Howdy! I hope everyone is having a great 4th Season of FMA competition. The groups under the Irish Athletic Arts sure are, flying in a day early last week to begin competition in their respective circuits. Here's how the Irish organizations are doing!

The Druids Drum & Bugle Corps, newly appointed to Div. I, began with a pretty rough Season, placing in 25th after their first competition.

"Yeah, what a Season start...", comments director Douglas Orsborn, "...the entire corps caught the worst stomach flu for the first half of Week 1. It has to happen to groups at some point, but this was a cruddy time for it."

Since the start of Week 2, the Druids have pulled up in the Rankings to 10th place, thus far qualifying them for Finals, but the boys in green aren't yet about to get cocky.

"We need to keep rehearsing like we are to catch up on that week we were takin' it easy", comments contraline section leader Keith Smith. "Once we got the colored horns-- if you don't know yet, each section uses a different colored horn for parts of this show-- our GE points just bloomed. Left the audience in awe, also," he adds.

The Shamrock Marching Band, having bumped up to Div. II, are defending their Championship title in Div. III last Season, and are heading the Rankings by a little more than two points. They are looking to finish strong this Season and take home another Championship title.

The Sailor Indoor Percussion unit is holding on where it did last year in Div. III (they have also been appointed to Div. II), and are capping out the Rankings at 6th-- only a place behind their placement at Finals last Season. Their show "Music to Die By" keeps a chilling hold on the audience that they won't soon forget.

Thanks for reading, and let's continue to have a marvelous Season 4!