Leading Judge Comments on Band and Solo Piping Competition Adjudication
BY PIPING TIMES REPORTERS J
OHN Wilson, senior solo piping judge and a member of the RSPBA’s Adjudication Panel, has just retired after three years as
Chairman of the Joint Committee for Judging, a solo piping organisation representing competing pipers, adjudicators and contest promoters. The purpose of the committee is to maintain a register of judges, maintain standards, and to encourage qualified individuals to join the judging list. In an interview Mr Wilson (right) highlighted the more widespread use of criticism sheets for pipers, the fostering of a more ‘user friendly’ atmosphere between competitors and benches, and the relaxing of certain qualification rules to allow gifted individuals to join the judges list, as the main achievements of the committee during his tenure of office. He said: ‘I’ve fought very hard for
crit sheets and we’ve seen a more widespread use of them not just at the main gatherings but at some of the major games too. Incorporated within that we have had one-on-one feedback sessions, in particular at the Argyllshire Gathering. This feedback was something that I was very keen to progress because I think it is vitally important. Judges are there to educate as much as to judge and I think that is the expectation now of the competing pipers. For them it is not just about hearing the places 1-5 and hopefully
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they are included, it’s about getting some constructive and positive direction on how to enhance their performances – and that in turn throws back on to the judges the responsibility of improving overall standards. A lot of pipers don’t like approaching judges and that is one of the main reasons for having the crit sheet system. It gives an element of transparency to the whole process. I think another thing that has happened over past three years - and it’s not just down to me but the rest of the com- mittee too – is a better feel between competitors and adjudicators. There isn’t that same resistance and reticence that was maybe there before.The bo- ttom line is there is a more user frien- dly attitude and culture developing between adjudicators and competitors.