The Competing Pipers Association has updated its code of conduct to reflect a motion that was passed at the 2025 AGM in August. CPA President Gordon McCready released a statement on the evening of October 20, 2025, with the added comment: “This is basically another layer of protection for graded members to get the best grade they can. Along with asking the SPJA (Scottish Piping Judges Association) to assist and make sure that all judges are sanctioned by them in Scotland to stop rogue results.”
The new rule, reads as follows: “As a member of the CPA, you are advised that you should only compete in solo piping competitions which use properly accredited adjudicators (be this on a one-person bench or a multiple-bench of judges). If members compete in events in the United Kingdom which do not use judges drawn from the SPJA List, they must be aware that any prizes won at those competitions will be disregarded during the grading process.”
This rule is to assist the members when they are applying for grading. It protects them and assists the grading committee in applying accurate grades, this in turn gives a more accurate grade and will assist the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern meetings in deciding who is eligible for their competitions.
This change has been done in consultation with the SPJA and also reflects their code of conduct and constitution.