Grade 2 standard to be put to test Saturday at Fair Hill

play against Stuart Highlanders at Fair Hill. I look at it as an opportunity to play against two good bands – which we don’t always get the opportunity to do.”

If it happens that New York Metro and/or Ottawa Police Services place ahead of the Stuart Highlanders, others have suggested that there will be pressure on the RSPBA to upgrade them accordingly.

“I haven’t even considered an RSPBA upgrade as a possibility,” Mahoney said.

A member of one of the Grade 2 bands contended that at least one Scottish Grade 2 band allegedly lodged a complaint “late last year” to the RSPBA about both the Stuart Highlanders and the Grade 2 St. Thomas Alumni band of Houston, accusing each of using “ringers.” St. Thomas Alumni finished fifth fourth in Grade 2 at the 2013 World’s, and was formed for the event from those who had played or were strongly connected with the St. Thomas Episcopal School Pipe Band in the past.

It is unusual for the EUSPBA, and not competition organizers, to cover the expenses for a judge not based in the eastern United States. Noble will also conduct a workshop the day after the Colonial Highland Gathering.

Noble was the ensemble judge in the Grade 2 Final at the 2013 World Championships, and ranked New York Metro eighth out of the 12 that competed. Ottawa Police Services did not qualify for the Grade 2 Final, and the Stuart Highlanders did not attend the event.

Grade 2 judges at Fair Hill are MSR: David Bailiff, Adrian Melvin (piping); Jon Quigg (drumming); Joe Noble (ensemble). Medley: Mike Rogers, Adrian Melvin (piping); Joe Noble (drumming); Jon Quigg (ensemble).

Melvin is the pipe-major of the Grade 2 Greater Midwest Pipe Band of Chicago.