This year’s 117th Maclean Highland Gathering will have a real ‘State of Origin’ feel with New South Wales and Queensland’s best pipe bands set to compete across six grades in one of the most competitive programmes in many years.
Four bands, two from Knox Grammar School in the Juvenile and Grade 4 competitions, St Mary’s Band Club in Grade 3 and the 2021 Grade 2 Maclean Champions, The Pipe Band Club, will make the journey from Sydney. Moree Caledonian and the NSW Highlanders will also be there to represent the Premier State.
There is strong support from the Queensland Pipe Band fraternity, as always, with 12 bands crossing the Tweed to engage in battle. The Grade 2 competition featuring the Pipe Band Club, St Andrews Pipe Band (Brisbane) and the Emmanuel Highlanders at University of Queensland PB, will provide one of the strongest competitions of 2022 outside of Octobers Australian Championships. Murrumba will represent Queensland in a head-to-head with St Mary’s Club Pipe Band in Grade 3. The 117th Maclean Highland Gathering will be the first to feature both Novice Juvenile A and Novice Juvenile B with very strong fields in both. Both Brisbane Boys College and Knox Grammar School will present two bands each with Scots PGC Warwick and the Queensland Police Juvenile Pipe Band joining the fray. Grade 4A and Grade 4B competitions are also very competitive with 7 bands competing in each.
At the close of the competition the 18 competing bands will be joined by Maclean & District Pipe Band, Grafton & District Services Pipe Band and Coffs Coast Pipe Band to form the Massed Bands at 4.15pm – an event not to be missed and one sure to bring a tear to your eye and a lump to your throat.
Maclean ready for the Battle of the Bands
The 2022 Pipe Band Draw is now available on the website.
https://www.macleanhighlandgathering.com.au/2022-draws
(scroll right to the bottom or access here https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://irp.cdn-website.com/ca817128/files/uploaded/2022+Bands+Contest+Draw+-+Chronological.pdf