History of Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships

In 2001, the year of Helensburgh’s Bi-Centenary several local groups were asked to organise an event which would meet the criteria for the Bi-Centenary grant monies provided by Argyll & Bute Council and for that event to continue in the years after the Bi-centenary. Among the events which took place was the pipe band competition which is now the only one that has continued each year since the bi-centenary.

• Argyll & Bute Council approached people within the community who had experience of various events and Colina Helen Campbell, the present chairperson was asked if she could be part of a new a committee to organise and stage Helensburgh’s first pipe band competition. Her experience included being the first female piping convener for several Highland Games including Rosneath Highland Games where she started up a solo piping competition,18 years ago, with 3 entries and now has over 200 entries on an annual basis from all over the world.
• In addition to the pipe band competition there is large and very successful highland dancing competition held in the Victoria Halls on the same day which is organised by the Margaret Rose School of Dance. Margaret also has many years of experience, is a dancing convener and organises numerous trips abroad with the dancers, representing Scotland all over the world.
• Colina Helen Campbell and some of her committee members put together a very strong application to Argyll & Bute Council for a share of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 funds and were successful in being awarded a Homecoming grant - 25% of which is Leader funded.

The successful application was then one of 10 chosen by Argyll & Bute Council , for its quality and thoroughness, to be put forward to Homecoming Scotland 2009 for possible inclusion in their worldwide publications etc. This was approved and the Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships are now 'in partnership' with Homecoming Scotland 2009.