Competitions - Rules

Singing	Border Ballad	Any border ballad. May be accompanied.
	Traditional Singing - Novice [Separate competitions for men/women]	Any traditional song. May be accompanied.
	Traditional Singing - Open [Separate competitions for men/women]	As above, but the song must not have been sung by the competitor (in competition) within the past three years.
Accordion	Novice and Non-Previous Winner	One slow tune and one fast tune.
	Open	March/Strathspey/Reel.
	Classical & Continental	Own selection. A copy of the music to be given to the judge prior to competing.
Border Pipes	Novice and Non-Previous Winner	Two contrasting Border/Northumbrian Lowland tunes.
Border Pipes	Open	As above, one or both tunes with variations.
Northumbrian Pipes	Novice	Two contrasting Border/Northumbrian Lowland tunes.
Northumbrian Pipes	Open	As above, one or both tunes with variations.
Great Highland Bagpipe	Novice and Non-Previous Winner	Competitor's selection - approximately 5 minutes duration.
Great Highland Bagpipe	Open	Competitor's selection - approximately 5 minutes duration.
Fiddle	Novice and Non-Previous Winner	One slow tune and one fast tune.
	Open	March/Strathspey/Reel.
	Slow air and reel	Competitor's selection.
Ceilidh Band	Two selections of own choice.
Country Dance Band	Two selections of own choice.
Miscellaneous Instrument	Open	Own selection for any instrument other than those classed elsewhere. This means what it says - the 31st Festival saw a double-bass competing against a shepherd playing his sheepdog whistle!
Original Composition	Song	A song in the tradition, which may be performed by a nominee. There is an entry limit of three songs per competitor.
	Tune	A tune in the tradition, which may be performed by a nominee. There is an entry limit of three tunes per competitor.
	Poetry	Competitors or their nominees will be required to recite their work before the judge. Poems may be in dialect.
Traditional Instrumental Pairs	Open	Competitor's selection. One entry per instrument. Competitors entering more than once must play different instruments

Children's Competitions - Rules

Original Poetry	Poem must be own composition.
Original Song	Song may be a new composition, new words to a traditional tune, or a new tune to existing words or poem.
Poetry Reciting	Recitation of any poem. 12 years or under.
Singing	Any traditional song of the British Isles or child's own tradition.
Recorder	Selection not to exceed 3 minutes.
Fiddle	A selection of two tunes of varied tempo. 12 years or under.
Accordion	A selection of two tunes of varied tempo. 12 years or under.
Miscellaneous Instrument	Any instrument other than those already classed. 16 years or under.
Instrumental Pairs	Competitor's selection. One entry per instrument. Competitors entering more than once must play different instruments. Competitors must both be 16 or under.
With the exception of Poetry Reciting the age limit for children's competitions is 16 years and under. The age limit for Poetry Reciting is 12 years and under. Entry into the children's section does not debar a competitor from entering senior competitions.

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