BALLYGOWAN FLUTE BAND
Honours
The band regularly competes in the
Northern Ireland Bands Association Championships in October (N.I.B.A.), and in the Flute
Band Association (F.B.A.) Own Choice Contest in February. In addition there is the Music
of the Masters Contest in Portrush and as you may read elsewhere on this
website, the band often has an annual weekend away in the form of the Scottish
Flute Band Association (S.A.F.B.A.) Spring Contest. Altogether that can make for a busy year!
N.E. In the table below N.E. = "not entered" and N.C. = "no
contest"
| YEAR | N.I.B.A. | F.B.A |
S.A.F.B.A |
MASTERS |
||
| (March) | (Performance) | (March) | (Performance) | |||
| 1988 | 2nd | unplaced | unplaced | unplaced | unplaced | unplaced |
| 1989 | 2nd | unplaced | unplaced | 1st | 3rd | unplaced |
| 1990 | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st |
| 1991 | 2nd | 3rd | N.E. | N.E. | 1st | 1st |
| 1992 | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 1993 | 1st | 1st | N.E. | N.E. | 3rd | unplaced |
| 1994 | 2nd | unplaced | unplaced | 3rd | 1st | 1st |
| 1995 | 4th | 1st | N.E. | N.E. | 1st | 2nd |
| 1996 | 1st | 1st | N.E. | N.E. | 1st | 1st |
| 1997 | 2nd | 3rd | N.E. | N.E. | 2nd | 1st |
| 1998 | 3rd | 1st | N.E. | N.E. | 2nd | 1st |
| 1999 | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st |
| 2000 | 1st | 4th | N.E. | N.E. | 1st | 1st |
| 2001 | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 2002 | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | N.C. | N.C. |
| 2003 | 2nd | 1st | N.E. | N.E. | 2nd | 2nd |
| 2004 | 2nd | 1st | 4th | 4th | 2nd | 2nd |
| 2005 | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 2006 | 2nd | 2nd | N.E. | N.E. | 1st | 1st |
| 2007 | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 2008 | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | N.C. | N.C. |
| 2009 | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | N.C. | N.C. |
Ballygowan Flute Band encourages members - especially young members - to enter the Flute Band Association's Solo & Small Ensemble Contest every year. On the basis of three points for a first, two for a second and one for a third place, the overall prize, the Magill Shield, is awarded to the band with the highest points total. Since 1988 the band has won this trophy outright in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 (subsequent years' results not available yet.)
In 1992 the Flute band League (now the F.B.A.) introduced a trophy for the band of the year - it is based on top three finishes in certain N.I.B.A. & F.B.A. contests. Ballygowan won this trophy in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000 (subsequent years' results not available yet.) The band also finished runners up in 1994 and 1998.
Over the years, the following members have received a 50 year medal from the Flute Band League/Association:
Frank Browne*, John Carse, Robert Carse, Harry Carse, William Davidson, John
Dawson**, Richard Douglas, George Douglas, Jim Douglas, John Douglas, Robert
Douglas, Dougie Gourley, Jim Gourley, Roy Gourley, William McMurray, Martin
McMinn, John Presho, William Strain and Robert Mannis.
* including service with Lord Londonderry’s own C.L.B (Newtownards)
** including service with Castledawson
Other honours will be posted here in the course of time.