Melrose Pipe Band Championships

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Melrose Pipe Band host an annual event in their home town. There are grade 2, 3, and 4 pipe band contests, highland dancing, and all the other usual attractions of a highland games except that there are no athletics competitions.

Melrose is a neighbouring town to Hawick and Melrose Pipe Band have been regular supporters of our Hawick Highland Games, so as I had a Saturday off from the air museum I went along to take a few pictures. Melrose Pipe Band were providing hospitality for the other bands so they did not compete, but here a few of their members put in some practice for the massed pipe bands in which they would participate at the close of the event.

Hawick Pipe Band were also there. I did not catch their performance but here are two of the members, wearing the Hawick tartan.

There was a good crowd including some Americans and this was shaping up to be quite the international event

Rob Roy Pipe Band from Kingston Ontario arrived to take part in the Grade 2 contest.

An excellent place to practice, in the lee of the Eildon Hills. Stockbridge Pipe Band, in foreground, wearing the Stewart of Appin Muted Hunting tartan.

Boghall and Bathgate Pipe Band marching from the practice area to the main competition arena. Tartan is Ancient Hunting Fraser

Boghall and Bathgate Pipe Band in the arena
More to follow shortly