Grant for pipe champs

May 15 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE world’s top pipe bands will once again take part in a musical extravaganza during this year’s Perth Highland Games after council bosses rubber-stamped prize money.

The Fair City’s Common Good Fund Committee have agreed to award £2,500 to cover the costs of staging its four categories.

Perth Highland Games secretary Andrew Rettie said the annual pipe band competition – part of the wider gathering taking place on the South Inch on August 9 – will attract the world’s top talent due to its proximity with the pipe band World Championships in Glasgow on August 15.

He said: “Last year we had 30 entries from all over the world because the best teams from the likes of Canada, the USA and Australia come over early to practice. It means our competition is always of a high standard and entertaining because the local bands get to mix with the best in the world.

“We’ll use the money to top up the prize money.

Another 24 other community groups got slices of the near-£30,000 released.

Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service’s (PKAVS’s) Party in the Park event, also on the South Inch, tomorrow got £3,000 so children can get in free.