Spring Festival

Chris Thomas (Grand Shield), James McLeod (Senior Cup) and Malcolm Wood (Senior Trophy) report on the 2017 Spring Festival, which saw Whitburn end its white-knuckle ride in the ‘Shield’ on Blackpool’s Golden Mile and re-qualify for the British Open in Birmingham on 9 September

If ever evidence were needed of the challenges involved in securing a place at the British Open, it might be worth having a chat with Dave Kinross, Band Manager of 2017 Grand Shield victor, Whitburn. Since the reigning Scottish Champion was relegated from the ‘Open’ in 2010, Whitburn has won the Scottish Championships four times, taken to the stage every year at the Royal Albert Hall including two top-ten finishes and performed in the European Championships on one occasion. When triumph finally came after seven long years in the British Open wilderness however, it certainly came in style…

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