stv.tv caught up with Craig Munro from the house of edgar Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band, to discuss his hopes for the World Pipe Band Championships and how the band are performing under new Major, Gavin Walker.
Speaking at Piping Live!, Craig revealed the extent of rivalry amongst competing bands.
He said: “There’s always friendly rivalry. It’s the same in any sport and piping’s no different.
“There’s a rivalry competition there but come seven on Saturday when it’s finished, we’ll all shake hands and go and have a pint together because we’re all friends at the end of the day. We just love to play the pipes and that is what we have in common.”
As a host of grade one bands took centre stage at Piping in the Square, Craig said that this was a great chance to check out the competition.
The piper said: “It’s good for us to listen to the competition then we’ll go back and discuss our thoughts and what we think of the band itself because every band has its weaknesses as well as strengths.”
So how does he rate Shotts and Dykehead’s chances in this Saturday’s competition?
Craig proudly said: “Very highly. Shotts and Dykehead has always been one of the top bands in Scotland and you can never ever write Shotts off. I’m sure as everyone knows there have been some recent changes with the band.
“Robert Mathieson has just recently stepped down as Pipe Major and Gavin Walker has taken over so it’s going to be a huge, huge day for the band.
“Probably more so than ever we’re going to have a lot of people listening to us. It’s going to be quite an emotional day as well with Robert, who was as in charge of the band for years and is one of the most successful pipe majors there is in the world, going to take the band on in the medley, so it’s going to be very emotional. I’ll be very honoured to stand beside him in the line for his last ever performance as pipe major.”
Can Shotts and Dykehead steal the Championship title off Canadian favourites and current holders, Simon Fraser University?
Craig said: “I certainly hope so but they’re a fantastic band. If they do go on on Saturday and win, I’m sure it’s thoroughly deserved.
“They’re a very professional outfit you only have to look at them to know that.
“They’re like a well oiled machine when they come over here. Everything runs like clockwork and right now they’re world champions so we’re all fighting to steal that from them and hopefully we can do that on Saturday.”
PIPING LOVE!
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- New Westminster Police Pipe Band perform at Piping Live! 2010
- The City of Regina Pipe Band performs at Piping Live!
- World Pipe Band Championships 2010 Photo Gallery
