Ashbourne Highland Gathering

Pipe Bands

The skirl of the Pipes is synonymous with Scotland and all things relating to the highlands and the Ashbourne Highland Gathering is an opportunity to see and hear the various competitions that are organised for bands and for individuals.

The Ashbourne Highland Gathering culminates with a prize giving ceremony that involves a spectacular mass Pipe Band march followed by all the competing bands marching through the town of Ashbourne to draw the day to a colourful and musical conclusion.

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) is the governing body for pipe band competitions worldwide and it is under its auspices that the Ashbourne Pipe Band Competition is held with RSPBA officials adjudicating, many of which travel down from Scotland just for the competition. The Ashbourne Highland Gathering involvement is as the promoter of the event.

There are two types of competition; Major Championships, of which there are five, and ordinary competitions. For Major championships the following grades apply. Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 'A', Grade 3'B', Juvenile, Grade 4 'A', Grade 4 'B' and Novice Juvenile. And for ordinary competitions the following - Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, and Juvenile, Grade 4 and Novice Juvenile.

The Ashbourne competition is in the latter class and the competition and has always been for Grades 1,2,3 and 4. However from 2010 some changes have been introduced. There are no competing Grade 1 bands in England and the competition has not been attracting any bands of that grade from Scotland and Ireland so the competition will now be for Grades 2, 3, 4 and 4a. This provides for bands to experience playing in the same format as for a major competition as follows:

Tune selections:

Grade 2: - March Strathspey Reel

Grade 3: - 3/5 min selection

Grade 4: - Quick March Selection: 2mins 30sec - 4min 30sec

Grade 4A: - 2x2 parted MAP Marches, 2 parted MAP Strathspey and a 2 parted MAP Reel

The competition is split into 2 parts.......First a Band must submit 2 - 2 part 2/4 tunes from a list of 12 tunes (published by the RSPBA in 2005).The Bands then play their selected tunes in the usual way for the adjudicators. P/Ms and Leading Drummers can change the tunes slightly if they wish to suit their Bands playing style, but must present them in a musical and entertaining way. Two adjudicators will give their verdicts on all Bands and the best 12 Bands will go forward to contest the Final later in the day.

Under the new rules 4B bands can enter the 4A competition provided they submit the MAP (Musical Appreciation and Presentation) MSR (March Strathspey and Reel) selection. Bands may play up* if time permits. 4A and 4B bands can play up to grade 3 if they so wish.

*Playing up is the process by which a band can compete in the grade above the one they are, in order to be assessed at that level and eventually be upgraded.

In addition to the pipe band competitions there are also competitions for Drum majors and for solo pipers. The drum majors entry form is included in the Pipe band entry form and solo pipers can enter on the day of the competition.

The request to host the English Championships means that a Grade 1 Competition now has to be offered so a supplementary form for this purpose has been added. For those interested, complete the original entry form and add the supplement to it.

For Pipe band entry form - click here

For Grade 1 entry form supplement click here