The Queensland Highlanders No.1 band from Brisbane has won the 2004 Australian Championships. The competition was held on Sunday 21st in Geelong, Victoria, just a week after the New Zealand Championships. The Highlanders only managed 4th place in last weekend’s competition but have come back with a win in their home country. The Manawatu Pipe Band, winner of last year’s Australian Championships and 2004 New Zealand Champions, did not make the trip to Australia.

Victoria’s Clayton RSL won the grade two competition, while Warrnambool completed a double victory with grade three championship wins on both sides of the Tasman. Full results were as follows:

Grade 1
1st: Queensland Highlanders No.1 (Qld) (MSR preference)
2nd: Nunawading No.1
3rd: City of Blacktown No.1 (NSW)

Grade 2
1st: Clayton RSL
2nd: St Mary’s Districts Band Club (NSW)
3rd: St Andrew’s (Qld)

Grade 3
1st: Warrnambool & Districts
2nd: Maryborough & District
3rd: University of Ballarat

Grade 4
1st: Haileybury College
2nd: City of Melbourne No.2
3rd: Nunawading No.2

Juvenile
1st: Haileybury College
2nd: Scotch College (Melbourne)
3rd: Queensland Police Juvenile (Qld)

Piping Judges: Craig Masson (SA), John McIvor (Vic), Brian Niven (Vic), Nat Russell (Vic), Brian Switalla (NZ), Sam Young (NSW).
Drumming Judges: Bill Russell (Vic), Brett Staley (Vic), Paul Turner (UK).