PART C: RULES GOVERNING SOLO COMPETITIONS

C-1. Admission Refunds
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C-1.1 Entitlement. Unless prohibited by the Highland Games Committee, an individual competitor who plays in a solo Competition and does not participate as a member of a band on that day shall be entitled to a refund of any admission fee paid to gain admission to the grounds, upon presenting a voucher issued by the Society to the appropriate official of the Highland Games Committee.

C-2. Order and Time of Play
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C-2.1 Order of Play Available. The Games Secretary shall make available the order of play for each solo competitor not less than 8 days in advance of the event and provide this information by telephone as requested. The PPBSO reserves the right to cancel an event or change the number of prizes awarded if fewer than four competitors have enrolled in the event at the closing date. [1990 AGM, 2006 Executive]

C-2.2 Playing Time. A competitor shall play at his or her assigned or adjusted time or position, or when required to play by the Steward for the event.

C-2.3 Order Enforced. The order of play shall be enforced excepting incidents of overlapping events in that grade. [1988 AGM]

C-3. Conduct and Tuning
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C-3.1 Report To Steward. Competitors shall report to the Steward for each event no later than the commencement of the event. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

C-3.2 Tuning Time. Piping competitors shall adhere to the following tuning times: for piobaireachd, a limit of 5 minutes; for all other events, a limit of 3 minutes. Individuals exceeding the allowable tuning times may be disqualified. [1994]

C-3.3 Tuning. All competitors performing final tuning must do so without assistance, except for Grade 4 and Grade 5, and Novice Amateur Competitions. [1994,1996, 2004]

C-4. Grade Structure
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C-4.1 Piping. Piping Competitions shall be divided into the following classes:

(i) Professional;

(ii) Senior Professional (ages 45 & over);

(iii) Amateur Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5;

(iv) Amateur Piobaireachd - Senior, Intermediate, Junior, and Novice; and

(v) Novice Practice Chanter. [1995, 2002, 2004 AGM]

C-4.2 Drumming. Drumming Competitions shall be divided into the following classes:

(i) Professional; and

(ii) Amateur Grades 1, 2, 3 4 and 5, and

(iii) Novice, amateur, and professional bass and tenor. [1999 AGM]

C-4.3 Drum Majors. Drum Major competitions shall be classed as Professional and Novice competitions.

C-5. Grading and Upgrading
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C-5.1 Specified Grades. The Executive, on the advice of the Music Board, will specify the grade of competition for an individual competitor, at its sole discretion. Notification of grading changes shall be made to competitors by the first day of November. [1999 AGM]

C-5.2 Competitors from Other Jurisdictions. Competitors from other jurisdictions shall play in the same grades in which they play in their own jurisdiction, subject to any grade specified for an individual competitor by the PPBSO. [1994]

C-5.3 Notice. Any individual affected by a specified grade shall be promptly notified in writing or by publication in the Society’s magazine within a reasonable time after the requirement is adopted by the Executive.

C-5.4 Playing in Lower Grade. No individual may compete in a grade lower than the grade specified for him or her by the Executive. For purposes of these grading rules, Grade 5 is the lowest piping grade, grade 5 is the lowest drumming grade, and Open Professional is the highest grade.

C-5.5 Playing in Higher Grade. A competitor who chooses to compete outside the jurisdiction of the PPBSO in a grade higher than his or her specified grade may not subsequently return to a lower grade. [2004]

C-5.6 Playing in Different Grades. A piping competitor shall compete at the same grade level in all events, except piobaireachd, which may be played at a different level subject to the grade specified by the Executive for that competitor.

C-5.7 Regrading. A competitor dissatisfied with his or her assigned grade may petition the Executive through the Society Secretary for a reconsideration of the grading a maximum of one time per year or once per change in grade, whichever is more frequent. Any variation of a competitor’s specified grade is within the sole discretion of the Executive.

C-6. Professional Piping Contest Requirements
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C-6.1 Light Music. For Professional march, strathspey and reel, and hornpipe and jig Competitions, competitors shall submit four tunes of each type and shall play one tune of each type as chosen by the Judge in any combination from the tunes submitted. For Professional jig Competitions, competitors shall play the tune chosen by the Judge twice through. [1996, 2002, 2008 AGM]

C-6.2 Time Signatures. All marches shall be in 2/4 time signature.

C-6.3 Length. All tunes submitted shall be a minimum of 4 parts. All jig selections are required to be played twice over unless waived by the Society, except at hornpipe and jig contests where jigs shall be played only once. [1994]

C-6.4 Piobaireachd. Professional competitors shall submit four piobaireachds and shall play one, as chosen by the Judge from the tunes submitted. Playing of unfamiliar settings may require a written copy of the music to be submitted to the Judge prior to beginning the tune.

C-6.5 Senior Professional (45 and over). Competitors shall submit and play one march, strathspey and reel set. [1994]

C-7. Grade 1 Amateur Piping Contest Requirements
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C-7.1 Tunes. Grade 1 Amateur competitors shall submit two tunes of each type and shall play one tune of each type, as chosen by the Judge in any combination from the tunes submitted.

C-7.2 Time Signatures. All marches submitted shall be in 2/4 time signature, or in the event of a 6/8 march contest, marches shall be submitted in 6/8 time signature.

C-7.3 Length. All tunes submitted shall be a minimum of 4 parts.

C-7.4 Piobaireachd. Grade 1 Amateur competitors shall be subject to the Amateur Piobaireachd requirements of C-10. [1995 AGM]

C-8. Grade 2 Amateur Piping Contest Requirements
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C-8.1 General. Grade 2 Amateur competitors shall submit two (2) four parted 2/4 marches, one (1) four parted strathspey, one (1) four parted reel, and one (1) four parted jig or two (2) four parted 6/8 marches. [1999, 2002, 2009 AGM]

C-8.2 Piobaireachd. Grade 2 Amateur competitors shall be subject to the Amateur Piobaireachd contest requirements of C-10. [1995]

C-9. Grade 3 Amateur Piping Contest Requirements
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C-9.1 March. Grade 3 Amateur competitors shall submit and play one (1) four-parted 2/4 march. [1992, 2002 AGM]

C-9.2 Strathspey and Reel. Grade 3 Amateur competitors shall submit and play one (1) four-parted strathspey and one (1) four-parted reel. [2000, 2002 AGM]

C-9.3 Piobaireachd. Grade 3 Amateur competitors shall be subject to the Amateur Piobaireachd contest requirements of C-10. [1995 AGM]

C-9.4 Special. At designated contests, Grade 3 Amateur competitors shall submit and play one four-parted strathspey and one four-parted reel or one four-parted 6/8 march.

C-10. Amateur Piobaireachd Contest Requirements
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C-10.1 Senior Amateur Piobaireachd (Grade 1 Light Music equivalent). Competitors shall submit three (3) piobaireachds and shall play one (1), as chosen by the Judge from the tunes submitted. [2000, 2002 AGM]

C-10.2 Intermediate Amateur Piobaireachd (Grade 2 Light Music equivalent). Competitors shall submit two (2) piobaireachds and shall play one (1), as chosen by the Judge from the tunes submitted. [2001, 2002 AGM]

C-10.3 Junior Amateur Piobaireachd (Grade 3 Light Music equivalent). Competitors shall submit and play one (1) piobaireachd. [1995, 2002 AGM]

C-10.4 Novice Amateur Piobaireachd (Grade 4/5 Light Music equivalent). Competitors shall submit one (1) piobaireachd and play only the ground and the next two passages. [1999, 2002 AGM]

C-11 Grade 4 Amateur Piping Contest Requirements
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C-11.1 General. Grade 4 Amateur competitors shall submit and play one (1) 2/4 march of a minimum of four parts. [1992, 2002 AGM]

C-11.2 Piobaireachd. Grade 4 Amateur competitors shall be subject to the Amateur Piobaireachd contest requirements of C-10. [1995 AGM]

C-12. Grade 5 Amateur Piping Contest Requirements
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C-12.1 General. Grade 5 Amateur competitors shall submit and play one (1) two-parted march of any time signature, once over. [1994, 2002 AGM]

C-13. Novice Practice Chanter Contest Requirements
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C-13.1 General. Novice Practice Chanter competitors shall submit and play one two-parted march of any time signature, once over.

C-13.2 Eligibility. Novice Practice Chanter competitors must never have competed in a piping contest. [1994]

C-14. Tune Selection by Piping Competitors
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C-14.1 General. Tune selection is left up to the individual competitor and his or her instructor, but competitors are advised that basics and fundamentals are to have preference over difficulty of tunes, and Judges are to strongly discourage the use of tunes beyond the capability of the players in all amateur grades. [Advisory Council, 1990]

C-15. Drumming Contest Requirements
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C-15.1 Accompaniment. The Society will provide band accompaniment for all Professional, Amateur, and Novice Bass Drum Flourishing contests, Professional, Amateur, and Novice Tenor Drum Flourishing contests and Drum Major Competitions except as in C-15.3 (d) below. Each Snare Drum competitor shall provide at least one piper for accompaniment. No more than two pipers are permitted. Each Rhythm Tenor contest competitor shall provide one piper, and the option of one snare drummer, for accompaniment. Grade 3, 4 and 5 Amateur competitors may compete without a piper for a critique from the drumming judge but they will not be scored or considered eligible for a rank in the contest. [2000, 2002, 2005 AGM, 2006 Executive]

C-15.2 Snare Drummers.

(a) A Professional competitor shall submit two sets, each composed of a 2/4 march, a strathspey and a reel, with a minimum of four parts each, and two hornpipes and two jigs, with a minimum of four parts each. [1988 AGM]

(b) A Grade 1 Amateur competitor shall submit two sets, each composed of a 2/4 march, a strathspey and a reel, with a minimum of four parts each, and one hornpipe and one jig of a minimum of four parts each. [1989 AGM]

(c) A Grade 2 Amateur competitor shall submit one set composed of a 2/4 march, a strathspey and a reel, with a minimum of four parts each, and one hornpipe and one jig of a minimum of four parts each. [1989 AGM]

(d) A Grade 3 Amateur competitor shall submit and play through without stopping one set composed of one four-parted 2/4 march, one four-parted strathspey, and one four-parted reel. [1996, 2001, 2003 AGMs]

(e) A Grade 4 Amateur competitor shall submit one four-parted 2/4 march to be played over once. [2001 AGM]

(f) A Grade 5 Amateur competitor shall submit one two-parted 2/4 march. [1997, 2003 AGMs]

C-15.3 Bass Drummers.

(a) Professional, Amateur, and Novice Bass Drum Flourishing Contest competitors are required to perform simultaneously with all other competitors in the Contest unless the Contest is so large as to require division into heats.

(b) Professional, and Amateur Bass Drum Flourishing Contest competitors perform while the duty band plays a 2/4 march, a strathspey and a reel.

(c) Novice Bass Drum Flourishing Contest competitors perform while the duty band plays a four parted march. [1999 AGM]

(d) Professional, Amateur and Novice Solo Bass Drumming contest competitors in the morning contest play one four-parted 2/4 march, one four-parted strathspey, and one four-parted reel. Each competitor must provide a piper and snare drummer for accompaniment. [2005 AGM]

C-15.4 Tenor Drummers.

(g) Novice Rhythm Tenor Contest competitors perform a four parted 2/4 march. [2000]

C-15.5 Drum Majors.

(a) Professional and Novice Drum Major competitors are required to perform simultaneously with all other competitors in the Contest unless the Contest is so large as to require division into heats.

(b) Drum Major competitors are judged on dress and deportment while at the halt, and on marching and deportment during the performance of a slow march and a 6/8 march by the duty band.

C-16. Contest Results and Prize Presentation
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C-16.1 Posting. Results of Competitions shall be conspicuously posted as soon as possible after computation.

C-16.2 Prize Presentation. Prizes may be formally presented at the closing ceremonies of the Highland Games, or informally presented.

C-16.3 Proper Dress. A prizewinner receiving a prize in a formal presentation shall wear Proper Highland Dress, as defined. Breach of this rule may lead to disciplinary proceedings against the member involved.

C-16.4 Amateur Piper of the Day. The Amateur Piper of the Day shall be the piper competing in Grade 1 March, Grade 1 Strathspey and Reel, Grade 1 Jig and Senior Amateur Piobaireachd who is awarded the highest total number of Champion Supreme Points. A tie in points shall be broken first by the Senior Amateur Piobaireachd result. If none of the players tied have placed in the Piobaireachd contest, the tie shall be broken by the March result. [2002 AGM]

C-16.5 Professional Piper of the Day. The Professional Piper of the Day shall be the piper competing in Professional March, Professional Strathspey and Reel, Professional Hornpipe / Jig and Professional Piobaireachd who is awarded the highest total number of Champion Supreme Points. A tie in points shall be broken first by the Professional Piobaireachd result. If none of the players tied have placed in the Piobaireachd contest, the tie shall be broken by the March result. [2002 AGM]

C-16.6 Amateur Drummer of the Day. The Amateur Drummer of the Day shall be the drummer competing in the Grade 1 March, Strathspey and Reel, and Hornpipe / Jig who is awarded the highest total number of Champion Supreme Points. A tie in points shall be broken by the March, Strathspey and Reel result. [2002 AGM]

C-16.7 Professional Drummer of the Day. The Professional Drummer of the Day shall be the drummer competing in the Professional March, Strathspey and Reel, and Hornpipe / Jig who is awarded the highest total number of Champion Supreme Points. A tie in points will be broken by the March, Strathspey and Reel result. [2002 AGM]

C-17. Champion Supreme Point Structure
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C-17.1 Eligibility - Membership. Only PPBSO members who are members prior to the Competition will be awarded points for placing in events.

C-17.2 Eligibility - Minimum Number of Games. To be eligible for the Champion Supreme award, a solo competitor must attend a minimum of 50% of PPBSO sanctioned events in a contest season

C-17.3 Points - Competitors shall receive Champion Supreme points for each prize won in a Contest as follows: 1st = 7 points; 2nd = 5 points; 3rd = 4 points; 4th = 3 points; 5th = 2 points; 6th = 1 point, although medals will continue to be presented for the first three places only.

C-17.4 Total points - At the conclusion of the season, total points from all contests at each Highland Games or Branch Event shall be calculated for each competitor. The competitor with the highest total from the best five Highland Games and/or Branch Event shall be awarded Champion Supreme. In the event of a tie, the Award shall be given to the competitor with the greater number of first places at their five best contests. In the event that a tie remains, multiple awards will be presented.

C-17.5 Award. The Champion Supreme Award shall be given to the competitor in each grade and Piobaireachd category with the highest point total. In the event of a tie, the Award shall be given to the competitor with the greater number of first places. In the event that a tie remains, multiple awards will be presented.