Maxville continues to expand with more bands, solos

The 2007 North American Championships at the Glengarry Highland Games at Maxville, Ontario, is likely to hold its largest Grade 1 band contest in more than a decade, with seven bands planning to make the trip to compete for the continent’s biggest prize.

The Glenagarry games also plan to hold a special Professional Solo March, Strathspey & Reel contest as part of Saturday’s activities. The MSR will be in addition to the existing professional solo events, and is in honour of long-time piping, drumming and band events organizer, Connie Blaney.

Grade 1 bands planning to compete at Maxville:

• City of Washington, Washington, DC
• Peel Regional Police, Brampton, Ontario
• Prince Charles, San Francisco
• Fredericton Society of St. Andrew, New Brunswick
• Scottish Lion-78th Fraser Highlanders, Toronto
• Toronto Police, Toronto
• Windsor Police, Windsor, Ontario

Over the last 15 years, the 59-year-old Glengarry Highland Games have increased dramatically in size, particularly in the numbers of piping and drumming competitors and spectators. In terms of competitions, the event is the largest single piping and drumming event in the world.

In another change, all amateur solo piping and drumming events will be held on Friday, August 3, and only Professional solos taking place on the Saturday.

While exact figures are not known, the number of spectators during the two-day event has been estimated at more than 80,000.

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