Down Academy Pipes and Drums Juvenile Solos

Venue: Ballynahinch High School, 103 Belfast Road, Ballynahinch, BT24 8EH

Date: Saturday 9th September 2023

Closing date for entries: Monday 4th September 2023

Competitions will commence at 10.00am

All entries to be made via completion of the following e-form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx…

Cost is £6 /€6 per competitor per grade with payment to be made via Paypal to Downacademypipes@gmail.com or by bank transfer (Bank a/c No 70199761 Sort Code: 95-06-79).

No entry is confirmed until full payment has been made.

Please associate the name of the competitor with the money transfer when making payment.

This solo competition being run as per Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) and Irish Pipe Band Association (IPBA) solo competition rules and is being held a week before the All- Ireland solos.

Entrants are being encouraged to use this event as a ‘dry run’ and preparation for the following week to allow them the best possible performance.

Confined to Competitors who are under 12 years of age on the 1st November 2022, as specified by RSPBA and IPBA rules. Evidence of age must be produced on request.

Confined to competitors who are under 13 years of age on the 1st November 2022, as specified by RSPBA and IPBA rules. Evidence of age must be produced on request.

Confined to Competitors who are under 14 years of age on the 1st November 2022, as specified by RSPBA and IPBA rules. Evidence of age must be produced on request.

Confined to Competitors who are under 16 years of age on the 1st November 2022, as specified by RSPBA and IPBA rules. Evidence of age must be produced on request.

Confined to Competitors who are under 18 years of age on the 1st November 2022, as specified by RSPBA and IPBA rules. Evidence of age must be produced on request.

U12 Practice Chanter/Pad – Two parts of Quick March, in any time signature

U13 Unaccompanied Snare/Pipe Chanter – Two parts of a 2/4 March

Juvenille Under 14 Piping/Drumming – Four part march in any time signature

Juvenille Under 16 Drumming – March, Strathspey and Reel

(each tune of at least 4 parts)

Juvenille Under 16 Piping – Four part 2/4 March

Juvenille Under 18 Piping/Drumming – March, Strathspey and Reel

(each tune of at least 4 parts)

– All competitors must register on arrival.

– In all competitions where a March, Strathspey and Reel are to be played, each tune should be a minimum of 4 parts and should be played without stopping between tunes.

– Practice Pad & Unaccompanied Drumming performances must start with two 3 paced introductory rolls.

– In Drumming contests, the number of accompanying pipers will be limited to two.

– Uniforms must be worn by all competitors where possible, except in the U12 Novice categories.

– Times will not be allocated for players performances, the start times of grades, if shown, will be indicative only, and subject to change. Any timings taken by inference may be subject to alteration and contestants will be required to be flexible to accommodate changed circumstances.

– It will be each competitor’s responsibility to present themselves to the adjudicator in the allocated room at the determined performance slot.

– Competitors will be required to guarantee that their practice room will be left as found. Competitors will be held financially responsible for any damage caused in the classrooms.

– Smoking will be strictly illegal and forbidden on the school grounds.

– The consumption of alcohol in the school and grounds will be strictly prohibited.

– A competitor having cause to protest must lodge same with a deposit of £10.00 with the contest secretary before the presentation of prizes. The deposit will be returned if the protest is upheld.

– All adjudicators will be recognised and qualified by RSPBANI.

– Drummers may play to a recording of a piper to allow a performance. It will be the responsibility of the drummer to ensure that the recording is playable.

– Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each grade with participation certificates for all entrants.

– Two draws will be made following the results by Mark Faloon, RSPBA College Principal, for a year scholarship to College. One for pipers and one for drummers. This draw will be from 1st placings only.