Another RSPBA head scratcher: how is it that the event at the World Pipe Band Championships that has the fewest entries (outside of the grade 4s) has a “qualifier”?
The “qualifier”, of course, meaning the requirement for bands who haven’t played on the Scottish circuit to play their way in, or “qualify”, to have a shot at the real championship. I remind you that to play your way in to the final, or the real championship, means that should a band “qualify”, their instruments, collective mindset, overall physical readiness – their competitive edge – is seriously dulled, if not lost.
Check out the 2009 order of play, or “draws“, for the event: grade 3B: 27 entries and no qualifier; all bands play for the trophy. Same thing does for grade 3A with 29 bands and grade 2 with 26 bands in the contest.
And grade 1? The premier event. The event that pronounces the true pipe band champion of the world. With 23 bands. Yes – twenty-three bands. Well, there’s a “qualifier”.
The grade 1 event is the one event where there is the deepest international participation: 14 of the 23 bands come from outside of Scotland. That’s over 60% of the bands entered. The bands have violated every green guideline on the planet and together have travelled something like 240,000 kilometres to have a shot at the championship. Yet, the contest has a “qualifier”.
I just don’t get it.
I’ll think the best and assume there is fair and equitable reason for this qualifying approach, one that befits a competition that is fair and equitable.
But, I say again. I don’t get it.
Can someone draw me a picture?
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