5.1.1 Competitors can only enter competitions within the same level at the same event (e.g. during one particular Highland games) according to the rules below. Competitors at any level may participate in the unlevelled competitions if not excluded by a specific rule.
5.1.2 Competitors may change between levels at different events according to the following rules:
Piping:
With the exception of the unlevelled competitions and the Advanced and Former Winners levels, competitors may never enter a competition, which he or she has previously won.
Side Drumming:
5.1.3 To qualify for the Former Winners level a competitor must have won a first place in the M/S/R competition in the level below Former Winners and a first place in the Hornpipe/Jig competition in the level below Former Winners at either the Scandinavian Championships or the CWC during the same season. This means that there are two possible ways to qualify. The first possibility is that a competitor wins both competitions at the same event. The other possibility is that one competition is won at the Scandinavian Championships and the other at the immediately following Copenhagen Winter Competition or vice versa. Note that a competitor who has qualified to play at the Former Winners level is not compelled to change from the level below Former Winners until he or she has qualified twice in the time span of two seasons.
Competitors who have reached a high standard of playing, and have competed successfully outside of Scandinavia may apply to the organising committee to compete at the Former Winners' level.
Competitors on the Former Winners' or in drumming Open level may apply to the committee of the PBAS if they wish to compete at a lower level again.
5.1.4 Competitors must keep inside the tuning area and must follow instructions given by the officials. Competitors must keep informed of any changes in the time schedule and must make sure that they can be found by the Stewards.
5.1.5 The competitions are open to pipers and drummers of all nationalities. Competitions open to Scandinavians only may be held simultaneously, within the same competition, with competitions open to all nationalities.
Competitors who have been resident in Scandinavia for at least one month prior to the competitions are regarded as Scandinavians
Prizes may be awarded both to the three best placed competitors, and to the three best placed Scandinavians.
The title "Scandinavian Champion" will be assigned to the competitor at the Scandinavian Championships who has got the lowest sum of placing in the following competitions:
In case of a tie in piping, the competitor with the best place in Piobaireachd should be awarded the title.
In case of a tie in piping, the competitor with the best place in Piobaireachd should be awarded the title. In case of a tie in drumming, the competitor with the best place in March/Strathspey/Reel should be awarded the title.
The title "Scandinavian Champion of Champion (of Solo Piping or of Solo Drumming)" will be awarded at the Copenhagen Winter Competition to the Scandinavian competitors in the Former Winners' best placed at the previous Scandinavian Championships and the current CWC, according to the following:
Competitors are given points according to how they have been placed in the competitions below. A first place renders one point, second place two points etc. The competitor with the lowest sum of place-points in all competitions at both events wins the title.
In case of a tie in piping, the competitor with the best place in Piobaireachd should be awarded the title. If still a tie, a preference is given to the person with best placing in Piobaireachd and March/Strathspey/Reel.
In case of a tie in drumming, the competitor with the best place in March/Strathspey/Reel should be awarded the title. If still a tie, a preference is given to the person with best placing in March/Strathspey /Reel and Hornpipe/Jig.
Only competitors who have participated fully in all, without breaking down in any of the competitions (piping six, drumming six), at the two events can win the award.
5.1.6 Pipers must play on the Great Highland Bagpipe.
5.1.7 Side drummers must play on a pipe band snare drum.
5.1.8 Tenor drummers must play on a pipe band tenor drum.
5.1.9 It is strongly recommended that solo drummers should be accompanied by 1–3 pipers.
5.1.10 Rules that exclude competitors from taking part in any competition because they have won previous contests do not apply if there were less than five competitors in the event they won.
5.1.11 In the solo piping competitions all competitors should be ranked from the winner and downwards, although competitors who break down should not be ranked. Adjudication should be carried out using score sheets, divided into sections. Constructive criticism should be provided in the space provided on the judges' sheets. Separate assessment for tone (maximum 15 points) should be made.
5.1.12 In the solo drumming competitions all competitors should be ranked from the winner and downwards, although competitors who break down should not be ranked. Adjudication should be carried out using score sheets, divided into sections. Constructive criticism should be provided in the space provided on the judges' sheets. Separate assessment for tone (maximum 10 points) and introduction (maximum 20 points) should be made.
| Level | Competition a | Competition b | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Slow Air | March (any time signature) | ||
|
Slow Air/Jig | 2/4 competition type march | ||
|
Hornpipe/Jig | March/Strathspey/Reel | ||
|
Hornpipe/Jig (2 stated sets) | March/Strathspey/Reel (2 stated sets) | ||
|
Hornpipe/Jig (3 + 3 tunes) | March/Strathspey/Reel (3 + 3 + 3 tunes) |
|
Scandinavian Tune | ||
|
Piobaireachd (Urlar only) | ||
|
Piobaireachd | ||
|
Piobaireachd Advanced | ||
|
6/8 March |
| Level | Competition a | Competition b | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
March (any time signature) | - | ||
|
Hornpipe/Jig | March/Strathspey/Reel | ||
|
Hornpipe/Jig | March/Strathspey/Reel (2 stated marches) | ||
|
|
6/8 or 9/8 or 12/8 March | - |
A selection of 2-6 minutes duration to be played. Each competitor must be accompanied by 1–2 pipers and an optional side drummer. All competitors should be ranked from the winner and downwards, although competitors who break down should not be ranked. The adjudication should be carried out by two judges, one primarily judging the musical performance and the other primarily judging the visual performance (flourishing, feathering and posture). Preferably the adjudicators should be in agreement over the placing of the competitors. In case of a tie preference should be given to musical performance. Constructive criticism should be provided in the spaces provided on the judges’ sheets on both the musical and visual aspects of the performance. Tone and introduction should be assessed separately (maximum 10 points for tone and 20 points for introduction). The selection should be started by two by three beats as in traditional pipe band introductory rolls.