One-medley season for Grade 1 in Ontario

The Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO) has granted a request made by the Peel Regional Police Pipe Band to adjust the requirement for Grade 1 medley contests in Ontario to only one five-to-seven-minute medley.

The PPBSO tapped the two other Grade 1 bands in the organization, the 78th Fraser Highlanders and the Toronto Police, for their thoughts, and both bands were comfortable with the request.

Only the non-championship Kincardine and Cambridge competitions on July 2 and July 16, respectively, are impacted by the move. The North American Championship at Maxville, Ontario, on July 30 already adopts the one-medley, two sets requirement of the World Championship. The Fergus Highland Games, also a championship, is a medley event, but all three bands will be competing at on that day in Glasgow at the World’s.

Two years ago the 78th Fraser Highlanders were granted the same request by the PPBSO.

Both the Peel Regional Police this year and the 78th Fraser Highlanders in 2003 made the request after bringing in new leading drummers and having to develop new repertoire.

With the reduced requirement, the PPBSO reportedly will invite Grade 2 bands to “play up” to Grade 1 at Kincardine and Cambridge, a custom not normally done in Ontario.

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