Right Day 2,
So i'm sitting in my 8 am marketing class, learning about the importance of the golf to sales ratio, and why accountants don't get it (apologies cgas) when I noticed i'm fidgeting more then usual... I'm not fidgeting because of the Timmies Large 2 and 2, it's just that i've got this bug.
I'll pause here to allow for in-appropriate humour to dwindle......
waiting....
Okay. So i've got this bug. The pipe band bug. I usually refer to it as the fire. I'm on an 11 month waiting list for the Todd bar in Glasgow and I can't wait! So i've been thinking about the recent representation of Winnipeg bands in Scotland, and thought I could write about it.
I'm not gonna go back to far, but I jump back to the summer of 2008. Now, this wasn't my first trip across the pond but so far, my fondest. We took the then grade 4 band to the worlds, what a trip it was. After preparing for so long, and working so hard, we were on the plane and heading east.
The World Pipe Band Championships is like Disneyland for pipe band people. For a young lead drummer from Canada that would make Reid Maxwell, lead drummer of SFU pipe band (www.sfupipeband.com) Mickey Mouse. After our two plays I had one goal... find SFU.
I didn't have to go far, while we were inbetween plays Winnipegger, son of former SASPB lead drummer Bob, and long time SFU piper Blair Cooper paid us a visit. I've known Blair for a long time, I learned from his father and we both came through the Transcona organization, but I still remember the look on some of the young guys faces when Blair came over to see how WE were doing.
Shortly after Blairs visit we were greeted by none other than SFU rookie (at the time) and soon to be World Champion Dave Bowman. Another Winnipegger who took time out of his busy day to come say hi and check in. Dave played in the St. Andrew's corp for a brief stint before joining Al Cal and now SFU.
Our day kept getting better. We stood in massed bands and out of no where we were crowded with SFU players. Jack Lee, SFU pipe sergeant and piping guru, had come over to see how we were and how we played. Turns out Jack and Terry (Jack's brother and PM of SFU) were both from Portage La Prairie. Once again the young players were in awe.
This is the best part about the Winnipeg pipe band scene. We're small, but we care.
This season the Lord Selkirk Boys Pipe Band travelled to Scotland in search of education, history, culture, and fun. They also got incredible reviews and great placings. I chatted with L/D Graham Fidler after the trip (Graham is aging out and joining my corp this season) he said it was the "trip of a lifetime".
The boys in all their glory crossed the pond and received an 8th at the Worlds and out and out won the next weekend in Rothesay! Again they met, chatted, and developed relationships with some of their pipe band heroes.
So in 2010 St. Andrew's grade 2 will finally put themselves to the test and cross the pond.
This morning i'm excited. "Jacked-up" as I like to say. People outside our organization tend to believe that we only exist to win, and let the fun slip. To me every day is fun, and on a world's year even more so. I can't think of a single band member who is in it simply to win.
But the excitement, and the fun, comes from the friendships. With your band mates, and with members from other bands. It's all in the massed band gatherings, the clinics, in short the people. That's what keeps me hooked on pipe bands.
Today on the ever dreaded facebook I sent a message to Reid Maxwell, Graham Fidler, and received a message from Bob Worrall (World's Adjudicator and one of the greatest pipers who ever lived). All because of my involvement in pipe bands, and predominantly due to my last trip in 2008 to Glasgow Green and the Worlds.
Take a trip to Glasgow if you ever get the chance. Head there in mid August and catch the Worlds festivities. Head to the Todd and watch the karaoke. Meet some people. They'll be life long friends I assure you.
That's the fun, it's the people, and that's why the Worlds makes a difference.
Sean
No comments:
Post a Comment