Scottish police bands may not attend British Championships
Several prominent Scottish pipe bands affiliated with police forces may be kept from competing at the British Championships in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, in June due to security concerns.
According to sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, eight bands could be affected by such an official move, including Grade 1 Strathclyde Police, Lothian & Borders Police, Fife Constabulary, Tayside Police and Grampian Police.
Also impacted would be the Grade 2 Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary, the Grade 4 Northern Constabulary and the Central Scotland Police.
If such a ban were imposed it could dramatically impact the Grade 1 league table system for qualifying for the World Pipe Band Championships, with some bands having to go through the qualifying round to get to the final.
RSPBA rules state that RSPBA-member bands must play in all major championships before the World’s in order to be eligible to pre-qualify.
“It’s not good news for the British Championships,” the source said. “It kind of contaminates the Grade 1 qualifier at the World’s for bands trying to break through from the middle tier of the grade. Maybe they will relax the rules, but I would doubt it.”
The security concerns may stem from the March 2009 incident in which two British soldiers stationed near Belfast were killed.
The British Pipe Band Championships are scheduled for June 27th in Banbridge.
It’s very unfortuante if this is to follow through. Having read up on alot of the history behind some of these groups and their reasoning, you would think a better approach almost might be to ask for a cease fire” for that week. i know it sounds extreme
It’s very unfortuante if this is to follow through. Having read up on alot of the history behind some of these groups and their reasoning, you would think a better approach almost might be to ask for a cease fire” for that week. i know it sounds extreme
Re relaxing the rules regarding WPBC Grade I qualifier: Oh yeah, that’ll fly. Just like they did with the oversea judging issue……….LOL
Strathclyde and Fife both in the qualifier??? A few bands might no bother going.
This really changes nothing about the qualifier. Ok, Fife and Strathclyde are in the Qualifier? Well Fife was last year as well, and if Strathclyde is in that means another band that would be but normally gets through (see the Vale, or Ballycoan) will already have qualified from the league table.
Isn’t Strathclyde already pre-qualified because of there top 6 placing from the 2008 worlds?
No, I’m pretty shure the top 6 rule only applies to overseas bands.. I may be wrong though..
Worrying about qualifying for the Worlds seems to fade when the real concern is a reprise of Munich. This is bad, real bad. Doc Kent Argubright
Good point. The best way to keep the idiots at bay is to ensure that there are plenty o’ foreign bands around (Americans, Canadians, Aussies, etc). The last thing these dummies want is an intenational incident. Not good for business, you know……
This sort of Stupid” talk in unnecessary. I can appreciate the concerns of the British government and it has nothing to do with the good people of Northern Ireland. It has to do with the putting people at unnecessary risk who could become a possible target. Foreign bands wouldn’t make a difference to these radicals – Did it make a difference who was in the twin towers on 9/11 – It’s so easy to throw stones and be belligerent but try to open your mind and understand the history and the reasoning behind these types of decisions.”
would police pipe bands from scotland be targeted on the same level as british soldiers? is their a british correlation between the two entities, or are the military and police forces seen as similar forces, at least similar enough for radicals” to target them on their way to a music contest? or is traveling in general between the main island and ulster dangerous enough at this point?”
there*
After re-reading the article, if understand this correctly, it is the British government considering imposing a precautionary measure rather than reacting to an actual threat received from a terrorist organization. Since nothing has taken place to date, (they’re*, their*) there’s* no reason to get all bent out of shape over it………………………………………. Also, is anyone going to answer the question regading the RSPBA rules for exemption from the Grade I qualifier?
Re relaxing the rules regarding WPBC Grade I qualifier: Oh yeah, that’ll fly. Just like they did with the oversea judging issue……….LOL
Strathclyde and Fife both in the qualifier??? A few bands might no bother going.
This really changes nothing about the qualifier. Ok, Fife and Strathclyde are in the Qualifier? Well Fife was last year as well, and if Strathclyde is in that means another band that would be but normally gets through (see the Vale, or Ballycoan) will already have qualified from the league table.
Isn’t Strathclyde already pre-qualified because of there top 6 placing from the 2008 worlds?
No, I’m pretty shure the top 6 rule only applies to overseas bands.. I may be wrong though..
Worrying about qualifying for the Worlds seems to fade when the real concern is a reprise of Munich. This is bad, real bad. Doc Kent Argubright
Good point. The best way to keep the idiots at bay is to ensure that there are plenty o’ foreign bands around (Americans, Canadians, Aussies, etc). The last thing these dummies want is an intenational incident. Not good for business, you know……
This sort of Stupid” talk in unnecessary. I can appreciate the concerns of the British government and it has nothing to do with the good people of Northern Ireland. It has to do with the putting people at unnecessary risk who could become a possible target. Foreign bands wouldn’t make a difference to these radicals – Did it make a difference who was in the twin towers on 9/11 – It’s so easy to throw stones and be belligerent but try to open your mind and understand the history and the reasoning behind these types of decisions.”
would police pipe bands from scotland be targeted on the same level as british soldiers? is their a british correlation between the two entities, or are the military and police forces seen as similar forces, at least similar enough for radicals” to target them on their way to a music contest? or is traveling in general between the main island and ulster dangerous enough at this point?”
there*
After re-reading the article, if understand this correctly, it is the British government considering imposing a precautionary measure rather than reacting to an actual threat received from a terrorist organization. Since nothing has taken place to date, (they’re*, their*) there’s* no reason to get all bent out of shape over it………………………………………. Also, is anyone going to answer the question regading the RSPBA rules for exemption from the Grade I qualifier?
On the face of it, it looks like a knee-jerk and could quite possibly play into the hands of these idiots, as it looks like fear has taken front position even though (if the article is spot on) there is no direct threat against these bands, or the forces they represent. Operationally and strategically speaking, we can never fully know what information the govt might have, however it is only a pipe band contest. Many national sporting teams avoid certain regions of the world for the same reasons. Everyone will just have to suck it up and get on with it. Can’t help but think the bad guys have won though…..
this could be a part of the big master plan to get rid of strathclyde police pipe band…what happens if the cops are told on the day of the worlds that they need to work cause theres a big event on in glasgow?? wouldnt that be ironic
What a nightmare this is. With an issue like this then the RSPBA may even look at not having Major Championships in NE again, which would be a big loss to all concerned. Minor correction to the report as well, Grampian are Grade 2.
I fear this situation could spell the end of RSPBA championships in Northern Ireland.
On the face of it, it looks like a knee-jerk and could quite possibly play into the hands of these idiots, as it looks like fear has taken front position even though (if the article is spot on) there is no direct threat against these bands, or the forces they represent. Operationally and strategically speaking, we can never fully know what information the govt might have, however it is only a pipe band contest. Many national sporting teams avoid certain regions of the world for the same reasons. Everyone will just have to suck it up and get on with it. Can’t help but think the bad guys have won though…..
this could be a part of the big master plan to get rid of strathclyde police pipe band…what happens if the cops are told on the day of the worlds that they need to work cause theres a big event on in glasgow?? wouldnt that be ironic
What a nightmare this is. With an issue like this then the RSPBA may even look at not having Major Championships in NE again, which would be a big loss to all concerned. Minor correction to the report as well, Grampian are Grade 2.
I fear this situation could spell the end of RSPBA championships in Northern Ireland.