RSPBA announces regradings – now four fewer Grade 1 bands

There are now at least four fewer Grade 1 bands in the world, following the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association’s regrading announcement.

Scotland’ Buchan Peterson and Denny & Dunipace Gleneagles and Bagad Cap Caval of Brittany were each demoted and, along with the demise of Dowco Triumph Street there are currently a total of 25 bands in the highest grade.

+ Dowco Triumph Street “ceases competitive operations”

Some had anticipated that the Grade 2 City of Dunedin would have been promoted to Grade 1, after taking four firsts at the World Championships in the Grade 2 Final, but the decision would appear now to be up to the organization’s home Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. Dunedin only narrowly qualified for the Grade 2 Final with a sixth in the band’s qualifying round, including a last place twelfth from drumming judge Sandy Steele.

If the EUSPBA upgrades City of Dunedin, the obvious question will be whether the RSPBA respects the decision if the band decides to compete at an RSPBA event in 2019.

As with non-member Bagad Cap Caval, the RSPBA took it upon themselves to regrade Balagan of Denmark, sending the group down to Grade 3A, while also promoting Pipe Bands Australia members Perth Metro to Grade 2, along with Scotland’s Royal Burgh of Annan and Uddingston Strathclyde. A total of five bands not members of the RSPBA were graded by the organization’s grading committee, which is headed by Bruce Cargill.

Upgrades
Grade 3A to 2
Perth Metro (Australia)
Royal Burgh of Annan (Scotland)
Uddingston Strathclyde (Scotland)

Grade 3B to 3A
Battlehill (Northern Ireland)
Johnstone (Scotland)
Pasadena Scots (USA)
St. Mary’s Derrytrasna (Northern Ireland)

Grade 4A to 3B
Dunbar Royal British Legion (Scotland)
Lochryan (Scotland)
McNeillstown (Northern Ireland)
Perth & District (Scotland, request approved)
Tweedvale (Scotland)
Williamwood (Scotland, request approved)

Grade 4B to 4A
Gransha (Northern Irleand)
Mid Argyll (Scotland)
Lower Clyde (Scotland)
Kelty & Blairadam (Scotland, request approved)

Novice Juvenile A to Juvenile
Dollar Academy #2 (Scotland)
Oban High School (Scotland)

Novice Juvenile B to Novice Juvenile A
North Lanarkshire Schools (Scotland)
Saint John’s College (Zimbabwe)

Downgrades
Grade 1 to Grade 2
Denny & Dunipace Gleneagles (Scotland)
Buchan Peterson (Scotland)
Bagad Cap Caval (Brittany)

Grade 2 to 3A
Balagan (Denmark)