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MONTREAL - The Grade Five band was second at the Montreal Highland Games on August 12th, a day after competing at the Maxville contest. The Grade Four band finished outside the prizes. Cameron Cox and Alec Rogers were 1-2 in solo piping in Grade 4. Alec also won his Piobaireachd and Andrew Robertson was third. Tyler Travis was 4th in Grade 5 piping. Cameron McKail and Kyle Wardell were 1-2 in Grade 4 drumming, while Alyx Gallen, David Cox and Duncan Robertson were 1-2-3 in Grade 5 drumming. Sandy McKail, who runs the developmental drum sections, won the professional MSR.
GLASGOW - The Grade Two band finished 9th in its qualifying heat at the World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow, Scotland. The day was marked by driving, steady rain and terrible playing/tuning conditions. The band played well on the day, but not as well as many of the top bands who have been in Grade 2 for several years. Band leaders characterized the experience as both positive and important for the group's overall development. Given a pipe and drum corps that is still predominantly teenaged, and still learning and maturing, the band leadership said all the pieces are in place to come back and make a serious run within a year or two. The Grade Two contest was won by Culleybackey Pipe Band, and three of the top four bands were those that finished ahead of Hamilton at the Ulster event a week earlier. The band has completed its competitive season, and many of the membership are now preparing for their first or second years of college or final years of high school. Among band members, Stuart Aumonier has stayed on in Scotland with plans of living there to take lessons from top instructors and play with a top Grade One band. MAXVILLE - The Grade Five band finished 4th at the North American Pipe Band Championships at Maxville, Ontario, near Ottawa. Its drum section won the contest. The Grade Four band's drum section also won top marks in drumming, however the piping marks were not as high and the overall band finished outside the prizes. It was a great day in solos. Alec Rogers won Grade 4 piping and was also third in his Piobaireachd, earning him the award for the best young piper. Tyler Travis was second in Grade 5 piping. In drumming, lead drummer/instructor Sandy McKail won one of the two professional contests, while his son Cameron won the Grade 4 contest. Kyle Wardell was third in that contest. In Grade 5, David Cox was 2nd and Alyx Galleen was third. Yet another drummer, Callum McKail, was 4th.
LISBURN - The Grade Two band finished 5th at the Ulster Pipe Band Championships at Moira, Northern Ireland, a small village outside the suburban Belfast city of Lisburn. The band drew massive crowds of curious Ulster pipe band fans, as it is rare for overseas bands to make the trip there prior to the Worlds in Scotland. The contest was won by Culleybackey Pipe Band. CAMBRIDGE - The Grade Two band split the piping marks again with Niagara Regional Police and finished second at the Cambridge Highland Games, about 90 minutes south of Toronto. The Grade Five band had another good outing, finishing third. The Grade Four band finished outside the overall prizes. In solos, Stuart Aumonier was 2nd in Senior Amateur Piobaireachd and 3rd in Grade 1 S/R, Garth Sinclair was 2nd in both Grade Three contests, and Zach Lindeman won the Grade 4 march. Cameron McKail placed 1st in Grade Four drumming. Callum McKail placed 1st & Dylan Thibault placed 3rd in Grade Five drumming. Connor McKail placed 2nd in solo novice bass. Matt Bellia was 2nd in professional Flourishing Tenor.
The Grade Two Band had an excellent run with its medley but nonetheless finished 4th behind the big lungs and pipe tone presented by Chicago Midlothian, Niagara Regional Police and City of Chicago. The drummers were second behind Niagara. In solos, Stuart Aumonier won a Grade 1 jig contest, while Scott Haynes was second in the senior Piobaireachd and third in the Grade 1 S/R. Matt MacPhail won the Junior Amateur Piobaireachd and was 3rd in Grade 2 March. In drumming, Cameron McKail placed 1st in Grade 4 drumming, Callum McKail placed 2nd in Grade 5 drumming, and Connor McKail placed 1st in solo novice bass. Their dad Sandy McKail placed 3rd in professional Hornpipe/Jig drumming. Next up, Cambridge. Then the Grade 2 band prepares for its Ulster-Scotland trip while the Grades Four and Five units prep for Maxville.
The Grade Five band was third in its contest, with the event won by Flint Scottish of Michigan. The Grade Four band had a solid outing but did not feature in the prizes, with that contest won by the Georgetown Pipe Band. In solos, Kelsey Symington won the Grade 2 Jig and Alec Rogers won the Grade 4 March. Zach Lindeman was second in that March. On the drums, Cameron McKail won the Grade 4 March while his brother Callum was 2nd in the Grade 5 contest. Another member of the McKail family, Connor, was 2nd in the novice bass contest. 
SARNIA - The Grade Two Band won the Canadian Pipe Band Championship at the Sarnia Highland Games in Sarnia, on the Canada-US border, near Detroit-Windsor. The band, playing for just the second time as a Grade Two unit, took all four first place marks from judges after playing its Highland Wedding MSR set. Second place went to the always strong Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band. The win marked the fifth year in a row that the band members have won a Canadian championship, starting in Grade 4 in Fort Erie in 2003, and then each year following as the band has steadily improved and been upgraded to Grade Three and now Grade Two. The Grade Four and Grade Five bands also competed for the first time this year, with both units taking fourth place marks. The Grade Four band's drummers won the drumming. In solos, several young musicians walked back to the band gathering area with medals. Stuart Aumonier won the Grade 1 Jig while siblings Matt and Lauren MacPhail were 2-3 in the Grade 2 March. Matt also won the junior Piobaireachd. Jonathan Bellia was 2nd in the Grade 4 march and Connor McKail was 2nd on the practice chanter. As drummers, Kyle Wardell and Cameron McKail were 1-2 in Grade 4 and Callum McKail won Grade 5.
GEORGETOWN - The Grade Two Band had its first taste of playing at that level, since being upgraded from the Grade Three level last fall. The band was second to Niagara Police at the Georgetown Highland Games, outside Toronto. The band split the piping first with Niagara and was second in drumming and ensemble. Pipe-Major Peter Aumonier called it a great indication of what's to come, as the young band gains experience at such a high level of music. The contests were the first with the band for new members Eddie Gorman, Jamie Sawyer, Emily Gaudet and Elizabeth Aumonier. In a particularly odd twist, drummer Kevin Shortt missed the event as he was called by CBC News to on TV to comment on scientific implications of the damaged NASA space shuttle. In solos, several members went home with medals, including Kelsey Symington, Matt MacPhail and Scott Haynes. Some of the Grade 4 and 5 bands' youngsters also did well, with Kyle Wardell and Cameron Mckail 1-2 in Grade 4 drumming and Callum Mckail third in Grade 5 Drumming.
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CHATHAM - The Grade
Four band won top drumming marks at its contest at the Chatham Highland Games in
Chatham, about three hours south of Toronto, near
Detroit-Windsor. The band finished outside the overall prizes.
KINCARDINE - The Grade Two Band split first place piping marks in taking
second place at the Kincardine Scottish Festival on the sunny shores of Lake
Huron, about three hours west of Toronto. The contest was won with a very
strong performance by Niagara Regional Police.
