South Down Defenders 2003


The Friday night before Black Saturday we attended South Down Defenders' annual parade in Newry. The South Down lads get a tough time from the Shinners trying to organise the parade where the PC yet again imposed restrictions on the parade not allowing it past the war memorial, bit hippocritical considering an IRA band was permitted to walk past a memorial to victims of IRA violence in Kilkeel only a few weeks ago. Anyway parade was complete sucess for the host band with 40 bands in attendnce. Band going ok, down alot of fluters and had an inexperienced drum corp out (well Alec wasn't there) no drum major (thanks to the guy out of Commons Silver who led us round) and 3 colour party. Band did well results wise, here are some of the them:

BEST ACCORDIAN

1st Brunswick

SENIOR DRUM MAJOR
1st Brunswick

Melody Flute
1st PRIDE OF BALLINRAN
2nd Mourne Young Defenders
3rd Skeogh

COLOUR PARTY
1st Pride of the Hill

STYLE AND APPEARANCE
1st Drumderg

MARCHING AND DISCIPLINE
1st Pride of the Hill
2nd Drumderg
3rd PRIDE OF BALLINRAN

MELODY DRUM CORPS
1st PRIDE OF BALLINRAN
2nd Mourne Young Defenders
3rd Skeogh

BLOOD &THUN. DRUMS
1ST Drumderg

BLOOD & THUNDER
1st Drumderg

BEST OVERALL BAND
1st Pride of the Hill
2nd Drumderg
3rd PRIDE OF BALLINRAN

Full report and photos can be found at: South Down Defenders Parade Report