Cullybackey Pipers take on the world again

The band played twice in the qualifying heats and saw off stiff competition from Canada, New Zealand, and USA as well Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Cullybackey, led by Pipe Major Glen Cupples and Drum Sergeant Adrian Hoy, has won various championship titles including consecutive Champion of champions 2011/2012 and was announced the champions yet again last weekend in Portrush.

The champion of champions is accumulated over the Northern Ireland Pipe band season and Cullybackey, who won most of the local competitions, picked up this prestigious award for drumming, piping and the overall award.

Cullybackey is one of the leading pipe bands in the world today and is one of the most influential and successful pipe bands from Northern Ireland.

The band played in the final narrowly missing out on a coveted top 10 spot but is happy with the performances and firmly believes that it can progress from this result. To reach the final in itself was a challenge and the band is very pleased that once again that it will feature on the world’s DVD and CD when released later this year. Cullybackey PB qualified with only 15 pipers while the average sized pipe corps. was 20.

The band is representative of Northern Ireland with some members travelling great distances to play, highlighting the drive, determination and commitment of the players.

Cullybackey Grade 4A Pipe Band is also very successful within their respective grade and introduced many new players to the world event this year. Led by Pipe Major Warren Robinson the leading drummer is 16-year-old, Balymena Academy student Leah Rodden, who is supported by drumming instructor Adrian Hoy. Grade 4A narrowly missed out on the opportunity to play in the grade 4 final despite the drummers finishing first in their heat.

A spokesperson stated: “The Cullybackey Bands as an organization remains one of the most consistent competitive pipe bands in Northern Ireland. Teaching players from within and developing players from ground level, Cullybackey remain only but a few bands who fulfill this teaching role developing players who have gone on to play for world champions.

“Though its philosophy has been competition based since its inception almost 100 years ago the band also competes in the various solo competitions with many of the players claiming Ulster, Irish, British and World championships honours,” said the spokesperson for the Band who have extended congratulations to Field Marshal Montgomery PB on claiming claiming the world championships for the fourth consecutive year.