A Dumbarton joiner has informed of his pleasure after being declared a Scottish champion bagpiper on house soil.
Craig Bell performs in Johnstone Pipe Band, which competed towards bands the world over to take first place in grade 3A on the Scottish Pipe Band Championships at Levengrove Park.
Round 20,000 spectators flocked to the occasion, which organisers have described because the “greatest ever” held for a masterclass of conventional music.
A complete of 117 bands from as far afield as Texas and Australia gathered within the shadow of Dumbarton Rock for the primary staging of West Dunbartonshire’s flagship occasion since 2019 as a result of Covid-19 pandemic.
Craig, 33, is a joiner with West Dunbartonshire Council however is now additionally a Scottish Champion bagpiper for the second time after additionally profitable in 2016.
He stated: “It was actually good to win it as soon as once more, particularly on house soil for me.
“We got here second on the British Championships, and third on the European Championships, so we have been stepping into quietly assured. All of it depends upon the efficiency of the day.
“After we got here off, we knew that we performed very nicely with no errors and that if a band was to beat us, they'd have performed equally nearly as good.
“We actually left every thing on the market with no errors or regrets.
“That is the second time I've received the Scottish Championships. I received it in 2016 at a distinct grade, so now we have moved up just a few grades since then.
“I celebrated with just a few beers and a sore head on the Sunday.”
There have been additionally celebrations for Subject Marshal Montgomery from Northern Eire, who took the Grade 1 winners title.
Ian Embelton, chief govt of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Affiliation, stated: “This has been an ideal championships, presumably our greatest ever when it comes to the crowds and the brand new structure now we have designed, which has had terrific suggestions from spectators and opponents.
“I believe all of us relish this greater than ever after the previous two years now we have been via. The bands have missed this terribly as a result of it’s not a interest for them, it’s their lifestyle.”
Rivals and spectators got here from far and large to benefit from the world class music.
4 Buddhist monks from Thailand added a vibrant splash of orange amid the maelstrom of colored tartans.
Residing on the Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple in Helensburgh, the monks got here to pattern some distinctly Scottish tradition within the park.
Phra Boonchuay, from Bangkok, stated: “It’s beautiful to be right here and to say all of the bands of their conventional costume. It’s a particular expertise.”
Provost McAllister stated: “After three years everyone seems to be delighted to be again once more to this good setting for the Scottish Pipe Band Championships.
“It’s a match made in heaven.”