Pipe Band Championships return to Burntisland this weekend

Following on from last year’s successful inaugural pipe band championships in the town, the event will make a welcome return to the Links on Saturday.

And there are more bands taking part his year.

There will be 17 in all, including one all the way from New Zealand, competing in the various categories and grades of the piping extravaganza which starts at 10.30am.

The competition is expected to finish around 4.30pm with a procession of all the competing bands along Burntisland High Street.

It will be led by the town’s own hugely successful Burntisland Pipe Band.

This will be followed by the prizegiving at 5pm and the massed bands gathering at 5.30pm.

Hopes are high that the colourful event will bring an economic boost to Burntisland, with visitors attending the Burntisland Highland Games on Monday encouraged to go along to the championship on Saturday.

John Hughes, chairman of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, said: “Given the popularity of last year’s event we are delighted to bring the Pipe Band Championship back to Burntisland.

‘‘With over a 50 per cent increase in the number of competitors and a band from New Zealand taking part this year, we are confident that this event will continue to grow and help keep Burntisland on the national and international stage.

‘‘We are also grateful to Fife Council for its help and support.”

Walter Anderson, former pipe major with Burntisland Pipe Band and Community Award winner last year, was chieftain of the event last year after a 30 year association with the band.

He said: “This is a prestigious event for Burntisland to host.

‘It looks like it will continue to grow year on year.

“There are a lot of top quality bands taking part and it is a great spectacle to watch, so I hope lots of the town’s residents and visitors go along to watch and make it a great success again.”

For more information about the event visit: www.fifedirect.org.uk/whatson.