They're the best in the province!
The 2901 PPCLI Army Cadet Pipe and Drum Band is the best at what they do when it comes to small pipe and drum bands according to results garnered at recent competitions in Regina and Moose Jaw.
The PPCLI cadets finished first overall in both competitions, earning them the title for Grade V bands while members of the band gained individual honours along the way.
The competitions were held in back-to-back fashion on May 19 and 20 with the first one in Moose Jaw.
On the individual awards side of the competition, piper Jesse Dunford and drummer Eric McLean placed first. McLean won in the Grade III 6/8 march category while Dunford was first in Grade III strathspey/reel.
A number of second place awards were gained in the Moose Jaw festival with piper Wyatt Dunford grabbing one of them for a Grade III 2/4 march while drummer Mark Fergusson finished second in the Grade IV 6/8 march and later took a third in the Grade IV 2/4 march competition.
Drummer Jordan Gervais was second in the Grade III 6/8 march and again in the 2/4 march.
Rochelle Guertin-Schmidt was third in the Grade V piping 2/4 march while Jesse Dunford was fourth in the Grade III 2/4 march and McLean was fourth in Grade III drumming for the 2/4 march.
When the local cadet band moved on to Regina the next day, besides capturing first place overall, a few band members excelled in solo performances.
Although none of the pipers or drummers grabbed first place honours in any category, Wyatt Dunford took second in the Grade III strathspey/reel and Fergusson was second in Grade IV drumming for 6/8 march and third in the Grade IV 2/4 march.
Third place awards were handed out to piper Athena Nash for her Grade V 2/4 march and McLean took third in the Grade III drumming for a 2/4 march.
Fourth place status was presented to Jesse Dunford for piping in the Grade III 2/4 march and strathspey/reel while McLean earned his for drumming in the Grade III 6/8 march and Gervais earned a similar spot in drumming for a 2/4 march.
The PPCLI pipers and drummers joined in with the PPCLI Army Cadet Corps on the evening of June 5 to celebrate their annual sunset ceremony that included a performance by the pipers and drummers, a parade by the army cadets, the lowering and stowing of the flag and the awarding of promotions within the ranks by Captain Ken Turner in the front of the Estevan Royal Canadian Legion Hall which serves as the corps' training headquarters throughout the year.
