Mother Nature may not have been on their side, but the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band still emerged with a solid finish at the world pipe band championships.
The band placed fourth at the championships, held in Glasgow Aug. 17 and 18. It had been hoping for a seventh world title.
"Not what we came for, but we're in the prizes," said Pipe Major Terry Lee, as first place went to nine-time winners Field Marshal Montgomery band from Northern Ireland. Second was Scotland's Boghall and Bathgate band, and third was Scottish Power.
Things went well for the SFU band in its march, strathspey and reel program on Sunday morning. But during its medley performance on Sunday afternoon, the band was hit by a downpour of cold, driving rain and gusty winds. The short storm cleared quickly, giving other bands dry weather and blue sky.
But SFU Pipe Sergeant Jack Lee was quick to give credit to the winning band.
"We can say the weather was a factor, but the Montgomery band is great, and they had two great performances today," he said. "There are few bands in the world who can beat Montgomery, and I know we're one of them. So we'll be back."
There was good news for SFU, too: Jack Lee captured the solo piping title at the masters invitational (see item in Lively City column on page 12), and drum major Jason Paguio won his fourth world title.
