig, as well as the Grade 1 MSR. In my Hornpipe/Jig, I placed 3rd in a field of five. In the MSR, I placed 4th in a field of five. Overall, I placed 4th in the grade for the day.
BAND RESULTS
GRADE III MSR (3)
1st (2,2,1,1) – Chicago Celtic Pipe Band
2nd (1,1,2,2) – City of Chicago Pipe Band
3rd (3,3,3,3) – Fountain Trust Pipe Band
Judges: Brian Donaldson, Ian Swinton, Charlie Cablish, Tom Weithers
GRADE IV MEDLEY (8)
1st (2,3,2,2) – Turlach Ur Pipe Band
2nd (4,2,3,1) – Dundee Scottish Pipe Band
3rd (1,1,6,3) – Billy Mitchell Scottish Pipes & Drums
Judges: Brian Donaldson, Ian Swinton, Charlie Cablish, Tom Weithers
GRADE V QMM (5)
1st (1,1,3,1) – Madison Pipes and Drums
2nd (5,3,1,3) – Firefighters Highland Guard of Naperville
3rd (2,2,4,5) – Minnesota Police Pipe Band
Judges: Brian Donaldson, Ian Swinton, Charlie Cablish, Tom Weithers
OVERALL SOLO PIPING WINNERS
Grade I: Kolya Sier
Grade II: Joseph Fischer
Grade III: Rhys O’Higgins
Grade IV Senior: Robert Gough
Grade IV Junior: Elizabeth Curiskis (Piobaireachd preference)
