Enjoy Boghall & Bathgate’s winning medley at Dollar
I note the Grade 1 result from Dollar, and in particular the fact both piping judges have exactly the same shakedown from 1 to 8. We are constantly told each year, particularly at the World Championships, that the margins between the top Grade 1 bands are becoming forever smaller.
If so, the question I ask is this: at this competition was there really equal daylight between each band, separation so clear, that this was the outcome?
By Ian Plunkett
With two different individuals judging the piping I would expect there to be some difference between their results. One might, for example, like the construction of a particular medley better than the other, or a particular chanter sound or drone sound. One band may have better breaks or expression of strathspeys.
I think readers will get where I am coming from, and surely Dollar’s Grade 1 breakdown in piping should at the very least raise an eyebrow.
How the judges called it in Grade 1 at Dollar…..
I would have the same concern if one piping judge had a band first and the other judge the same band seventh – unless there was something obvious and glaring but not spotted by one judge, for example a piper not actually playing.
Surely the fact that we have two piping judges is for the very reason that there will at least be slight differences of opinion.
I realise my comments can be looked on as negative, but I feel if I were a Grade 1 pipe major competing at this contest I would expect there to be a bit of a difference.
I feel, amongst other things with the RSPBA, this has to be said. I would be interested in your own thoughts. Have I got this completely wrong?
The Editor: Thanks you for pointing this out Ian. We need more transparency and scrutiny of results not less. Having said that, I think conferring among judges – perhaps the reason for these uniform placings – is a good thing. As you say, one might hear something the other didn’t; more likely to happen in the large circles we see today.
It is unusual for two judges to have exactly the same results, but by any law of averages it is surely possible, however unlikely. And everyone complains when there is a wide disparity, failing to appreciate the fact that opinions will be predicated on judges’ positioning.
Judges should be static, seated in the same position for each band, covered to protect from rain and sun, and allowed to swap opinions. The Association’s duty of care for the health of their judges, and duty of impartiality towards the bands, would be served by these small, but significant, changes.
Perhaps Robert Mathieson, Chairman of the RSPBA Ajudicator’s Panel, would like to comment on some or all of the points raised above.
Finally, it should be noted that there were differences in the placings of the same two piping judges when they judged the lower grades at Dollar so the G1 result may be entirely down to happenstance.
- Check out all the summaries from Dollar here. Ian Plunkett is a former Pipe Major of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band.
