It has been revealed Kintyre Schools Pipe Band (KSPB) made the prize-list at the World Pipe Band Championships after a marking mix-up in the band’s section saw the incorrect results originally announced.
KSPB’s members and tutors were pleased to qualify for the 12-band final, after putting in two solid performances against 27 other bands in the novice B grade at the prestigious competition on August 17, but they were initially told they finished second last.
An “administrative and inputting error” in the final placing results saw every band in the final allocated the wrong score on the day.
KSPB’s impressive performance had, in fact, earned the band sixth position, in amongst the prizes.
The error also means Scotch College Pipe Band from Australia, who are actually the novice B world champions, were originally told they placed sixth, and Lochgelly High School Junior Pipe Band, who were named world champions on the day, have been stripped of their title, having actually placed tenth.
When the mistake was discovered, the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association launched an investigation and invited representatives of each band to a meeting, before announcing the correct results.
In a statement, the association’s board of directors said: “Our commitment to fairness, transparency and integrity is paramount. We unreservedly and sincerely apologise for the confusion, hurt and upset this error has caused.”
The association says it has already taken steps to ensure the mistake will not be repeated.
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