The Southland Times
March 9, 2004

The City of Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band will leave Invercargill on Thursday for the National Piping Championships in Taupo.

Pipe Major Derek Ballantine said that Saturday’s nationals are biggest event on the piping calendar.

“We are hopeful that we will bring home the national title. 40 bands, including several bands from Australia, will be there to compete for the country’s premier piping titles. The competition will be tough,” he said.

Mr Ballantine said that the band have been practising 9 hours a week to make sure the performance is good enough to win.

The band are competing against seven other bands in the Grade Two Street March, Set and Medley, including Speights City of Dunedin, who won the title last year.

Mr Ballantine said that with the 2005 National contest being hosted in Invercargill, a win this time would mean they could defend the title on home ground next year.