Ashbourne Highland Gathering

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. 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, but a Grade 1 competition is still being offered to give an opportunity for the top Grade 2 bands to �Play Up�* and have their performance assessed by the RSPBA judges. *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. Tune selections: Grade 1: 5/7 Minute Selection Grade 2: March Strathspey Reel Grade 3: 3/5 min selection Grade 4: Quick March Selection: 2mins 30sec � 4min 30sec Bands may play up* if time permits.