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The coveted World Pipe Band Championship trophy held by the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band for the past year - and second straight time - has been polished and returned to event organizers – and if all goes well it may be back on a return flight.

While the Scottish are hoping to end a championship slump, it’s the Irish who pose the biggest challenge for the SFU band, says SFU Pipe Sergeant Jack Lee.

“We’re going into this knowing we’re one of the top contenders, but the pressure will be on,” says Lee.

“The St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band from Dublin had their best finish ever last year, placing third, that was big, and they have really made their mark this year, beating out Irish contenders Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band for the European championships two weeks ago.

“They’ll be feeling the optimism for sure,” he added. “Overall, it’s a strong group, those of us in the top three, and it could go any way.”

Field Marshal has finished second to the SFU band for two straight years, and before that, SFU placed second to their wins. The two are currently tied at six world champion wins each.

The rivalry was put aside last week as the two bands performed in a concert in Belfast, hailed as a rare opportunity to hear the world’s two best bands on the same stage.

Lee says he wouldn’t rule out the Scots, who are under the critical eye of the Scottish press to make a comeback. House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead, world champions a record 15 times, are unlikely contenders, but Lee says a couple of bands, including Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band could be a dark horse.

It will also depend on the judges, all of them, Scottish and Irish, he adds.

Speculation aside, Lee says being removed from the European scene has its benefits. “We know what we have to do, and we keep our focus on that spot, and that has worked for us,” he says. While they aren’t as able to compare notes, they’ll check out the bands on YouTube a little more seriously closer to the competition.

Lee likes to keeps a little distance in place even when they arrive in Scotland, setting up the band for their week’s practice in Stirling, situated about 40 km from Glasgow, away from the limelight of preparations for the world championships.

“It’s intentional that we are here,” he says, looking out over a stretch of pastoral countryside. “It has been great for us, for our concentration, and gives everyone a chance to get used to being over here.

 “We can’t escape the rain, or the pressures of competition, but we can benefit from spending some time where it’s peaceful.”

The top six Grade 1 bands from last year’s competition, including SFU, are already pre-qualified for the finals. Of the 25 competing in the elite grade, another six or seven will move on from qualifying rounds. The competition gets underway early afternoon on Saturday, Aug. 14.

The SFU band is one of a record 239 bands taking part in the Worlds.

You can watch it all on a live stream from BBC Scotland, by way of bbc.co.uk/worlds. Glasgow time is eight hours later than Vancouver time

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