Burnett’s & Struth Georgetown entry accepted after misunderstanding recognized
The Grade 2 Burnett’s & Struth Pipe Band will in fact be allowed to compete at the June 12th Georgetown Highland Games in Georgetown, Ontario, after a three-way “misunderstanding” about total band entries was brought to light by the June 5th pipes|drums news story.
While the band had seemingly been informed that the total band entry to the Georgetown games was restricted to 30 – a point that spelled out on the Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario’s Band Master Entry Form – the policy was quickly clarified by the event organizers after reading the news story. The organizers said that there is in fact no cap on entries, except for the Grade 5 category. Nine bands are entered in Grade 5, and it is not yet clear what the maximum entry number in the grade is.
Following the clarification, the Burnett’s & Struth entry has been accepted by the PPBSO and the band plans to compete on June 12th, making its first foray into Grade 2 competition. The band will be eligible for all prize-money and travel-allowance.
PPBSO President Charlie MacDonald said, “I can confirm that Burnett’s & Struth are entered in Grade 2 for the Georgetown Highland Games on Saturday. PPBSO officials were in contact with the band manager and all matters have been resolved. The PPBSO website shows their entry and time of play. We are looking forward to an enjoyable day on Saturday.”
“The sole charter and mission of the Georgetown games event, its committee and volunteers is to provide a venue for, and promotion of, all things Scottish heritage and culture related,” said David Ketcheson of the Georgetown Highland Games. “We welcome, and encourage all bands, performers and affiliated groups to our games, including the Burnett & Struth Grade 2 band.”
“There may have been a misunderstanding about the band cap issue from the beginning and it is now resolved,” said Mike Connolly of Burnett’s Struth. “Apologies go out to anyone from the Georgetown games or PPBSO who felt slighted by my comments regarding this situation. It’s a challenge trying to hold together a new band in a new grade comprised of a group of long distance players. Thanks to pipes|drums for helping to bring this issue to light.”
Three Grade 2 bands are now entered for Georgetown. According to the PPBSO’s website, Burnett’s & Struth have been drawn first to compete at 2:55 pm. Stay tuned to pipes|drums for results as they are announced.
I’m not sure why this was an issue in the first place. Since we have lost Montreal, we should be doing everything we can to get more bands on the field. My real concern is the solo drumming scene. Between grades 5 and 1, there are fewer than 20 competitors, yet I know of a player who was refused late entry (1 week late, but 2 weeks before the contest). Perhaps it is time to allow field entries” and do everything possible to encourage these players to play (assuming an acceptable base number of competitors has not been reached). As it stands now
Just had our AGM down south and are running into this issue as well (at least the field entry/solo drumming issue part). I know that it can be a strain to adjust for a mass amount of field entries and you then have to move competition times around. (always been the thing to allow those entered first to play last). So you would have to start moving everyone back. I think it would be resonable to maybe set up a cap” on field entries
Good news all around. Look forward to hearing the band at Georgetown.
Excellent!
As a person who has gone through this myself, I agree with the drummer. I understand we need to have some rules and regulations but why make it difficult for the people doing the entertaining. We are losing more highland games every year. We should have field entries in my opinion, as long as you check in first thing in the morning with the steward whats the big deal. Also in my opinion solo pipers and drummers that do not play in a band should not have to pay to gain entry to a games that they are competing at, but that is a whole other story. Steve T
As a person who has gone through this myself, I agree with the drummer. I understand we need to have some rules and regulations but why make it difficult for the people doing the entertaining. We are losing more highland games every year. We should have field entries in my opinion, as long as you check in first thing in the morning with the steward whats the big deal. Also in my opinion solo pipers and drummers that do not play in a band should not have to pay to gain entry to a games that they are competing at, but that is a whole other story. Steve T
Does nobody these days just pickup a phone and ask?