WHILE others were eating chocolate eggs, the Armidale Pipe Band spent the Easter weekend putting their best feet forward at the Maclean Highland Gathering.
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The band took out the award for the best presented band in the street march for the third year in a row at the annual event.
The gathering saw 14 pipe bands compete against each other in a weekend featuring plenty of solo and group performances, dancing and a range of highland games such as caber tossing at Maclean in Clarence Valley.
Pipe major Stafford Cameron said the band put a great deal of effort into their appearance and “it seems to go over well with the crowd”.
“It’s a great result for the band,” he said.
Nine pipers and seven drummers from the Armidale band took part in a variety of competitions.
Drummer James Welsh had his own reason to celebrate, taking out second place in the solo A-grade
Welsh is a former Armidale resident who now lives in Sydney, but he rejoined the band for the weekend.
Mr Cameron said the band was now busy preparing for Anzac Day commemorations on Friday.
“It’s one of our premier local commitments,” he said.
The band will take part in the march while solo pipers will also be involved in services across the region, including in Armidale, Hillgrove and Guyra.
The band’s busy fortnight will continue when they take part in the Glen Innes Celtic Festival next weekend.