The Simon Fraser Pipe Band, which has nine Tri-City musicians, remains in the elite Top 6 after clinching fifth at the world pipe band championships in Scotland last week.
The highly anticipated competition saw the same three ensembles since 2016 take the top three spots, with Field Marshal Montgomery of North Ireland besting the lot to claim its 12th victory — making it the most successful pipe band in history.
Second place went to Inveraray and District, which won last year’s title, while Dublin’s St. Laurence O’Toole (the world leaders in 2010) earned third place.
Both SFU, which last year also placed fifth, and the Port Coquitlam-based Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band, which last year also took 12th position, had high hopes going into this year’s 71st annual fest; a total of 26 elite groups from around the world went for the grand prize.
"Unfortunately, we were the only band to be rained on for both our events," said Dowco pipe major and PoCo resident David Hilder, noting it was the ninth time in a row Dowco had qualified for the finals, held last Friday at Glasgow Green.
The solo competitions will happen in Scotland over the next few weeks, said SFU spokesperson Marianne Meadahl.
