Rathfriland Sons of William/Donaghadee Fusileers 2003


Last Friday night we attended two parades in the one night (we are some pups). Anyway we left Kilkeel early to parade Rathriland. Not much to say except the S.O.Ws looked really well in their new uniforms (even Taz). We only paraded as far as John St before making our way to Donaghadee, hopefully next year the parades won't clash on the same might. Don't know any results yet but I heard we won 5 1sts, I'll get the up as soon as the S.O.W lads have them on their website. Onto Donaghadee and it was again good to see a number of melody bands in attendance, the Raven, Mourne, Somme Memorial and Ballymacarrett to name a few. The band was going really well around the town and got a good response from the locals. Anyway the band recieved another Best Overall Band prize and 4 1st places so keep it up. Well done to Kenny who led us a short notice and picked up 1st Drum Major. Results have been posted below. Alot of silliness ensued after we finished parading where Trimble led us on a ramble through Donaghadee for some reason letting us believe he knew where he was going. When we finally found Pue and the lads we proceeded to bemuse the locals with renditions on Baa Baa Black Sheep (don't ask) and Heads and Shoulders (don't ask). Ray also found a new friend in the shape of a Leeds fan who plagued us all night. On the way home we experienced some difficulties with the mini-bus door which didn't stop us taking half of Newtownards home with us. 'Albert could you do us a wee favour and put the drum away......'

BEST ACCORDIAN

1st PARKINSON 2nd HARBOUR STAR

JUNIOR DRUM MAJOR
1st GOLDSPRINGS 2nd CROWN DEFENDERS 3RD GRENADIERS

SENIOR DRUM MAJOR
1st PRIDE OF BALLINRAN 2nd NEWTOWNARDS MELODY 3rd SOMME MEMORIAL

COLOUR PARTY
1st CLOUGHER 2nd MOURNE YOUNG DEFENDERS 3rd DOWNSHIRE

BASS DRUM
1st HOLYWOOD 2nd EAST BELFAST 3rd HILLHAVEN

STYLE & APPEARANCE
1st PRIDE OF BALLINRAN 2ndCLOUGHER 3rdEAST BELFAST

BEST VISITING BAND
1stDUNAMONEY

BEST LEAD DRUMMER
1st BALLYHALBERT

BEST ENTERTAINING
1stPRIDE OF THE RAVEN

MELODY DRUM CORPS
1st PRIDE OF BALLINRAN 2nd MOURNE YOUNG DEFENDERS 3rd BALLYMACARRET

MELODY FLUTE
1st PRIDE OF BALLINRAN 2nd BALLYMACARRETT 3rd MOURNE YOUNG DEFENDERS

BLOOD &THUN. DRUMS
1ST CLOUGHER 2nd EAST BELFAST 3rdKNOCKMORE

BLOOD & THUNDER UNDER 16 FLUTES
1st PORTADOWN DEFENDERS 2nd BALLYNAHINCH 3rd GRENADIERS

BLOOD & THUNDER
1st KNOCKMORE 2nd EAST BELFAST 3rd CLOUGHER

BEST OVERALL BAND
1st PRIDE OF BALLINRAN