TALENTED local pipers and drummers have been toasting success after clinching a top prize at the Dunbar Pipe Band Championships.

Bands from across Scotland headed to the town’s Hallhill Sports Centre on Saturday for the annual competition.

And there was success for the Dunbar Royal British Legion Pipe Band, who were among the winners.

Alexander McCredie, pipe major, was delighted with the result, which saw the band awarded two firsts for piping, a first in drumming and a first for ensemble, to win Grade 4A.

He said: “Bands use Dunbar as a runout and we have always tried as much as we can to play at our contest and support it. We play at Dunbar and North Berwick and it is good putting on a show for your own crowd.”

The 24-year-old felt that the band had played close to their best on the day but added: “There is still more to come.”

Highland dancing also entertained the large crowd, with plenty on offer for the people who attended the event.

Robert Peters, manager at Hallhill, said: “Everything went fine, the sun shone and we had a good crowd.

“We reckon there were around about 1,500 spectators. That is probably a good 15-20 per cent up on last year. The weather makes all the difference.”

RESULTS

Grade Nov B: 1 Queen Victoria School; 2 Preston Lodge High School Pipe Band; 3 Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia; 4 Davidson’s Main and District Junior.

Grade Nov A: 1 Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia; 2 George Watson’s College – Novice; 3 George Heriot’s School.

Grade 4B: 1 EP Stockbridge; 2 Camelon and District; 3 Peebles Ex-Servicemen’s; 4 Tulliallan; 5 Stow Borders Pipe Band; 6 Houghton-Le-Spring.

Grade 4A: 1 Dunbar Royal British Legion; 2 Tweedvale; 3 EP Camelon and District; 4 Royal Burgh of Stirling; 5 Davidson’s Mains and District; 6 Stockbridge; 7 Penicuik and District.

Grade Juv: 1 George Heriot’s School; 2 Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia; 3 George Watson’s College – Juvenile; 4 Preston Lodge High School; 5 George Watson’s College – Novice.

Grade 3: 1 Royal Burgh of Annan; 2 The Highlanders (4 Scots); 3 Stockbridge; 4 Scottish Borders; 5 Coalburn IOR, 6 Penicuik and District; 7 Davidson’s Mains and District; 8 Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles.

Grade 2: 1 George Heriot’s School; 2 Royal Burgh of Annan; 3 Royal Burgh of Stirling; 4 Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia; 5 Preston Lodge High School; 6 Wallacestone and District; 7 Scottish Fire and Rescue Services Pipe Band; 8 EP Scottish Borders; 9 Stockbridge; 10 Denny and Dunipace and Gleneagles.

Grade 1: 1 Scottish Fire and Rescue Services Pipe Band; 2 Royal Burgh of Stirling.