Gold Medal Piobaireachd
Rules and Regulations

The 2008 Kansas City Saint Andrew Society - Midwest Highland Arts Fund United States Gold Medal Piobaireachd Competition (USGM)

USGM Rules are based on regulations for the Northern Meeting and Competing Pipers Association - sanctioned competitions. CPA membership is not required, but encouraged. The Competing Pipers Association

1. Open to Competitors who are graded A- or higher, or Open/Professional by their Pipe Band Association; the Competitor must be a member of his/her association in good standing the day of the competition or risk disqualification.

2. Open to Competitors who are eligible to compete for the Gold Medal competitions at Oban or Inverness. Past US Silver Medal Champions, US Gold Medal Champions, and other qualified applicants are invited to compete.

3. There must be more Competitors than prizes or part of the prizes may be withdrawn. No first prize may be awarded unless there are at least two Competitors. A second prize will be awarded should four or more Contestants compete and a third prize if eight or more compete. In the event a Former Winner of the US Gold Medal is declared Champion, a cash prize only will be awarded.

4. All entry forms and fees must be received by MHAF no later than December 20, 2007.

5. Competitors must submit THREE tunes from the Piobaireachd Society’s set list of tunes for the 2008 Gold Medal competition one of which they will be asked to play.  Competitors must submit at least one tune from Group 1 and at least one tune from Group 2 of the set list.  Competitors will be notified of the selected tune prior to entering the final tuning-room (approximately 20 minutes prior to performance time). The Piobaireachd Society

6. Competitors intending to play a setting of any tune not contained in the staff or editorial notes of the Piobaireachd Society’s Books or the Kilberry Book should give written notice of the setting they intend to play at the time of submitting their entry forms.

7. Any changes in tune selections must be made in writing, and received by MHAF no later than December 31, 2007.

8. The order of play will be decided by ballot shortly after the closing date for entries. Competitors will be advised of the order of play as soon as possible after this date.

9. All Competitors must appear and compete in Highland Dress or uniform and are expected to remain so attired throughout the day until after the presentation of prizes. Appropriate headdress must be worn when competing. Bagpipes must have an appropriate bag cover surrounding the bag. Jackets are preferred, but optional.

10. Individual competition times will be posted for the first three Competitors; the remaining Competitors will be subject to an order of play, as designated by the Stewards. All Competitors will be individually responsible for reporting to the Stewards at least one hour prior to their competition time.

11. In order to eliminate large gaps in the contest due to players being disqualified or unable to attend, Competitor order of play is subject to change at the discretion of the Stewards. All Competitors must be ready to compete when called; otherwise they may be disqualified.

12. After a Competitor has been called to play, four minutes maximum is allowed for tuning. A light panel will signal elapsed time to the Competitor and Judges: Green light = 4 minutes remaining; Yellow Light = 1 minute remaining; red light = begin play. Upon illumination of the red light, the Competitor must immediately commence the tune or risk disqualification by the Judges.

13. The Judges are empowered to stop any Competitor while playing if, in their opinion, the play is such to bar him/her from any chance of winning a prize.

14. Warm-up in a non-designated, public area of the host hotel is disruptive to other Competitors and guests; therefore, such behavior will result in immediate disqualification.

15. Any Competitor acting contrary to the rules of the competition, or the orders of the Judges and Stewards, may be excluded or disqualified from the competition or prize list.

16. All decisions made by the Judges will be final.

17. Entry in the competition is consent for recording sound and image, and distribution on any/all media, which shall become property of Midwest Highland Arts Fund.

18. Directors of MHAF, contest sponsors, MHAF judges, and MHAF instructors are ineligible for entry to the contest.

By applying to the KC St. Andrew Society – MHAF US Gold Medal, I agree to be bound by these rules.

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