This was our 3rd contest of the weekend and our final one of the season and we where looking to make it 3 out of 3 and see our season off on a high.
I was very surprised that the parade was started as early as 6:00pm as we arrived from Whitewell. I seen the Rising Sons from East Belfast as they finished playing; they done very well and also the Gertrude Star where going well and a good turnout of band member for this parade.
It was a good turn out for Pride of the Shore as they have been promoting their parade over the past 2 years and its starting to pay off with more and more bands taking part every year in this parade.
Bands like Tullycarnet, South Belfast Young Conquers, Pride of the Raven, Clogher Protestant Boys, Parkinson Accordion, Whitewell Defenders, Monkstown YCV, Sandy Row UFF all in attendance and there where plenty more on route!
The route on this parade is short and does have a blowout section, well done to all the bands that we passed as everyone likes a crack at the Prod Boys and we are always eager to respond!
Tonight we walked with 14 side drummers, flute corps of 25, we where slightly up in numbers from the earlier parade.
I thought tonight it took us a long time to get going, 3rd parade of the weekend and in my opinion we where tired; our 2 bass drummers tonight were in top form and after we put on a new bass drum head the band improved altogether! As I said we started slow but soon picked it up!
Tonight the judges awarded us with most of the first prizes in Blood & Thunder, so made it 3 in a row for the whole weekend in everything we entered. I would like to thank all the members of our band for turning up this weekend to finish a brilliant weekend for the band and a season to look back on.
Also thanks to Pride of the Shore for inviting us to your parade on a good year for yourselves.
John Keenan
East Belfast Protestant Boys Flute Band Chairman
If you would like to give your own opinions on the above parade please register and use the EBPB Online Forum, your contribution to the Forum is always welcome.