Washington Pipers’ Association

4 $250.00 Scholarships were drawn at the last event of the season.

Mackenzie Webster     alternate:  Elliot Thompson

Amber Stone                 alternate:  Paul Vegors

Cleda Thompson         alternate:  Bryce Kreger

Aaron Stone                  alternate:  Matt Alger

Recipients were asked to tell WPA of their choices by the end of June 2009, so if they are unable to attend the alternates will have an opportunity to use the scholarship this year.

WPA used a simple point system this year, 6 points for first place, 5 for 2nd, 4 for 3rd, 3 for 2nd, and 1 for 6th. BCPA uses a much more complicated system, which we will consider using next year due to unexpected results this year.

Congratulations to all competitors who showed up and played. It takes focus and determination to play for an audience, and we had many great performances this year.

To be eligible this year, competitors needed to attend 4 of 5 events, register by the first event, and indicate they wished to be included in the drawing on their membership form.

Chanter: Peter North
Grade 5 Piping: Megan McCrea
Adult Piping: Cleda Thompson
Grade 4 Piping: Saul Goodwin
Grade 3 Piping: Aaron Stone
Grade 2 Piping: Alexander Schiele

Grade 5 Drumming: Robert Graham
Grade 4 Drumming: Bryce Kreger
Grade 3 Drumming: Amber Stone

Tenor Drumming: MacKenzie Webster

Note: After the awards were given, Alexander Schiele asked if he could give the award to MacKenzie. The results were announced with Alexander as the winner, but because MacKenzie (who comes down from BC to compete) missed one event, she had fewer points, but placed 1st at 4 of 5 events. Alexander placed 2nd at 4 events and 1st at one event and had more points due to the simplified points system used.  The BCPA system would have had MacKenzie in 1st place.  MacKenzie has received the aggregate plaque.

Congratulations to all of the competitors who competed at WPA mini-gatherings this year, it takes a lot of preparation and courage.  Thanks to our judges Hal Senyk and David Bowman.  Special thanks to the dedicated volunteers Rochelle Wheeler and Julie Alger at registration & cleanup after events, Doug Stone, Joe Alger, Steve Wheeler and Bruce Graham for stewarding and introducing drummers and pipers when needed.  Karen Gayle and Kathy Bowie-Vegors for setting up snack tables, getting judges lunches, and clean-up.  Thanks to Kelli and Scott DeVight for coordinating with Grace Fellowship, setting up and cleaning up for every event.  Diane Axworthy for all of the treasurer duties, and showing up to make sure judges and other expenses got paid when she wasn’t feeling well, and maintaining and encouraging active board participation.  There are many others who have helped out when asked, stayed after events to help clean up, and it’s all of you who help keep the events running smoothly and providing a great opportunity for bagpipe and drum competitors to gather, perform, and learn from some of the top soloists and judges in the Northwest and British Columbia.

Chanter, Any March, 2 competitors

1. Peter North, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
2. Morgan Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 5 Piping, Any March, 5 competitors

1. Marcus DeVight, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
2. Russell Prewitt
3. Megan McCrea, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
4. Karl Stahlfeld
5. Katrina Jones, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 

Adult Piping, 2/4 March, 4 competitors

1. Diane Axworthy
2. Stewart Nevling
3. Kenneth Robinson
4. Todd Schiele

Adult Piping, Slow Air, 3 competitors

1. Diane Axworthy
2. Stewart Nevling
3. Kenneth Robinson

Grade 4 Piping, Strathspey & Reel, 3 competitors

1. Saul Goodwin, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
2. David Pollock
3. Matthew Alger, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 

Grade 4 Piping, 6/8 March, 5 competitors

1. Paul Vegors, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
2. Saul Goodwin, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
3. Devon Mercurio, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
4. Matthew Alger, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
5. David Pollock

Grade 2 Piping, Hornpipe & Jig, 2 competitors

1. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
2. Aaron Stone (challenged up), Northwest Junior Pipe Band 

Grade 2 Piping, March, Strathspey & Reel, 3 competitors

1. Alex MacLeod, Washington Scottish Pipe Band
2. Aaron Stone (challenged up), Washington Scottish Pipe Band
3. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 

Grade 5 Side Drumming, Any March, 2 competitors

1. Robert Graham, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
2. Jackson DeVight, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 

Grade 4 Side Drumming, Any March, 2 competitors

1. Bryce Kreger, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
2. Steven Wheeler, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 

Grade 3 Side Drumming, March, Strathspey & Reel, 3 competitors

1. Fiona Senyk, White Spot Pipe Band
2. Amber Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
3. Alec Robertson, Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band

Tenor Drumming, Any Tune, 3 competitors 

1. MacKenzie Webster, White Spot Pipe Band
2. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
3. Ali North, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 

The last event of the season is upon us.  Thanks to our award winning and “BCPA certified” adjudicators for coming down from British Columbia this weekend!   I will post more about these adjudicators with the results, but David Bowman was the runner up in the 2009 BCPA Drumming Knockout events, an award winning solo drummer who plays with the 2008 World Pipe Band Champion and World Drum Corps champions, Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.   Hal Senyk will be judging piping.  Hal is also a certified adjudicator, award winning soloist, Pipe Major and volunteer Director with BC Pipers’ Association.

Please review the Aggregate scores so far and make sure we’re not missing any events and double check we’ve got the events correct.  6 points were awarded to first, 5 to 2nd and so on down to 1 point for 6th place finishes. Link:  2009 WPA Aggregate Standings, April 2009.  A reminder for aggregate awards; attendance at 4 of 5 WPA events is a requirement to be eligible for the award.   Aggregate plaques are similar to last years’ awards.

The WPA Board met Wednesday and clarified the Scholarship process, as well as took steps to ensure that alternates will be more likely to get the benefit of a scholarship award by adding a deadline on acceptance of the award for the first - drawn recipient.

Scholarship drawings are available to:

• Competitors who checked the “Scholarship box” on the registration form
• Competitors who pre-registered (or registered this year by the first event of the season)
• Competitors who competed at 4 of 5 monthly events.
• Competitors who did NOT receive a scholarship award from WPA during the 2008 season.

Scholarship drawings will be drawn first for the primary, then for the alternate for that award.  FOUR $250.00 Scholarships will be drawn.   Scholarship recipients must notify WPA at info@washingtonpipers.org of their intended use of the scholarship by the end of June, 2009.  Scholarship awards must be used within one year (ie, payment to the Scottish piping or drumming school must be requested to be sent by May 3, 2010).  Scholarship payment is sent directly to the Scottish Piping or Drumming school at the request of the recipient, once they have registered or informed the school of intent to register. 

See you Saturday!

Apologies for the delays posting results, the week leading up to the British Columbia Pipers’ Association Annual Gathering made getting time for these results a little challenging.  Check the results on the BC Pipers’ Website, you’ll see quite a few competitors from Washington State in the top placings.

Thanks to Ed McIlwayne and Scott Robertson for making time to come down from BC to adjudicate these events. 

Ed MacIlwaine started his piping career with the White Spot Pipe Band in 1986.  In 1989 he began getting tuition from P-M James Watt and continued his association with James and the the Western Academy of Pipe Music until James’ death in 2000.  Since 2001 Ed has been a dedicated student of Andrew Wright of Dunblane and since 2005 has been a frequent prize-winner at piobaireachd competitions in Scotland.  Ed is a Past President of the BCPA.  www.edwardmacilwaine.com

Scott Robertson is currently instructing grade 4 and 5 side drummers of the RMM Pipe Band. He has instructed and led pipe band drum corps including organizing and training bands for recording and competing in North America and Britain. Drum Corps taught include: Triumph Street Pipe Band, Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band (1980 World Champions),Delta Police Pipe Band, Seaforth Highlanders. Drum Corps that he has played in include TSPB (1979 World Champions) 1974 - 1991 and the  Abbotsford Police Pipe Band.  Scott is an official drumming and ensemble judge of the BC Pipers Association. He frequently judges at highland games in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. His judging experience includes adjudicating solo snare & tenor completions as well as drum corps.  Since 2000 Scott has worked as Head Drum Instructor for Tom Lee Music.  Accomplishments here  include establishing a drum lesson curriculum for all teachers.   For more info about Scott, please visit www.scottondrums.com and www.scottondrums-school.com
 
Scott’s newest CD SWING PATROL is now available in iTunes. You can find the link and listen to sound clips here:  www.songcastmusic.com/albums.php?zoom_query=30786.  The reviews are coming in:

Dennis Mersmann at MuzikReviews.com gives it four stars out of five: “Swing Patrol is an exceptional album.” …”Each track deserves to be listened to once for every musician playing to fully appreciate what each is doing.”…” There is not one song here that isn’t worth listening to…”

Jeff Parker at Swingmusic.net: “The guitar work is first rate and the work with both brushes and sticks by leader Scott Robertson is really superb.”…” Exceptional work!”

Bobby Hales in UPBeat: “For performers still in their 20’s (Bria Skonberg and Evan Arntzen), their maturity in this idiom is amazing.”…”A thank you to Scott for reminding me how good brushes sound on ballads.”…”West Coast Street Beat shows off some impressive snare drum work by Scott.”…” There is not a bad track on the whole CD”.

Chanter:  Any March 1 competitor

1. Morgan Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 5 Piping:  Any March 5 competitors

1. Karl Stahlfield
2. Marcus Devight  Northwest Junior Pipe Band  
3. Megan McCrea Northwest Junior Pipe Band  
4. Russell Prewitt
5. Katrina Jones Northwest Junior Pipe Band  

Adult Piping:  Piobaireachd Ground, 2 Competitors

1. Cleda Thompson,  Kenmore & District Pipe Band
2. Kenneth Robinson, Alumni, Clan Gordon Pipe Band

Adult Piping:  6/8 March  4 competitors

1. Kenneth J Robinson, Alumni: Clan Gordon Pipe Band
2. Cleda Thompson,  Kenmore & District Pipe Band

Grade 4 Piping:  2/4 March    8 competitors

1. Saul Goodwin, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Matthew Alger, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Sean Sele, Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band
4. Devon Mercurio, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
5. Elliot Thomson, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
6. Paul Vegors, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 4 Piping:  Piobaireachd Ground 3 competitors

1. Saul Goodwin, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Sean Sele, Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band
3. Malcolm Roux, Elliott Bay Pipe Band

Grade 3 Piping:  2/4 March 3 Competitors

1. Aaron Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Eric Roux, Elliott Bay Pipe Band
3. Chris Cahoon, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band

Grade 3 Piping: Strathspey & Reel 3 Competitors

1. Aaron Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Chris Cahoon, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band
3. Eric Roux, Elliott Bay Pipe Band

Grade 2 Piping:  Piobaireachd 1 Competitor

1. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 1 Piping:  Piobaireachd 1 Competitor

1. Theodore Krogh

Grade 5 Drumming:  Any March  2 competitors

1. Robert Graham, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Jackson DeVight, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 4 Drumming:  Any March  4 competitors

1. Bryce Kreger, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Steven Wheeler, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 3 Drumming, 6/8 March 1 competitor

1. Amber Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Tenor Drumming, 6/8 March 2 competitors

1. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Thanks to our piping judge Brian McKenzie and drumming judge Steve Roy for their work judging, and providing comments to the Kenmore & District Pipe Band who performed around noon Saturday. 

Chanter:  Any March 2 competitors

1. Todd Schiele
2. Morgan Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 5 Piping:  Any March 6 competitors

1. Megan McCrea Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Marcus Devight  Northwest Junior Pipe Band  
3. Russell Prewitt
4. Karl Stahlfield
5. Peter North Northwest Junior Pipe Band  
6. Katrina Jones Northwest Junior Pipe Band  

Adult Piping:  Slow Air 4 Competitors

1. Diane Axworthy
2. Cleda Thompson,  Kenmore & District Pipe Band
3. Allan MacLeod, Washington Scottish Pipe Band
4. Kenneth Robinson, Alumni, Clan Gordon Pipe Band

Adult Piping:  Any March  4 competitors

1. Allan MacLeod, Washington Scottish Pipe Band
2. Diane Axworthy
3. Cleda Thompson,  Kenmore & District Pipe Band
4. Kenneth J Robinson, Alumni: Clan Gordon Pipe Band

Grade 4 Piping:  6/8 March    4 competitors

1. Paul Vegors, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Saul Goodwin, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Matthew Alger, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
4. Elliot Thomson, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 

Grade 4 Piping:  Strathspey & Reel 3 competitors

1. Elliot Thomson, Northwest Junior Pipe Band 
2. Matthew Alger, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Saul Goodwin, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 3 Piping:  Jig 3 Competitors

1. Aaron Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Evan Thomas
3. Kathleen Lindsey

Grade 3 Piping: 6/8 March  3 Competitors

1. Aaron Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Kathleen Lindsey
3. Evan Thomas

Grade 2 Piping:  March, Strathspey & Reel  2 Competitors

1. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Alex MacLeod, Washington Scottish Pipe Band

Grade 2 Piping:  6/8 March 2 Competitors

1. Alex MacLeod, Washington Scottish Pipe Band
2. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 1 Piping:  March, Strathspey & Reel  1 Competitor

1. Theodore Krogh

Grade 1 Piping:  Hornpipe & Jig 1 Competitor

1. Theodore Krogh

Grade 5 Drumming:  Any March  2 competitors

1. Robert Graham, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Jackson DeVight, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 4 Drumming:  Any March  4 competitors

1. Steven Wheeler, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Bryce Kreger, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Brady McMahon, Washington Scottish Pipe Band

Grade 3 Drumming, MSR 1 competitor

1. Amber Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Tenor Drumming, 2/4 March 2 competitors

1. MacKenzie Webster, White Spot Pipe Band
2. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

update 2/1/2009:  missing tenor drum results added

Great turnout for the 2nd mini-gathering of the season, and a lot of talent was on display.  Micah Babinski judged piping events, and John Scullion from Northern Ireland (in town for the Mastery of Scottish Arts events beginning the 6th of February) judged drumming.  Washington is continuing to see great growth in talent and continued growth of interest in bagpiping and drumming.  Our season of monthly competitions give the community an opportunity to keep in touch, and for pipers and drummers to keep their focus on improvement and building skills and preparing for the summer competition season. 

Competitions were held in every grade level in piping, with two competitors in both Grade 2 and Grade 1; a first in the last several years.

It’s fun to see everyone in the community turn out, there were at least eight of top bagpipe instructors in Washington present, in addition to several of the top drumming instructors (not to mention our judge from Ireland), and a whole host of volunteers, supporters and parents, visiting, catching up on some of the stories of the past summer and listening to the wide variety of music of the Great Highland Bagpipe.

Chanter:  Slow Air  1 competitor

1. Peter North, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 5 Piping:  Slow Air    5 competitors

1. Megan McCrea Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Russell Prewitt
3. Marcus Devight  Northwest Junior Pipe Band
4. Karl Stahlfield

Adult Piping:  Piobaireachd Ground  2 Competitors

1. Cleda Thompson,  Kenmore & District Pipe Band
2. Kenneth Robinson, Alumni, Clan Gordon Pipe Band

Adult Piping:  Any March  2 competitors

1. Cleda Thompson,  Kenmore & District Pipe Band
2. Kenneth Robinson, Alumni: Clan Gordon Pipe Band

Grade 4 Piping:  2/4 March    7 competitors

1. Elliot Thomson, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Paul Vegors, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Malcolm Roux, Elliott Bay Pipe Band

Grade 4 Piping:  Piobareachd Ground  3 competitors

1. Malcolm Roux, Elliott Bay Pipe Band
2. Sean Sele, Portland Metro Pipe Band
3. Saul Goodwin, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 3 Piping:  Piobareachd   5 Competitors

1. Aaron Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Eric Roux, Elliott Bay Pipe Band
3. Chris Cahoon, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band

Grade 2 Piping:  March, Strathspey & Reel  2 Competitors

1. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Alex MacLeod, Washington Scottish Pipe Band

Grade 2 Piping:  Hornpipe & Jig  2 Competitors

1. Alex MacLeod, Washington Scottish Pipe Band
2. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 1 Piping:  March, Strathspey & Reel  2 Competitors

1. Theodore Krogh

Grade 1 Piping:  6/8 March  2 Competitors

1. Theodore Krogh
2. Christohper Donald, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band

Grade 5 Drumming:  Any March  2 competitors

1. Robert Graham, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Jackson DeVight, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 4 Drumming:  Any March  4 competitors

1. Bryce Kreger, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Steven Wheeler, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Joseph Young, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
4. Morgan Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 3 Drumming, 6/8 March  1 competitor

1. Amber Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Tenor Drumming, 6/8 March 2 competitors

1. MacKenzie Webster, White Spot Pipe Band
2. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Several Washington pipers and drummers are headed to Kansas City, Missouri to participate in one of the newest and fastest growing events in the United States, which attracts competitors world-wide.   The 2009 Kansas City Winter Storm by the Midwest Highland Arts Fund begins Friday January 16th.

The event posted the order of play last week, here are the relevant competitions and the Washington representatives.  Washington Pipers’ Association wishes all of them the very best in their travels and competitions:

Midwest Highland Arts Fund Gold Medal Bass Drumming Championship
Noel Keyes; Coupeville, WA

Midwest Highland Arts Fund Gold Medal Tenor Drumming Championship
Anne Head; Camas, WA

MHAF & MidWest Pipe Band Association US Silver Medal Piobaireachd Competition
Brian McKenzie; Seattle, WA
William Nichols; Blaine, WA

Tone Czar Bagpipes – MHAF North American Gold Medal Ceol Beag Competition
Colin Gemmell; Lacey, WA
Jori Chisholm; Seattle, WA
Brian McKenzie; Seattle, WA
William Nichols; Blaine, WA

R.G. Hardie - MHAF US Gold Medal Piobaireachd Competition
Jori Chisholm; Seattle, WA
Colin Gemmell; Lacey, WA

Here are the 2008 results for Washington pipers and drummers:

The Midwest Highland Arts Fund & MidWest Pipe Band Association United States Silver Medal Piobaireachd Competition:
3rd: $300 USD Brian McKenzie, Seattle, Washington “Corrienessan’s Salute”

The Midwest Highland Arts Fund Amateur Bass Drumming Championships:
Intermediate winning an MHAF Bronze Medal
2nd: Noel Keys, Coupeville, Washington

The Midwest Highland Arts Fund Gold Medal and Amateur Tenor Drumming Championships:
Intermediate winning an MHAF Bronze Medal
1st: Libby Hale, Lake Forest Park, Washington

The Kansas City St. Andrew Society – Midwest Highland Arts Fund United States Gold Medal Piobaireachd Competition
Champion: $750 USD, and the US Gold Medal Jori Chisholm, Seattle, Washington “My King has Landed in Moidart”

Thanks to Brian McKenzie, local piper and instructor who is among the top professional pipers in the world in solo competitions, recently winning 3rd in 2008 and 2nd in the 2007 Midwest Highland Arts Fund & MWPBA US Silver Medal Piobaireachd Competition at Winter Storm,  Thanks also to Steve Roy, multi-talented percussionist, instructor and drumming director for judging Snare and Tenor drumming Saturday. 

Our new location was very well received, and we look forward to working through the kinks and continuing to enhance the experience at the Grace Fellowship Church in Lynnwood, WA.  We look forward to your feedback, please let us know if you have any concerns, comments, or suggestions.

Chanter (Any March)

1. Peter North (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)  

Grade 5 Piping (Any March)

1. Megan McCrea (Northwest Junior Pipe Band) 
2. Russell Prewitt

Adult Piping - Slow Air

1. Cleda Thompson (Kenmore and District Pipe Band)
2. Ken Robinson
3. Allan MacLeod (Washington Scottish Pipe Band)

Adult Piping -  Any March

1. Cleda Thompson (Kenmore and District Pipe Band)
2. Ken Robinson

Grade 4 Piping - 6/8 March

1. Elliot Thomson (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. Matthew Alger (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
3. Paul Vegors (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 4 Piping - Strathespey & Reel

1. Matthew Alger (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 3 Piping - 2/4 March

1. Aaron Stone (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. MacKenzie Webster (White Spot Pipe Band)
3. Kathleen Lindsey

Grade 3 Piping - Strathspey & Reel

1. Aaron Stone (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. Kathleen Lindsey

Grade 2 Piping - Piobaireachd

1. Alex MacLeod (Washington Scottish Pipe Band)
2. Alexander Schiele (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 5 Drumming (Any March)

1. Robert Graham (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 4 Drumming - Any March

1. Steven Wheeler (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. Bryce Kreger (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
3. Joseph Young (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
4. Morgan Schiele (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
5. Morgan McCullough (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 3 Drumming - 2/4 March

1. Amber Stone (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Tenor Drumming - Any Tune

1. MacKenzie Webster (White Spot Pipe Band)
2. Alexander Schiele (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
3. Ali North (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

100 years ago next year, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition put Seattle on the map, celebrating the culture, industry and innovation that still define our region today. 

More information will be coming soon, but bookmark the below webpage, and expect to hear more from us at the Washington Pipers’ Association to encourage your individual and band participation in this significant opportunity to promote our art.  The opportunities for news coverage and media exposure are going to be significant, and the more people hear and see the talent of Washington State bagpipe bands, the more people will be interested in joining us in this unique and rewarding experience. 

100 Pipers for 100 years!