Latest news with #UKChampionships
Scotsman
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh hosts UK Pipe Band Championships at Royal Highland Centre
More then 18 kilometres of tartan will be on display this weekend as the UK Pipe Band Championships get underway near Edinburgh this weekend. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Taking place for the first time at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Saturday's event will showcase musical talent and cultural heritage – all presented in a fun day out. With performances, workshops and world-class bands, it promises to be a spectacular day of piping, drumming and traditional Scottish music, brought to life by more than 900 bagpipers, 326 snare drummers, 234 tenor drummers and 62 bass drummers using 1244 drumsticks. 1,556 pipers and drummers of all ages will be taking part in the competition. | Ian Georgeson Photography Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The competition itself will feature musicians of all ages in 62 competing bands, including the PLC Pipe Band from Melbourne who have travelled more than 10,000 miles to take part. The family-friendly event – free to under-fives – is expected to attract around 7500 spectators, with food and drink available throughout the day. Mark Currie, director of venue, Royal Highland Centre, said, 'We are thrilled to be working in partnership with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association on this prestigious event for the first time. 'From the first march to the final flourish, this event brings together incredible talent, proud tradition, and an unbeatable atmosphere for audiences of all ages. 'Royal Highland Centre has always been dedicated to providing a platform to homegrown organisations, like the RSPBA [Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association] for example, and so we couldn't be prouder to be hosting their UK Championships.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Colin Mulhern, RSPBA chief executive, said: 'The UK Pipe Band Championships are a true celebration of musical excellence, tradition and community spirit. Every year we are proud to welcome some of the best pipe bands from across the country and beyond, and this year we are very much looking forward to being in our new venue, the Royal Highland Centre. It's an unforgettable day of powerful performances, vibrant culture and world-class talent.' Dogs are welcome and car parking is available, but those travelling locally are advised to take the tram or the dedicated 98 Lothian Bus service.
Irish Independent
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Another major title for Louis with New Ross Pipe Band
'Louis has been consistently winning prizes in the juvenile grades and has won every major title on numerous occasions, including twice World Champion. This is Louis' first year competing in the adult grade, which is a fantastic achievement to have reached third place in the All Ireland Championships on his first year amongst the adult drum majors,' said Brian Mac Mahon, director with the band. 'We are so proud of Louis,' he added. It doesn't stop there for the talented Louis as he travels to the UK Championships in Edinburgh next Saturday, and after that, he's off to South Africa for an exhibition with the wonderfully talented Armagh Drum Majors under the tutelage of the maestro Brian Wilson. Louis will be leading the massed pipe band parade of the Irish Pipe Band Association on the first day of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford on Sunday, August 3 at 3 p.m. and he'll also be performing with the New Ross and District Pipe Band in the Library Park on Saturday, August 23 at 7.30 p.m.. Admission for the Library Park concert is free of charge.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Greenock sprinter gears up for British title tilt with lifetime best 400m finish
A GREENOCK Glenpark Harriers athlete continued his rich vein of 2025 form by recording another lifetime best at the weekend - as he prepares to compete alongside the best of British in just a few weeks' time. Sprinter Simon Okiti recorded a time of 49.27 seconds as he triumphed in the 400-metre race at the Scottish National Athletics League's latest meeting in Grangemouth – stepping up his preparations for the UK Under-23 Championships later this summer. Advertisement It was the latest eye-catching performance in an impressive season for the young runner, who began his season by winning gold and two silvers at the Scottish Students Sport University Track and Field Championships in Aberdeen in April. Simon Okiti's impressive 2025 performances continued with a lifetime's best time over 400 metres in Grangemouth on Sunday. (Image: Supplied) This time around, in reasonably calm conditions (at least for Scotland), Simon took part in two races, contesting the 100m and 400m distances. In the 100m, Simon's first race of the day, he started slightly behind his rivals, but an injection of pace mid-race saw him pull through the field to create a blanket finish alongside his competitors. A photo was required to confirm Simon's third place finish, though in another season's best time. Advertisement In the longer 400m sprint later in the day, Simon's natural speed provided him with a real advantage as he quickly pulled in the stagger of the athletes on his outside approaching the back straight. Simon Okiti recorded a lifetime's best time of 49.27 seconds in the 400m race at Grangemouth on Sunday. (Image: Greenock Glenpark Harriers) Already with a lead as he powered through the 200m mark, Simon dug deep into his reserves to take the final bend and the home straight, holding his form to cross the line in a lifetime's best. His impressive Grangemouth display came just a week after Simon represented the Glasgow Jaguars in the UK Athletic League's Premier Division in Eton, in which he'd recorded his previous season's best over 100m – a performance which earned him the task of anchoring the club's 4x100m relay squad later in the same event. Next up on Simon's busy 2025 schedule is a trip to Cardiff for the British U23 Athletics Championships, taking place at the Cardiff International Sports Campus on June 28 and 29. Advertisement The Cardiff event also serves as the trials for the European U23 Championships, which are being held in Bergen in Norway from July 17-20. Simon is also aiming to build on an impressive 2024 campaign which saw him catch the eye in the UK National Athletic League and the Scottish National Senior Track and Field Championships, underlining his status as Inverclyde's fastest athlete.
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Stephen Hendry reveals snooker star who will be ‘fuming' at Zhao Xintong's Worlds win
Zhao Xintong made history on Monday when he became the first ever Chinese player to lift the World Snooker Championship, beating Mark Williams 18-12 in the final of the prestigious tournament Stephen Hendry believes Ding Junhui may be "fuming" after Zhao Xintong became the first Chinese world champion in snooker. Zhao, 28, shocked the world after defeating seasoned pro Mark Williams in the World Snooker Championship final on Monday, securing an 18-12 victory over the Welsh star. His triumph concluded a sensational campaign at the Crucible where Zhao bagged 111 frames over nine matches during a 29-day period that included his qualifying rounds. The young Chinese player's remarkable journey also featured a semi-final win against the legendary Ronnie O'Sullivan. Although China will undoubtedly be celebrating their new world snooker hero, Hendry suspects Ding - long seen as the face of Chinese snooker - may be grappling with mixed emotions. As a pioneer for the sport in his homeland, Ding carried the torch for Chinese snooker for years, achieving three UK Championships and a Masters victory. However, the elusive prize of a World Championship victory at the Crucible still remains out of his grasp, with his closest shot being a runner-up finish in 2016 against Mark Selby, reports Wales Online. Reflecting on Ding's probable feelings about not being the first from his nation to clinch a World Championship, and based on his impressive track record, Hendry opined that Ding would likely feel a sense of personal disappointment. The seven-time world champ told the Snooker Club podcast: "It'll be really interesting to see what Ding's thinking. "He's been the benchmark for Chinese snooker. He will be fuming. If it was me I'd be fuming. The fact is that Ding is snooker in China, Ding Junhui is snooker. Overnight he is not Mr Snooker anymore. "It might spur him on, who knows, but it's something that's going to be difficult for him to handle, actually." He added: "If it was me, I'm Ding Junhui, I'm not happy tonight. "I don't know Ding well, maybe he's close to Zhao and he's delighted for him. But if it was me I'm thinking, 'I'm not happy that I've had so many years to do it, I haven't managed to do it, this guy's come along after being out of the game for two years and just done it, qualified and done it.' "He's now the man in China. There's a huge exhibition circuit, huge invitational tournament circuit apart from the ranking tournaments. Ding has to be there, Ding has to be involved, Ding is often one of the co-promoter and it's all about Ding. "It's not going to be like that. There's a whole new outlook to it now, so it will be interesting to see the dynamics." Ding secured a 10-7 victory over Zak Surety in his first match at the Crucible this year before taking on Belgian prodigy Luca Brecel in round two. However, his run was cut short by the former world champion with a 13-4 defeat. Despite being outshone by fellow countryman Zhao, the gracious player took to social media to celebrate the star's triumph in Monday's final, writing: "Congratulations to Zhao Xintong for winning the World Championship. "I said before, 'I am very happy to see that the threshold I broke in the past has now become everyone's runway!' And today, someone finally reached the finish line on this runway! "This moment of glory is the best reward for the Chinese fans who have been supporting Chinese snooker and waiting for this day! The darkness we once walked through, it was all so that people could see the light. Today Zhao Xintong did it! "What he won is the shared dream of generations of Chinese snooker players. I'm happy for you and proud of the rise of Chinese strength!"
The Guardian
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Zhao Xintong v Mark Williams: World Snooker Championship final
We say this every year, but it bears annual repetition. In life, there are few things – or people – or divinities – on which we can rely never, ever to disappoint us. But the World Snooker Championships are one such, and the last fortnight has bestowed upon us another jazzer. That's not to say it's the same vibe every year, far from it. Once upon a time, this tournament confirmed the identity of the best player in the world – Steve Davis through the 80s, Stephen Hendry the 90s – but now, though Judd Trump has dominated the last few years, he's won this trophy only once because he standard is so high anyone in the field can beat anyone else in the field. As such, we've had six different world champions in the last seven years, three of them first-time winners. It's unlikely many, if any of us, expected to spend the bank holiday weekend obsessed with Zhao Xintong v Mark J Williams. Which is to say that nowadays, our tournament does still confirms the identity of the best player in the world, but only during these last two weeks. In theory, this is a lesser outcome – our players come and go, so don't represent our family heritage in the way our teams do – but in practice, even individual sport isn't solely about facts, rather about people and their stories, which exist in thrillingly inexhaustible supply. In any case, it doesn't really make sense to say Mark J Williams comes and goes, given he first contested a final in 1999, then picked up the pot in 2000. Except it also kind of does, given he was set to quit the game in 2018, disgusted by the waning of his considerable powers. But his wife, Jo, persuaded him to continue, he miraculously, affirmingly, snaffled the title for the third time, and since then has re-established himself as part of the elite, a one-off technician with a unique snooker brain, and one of the greatest big-match temperaments we've ever seen – in any sport. Already an indisputable great of the game, a fourth biggun would take him level with John Higgins and Mark Selby in the all-time list; what an honour that'd be. Standing in his way, though, is a redemption tale of mythological proportions. Zhao Xintong exploded into our consciousness in 2021-22, winning the UK Championships followed by the German Masters six weeks later. His long-to-mid-range potting was barely believable in the ferocity of its accuracy, so too his coruscating calm … and then, in 2023, he was suspended pending a match-fixing investigation, eventually receiving a 20-month ban for being party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself. No, it wasn't pretty; yes, he was young. Since returning to the game, Zhao has devastated almost everything in his path – most recently Ronnie O'Sullivan – and arrives at this final in sensational form. But Mark J has made a career out of extinguishing exactly that, so turn on the telly, draw the curtains, and for the next two days, shut out everything that isn't this. You'll not regret it. Start: 1pm BST Share
