Competition Dates: This CLASP competition will run on Friday 6th February (3.30pm-9pm UK Time) and all day on Saturday 7th February 2026 via the platform, Zoom. Pipers can let us know their preferred day to take part in the competition. We facilitate all time zones.
*The closing date for this competition and the tune submission deadline (for Grade 1 and 2 competitors) is Sunday 18th January 2026 at midnight (UK Time).
*Please note that this is a live online competition where the competitor should use a VIDEO recording device to capture their performance. And later that day the video should be uploaded to Youtube as an 'unlisted' video and that youtube link should be emailed to clasp@thepipingcentre.co.uk.
Results
The competition will be judged over a 2-3 week period (following the competition date) and the results will be announced live via The CLASP Facebook page and will also be published on BagpipeNews
Who can take part:
All Adult (18+ years) amateur pipers worldwide graded 1, 2, 3, 4/5 will be offered both Light Music and Piobaireachd events. Please note that pipers graded 5 by their local piping association can play up in CLASP grade 4 events.
Events Offered:
Piobaireachd - Grades 1,2,3&4/5 - Please note that Grade 4 pipers can opt to play a full Piobaireachd in Grade 3 if they wish (no points will be allocated for this) as well as Ground and next variation (which carry league points for grade 4).
2/4 March Event - Grades 1, 2,3,4/5
Strathspey & Reel Event - Grades 1,2,3,4/5
6/8 March Event for Grade 1,2,3
Jig Event for Grade 3/4/5
Please click on the link to see tune requirements for each grade/event- https://theclasp.co.uk/set-tunes/#requirements
*Please note that we DO Not use any Piobaireachd set tune lists for any online CLASP competitions.
What to expect on the competition day:
When you enter the Zoom meeting, there will be a steward present to help competitors navigate Zoom on the day. There will be assigned breakout rooms for the different events/grades and the stewards will help competitors to get in and out of these is required. Each competitor will be given a time slot to compete in their Piobaireachd event and a separate time slot to compete in their Light Music event. (We will work around different time zones).
The order of play, performance times and the tunes selected by the judges (for Grade 1 and Grade 2) will be published one week prior to the competition date on The CLASP website.
Once you enter a breakout room (for example 'Grade 2 - Piobaireachd' breakout room) you will be asked, at your designated performance time slot, to start your video recording device and a steward will then introduce you and that will verify the recording. For example, 'This is Mary MacLeod playing The Little Spree for The CLASP 'Live online' February 7th, 2026 competition' and away you go, with a bit of tuning if you need to (but not too much). If using a mobile phone to video your recording, please put it on flight mode and make sure you have sufficient storage on the device.
Competitors will play 'Live', but will use a video recording device to capture their live performance. Later that day, you should upload your video to youtube as an unlisted video. *One video link for Piobaireachd and one separate video link for Light Music (Including all Light Music events -please do not stop the recording between Light Music events) should be emailed by midnight on the 7th February 2026 to clasp@thepipingcentre.co.uk
Important information to remember for competitors -(PLEASE READ ALL)
- This is a 'live' VIDEO submission competition and competitors should use the Zoom meeting details as the platform to perform ‘live’ on the listed competition date(s). All video links should be uploaded and emailed as Youtube video links to clasp@thepipingcentre.co.uk by midnight on the day of the competition. Please make sure you set your video as `Unlisted`. The judge will be unable to open a video that is set to Private.
- WE STRONGLY advise not to use Zoom as your means of recording your video performance. Our advice is to use a separate device such as a good quality Mobile Phone or a device that gives a clear recording quality. *Remember to place your mobile phone on flight mode if you are using it as a video recording device.
- We recommend using a separate device (to the one you plan to video record your performance with) for connecting with the Zoom performance platform. A laptop/computer/tablet or a separate mobile phone device for example. If you do get disconnected at any point after the steward has introduced you, just keep going with your performance and leave the video running. Do not stop the video until the end of your performance.
- Please be in your assigned breakout/performance room, ready to play at your allotted time slot. I would ask that you are muted when warming up and that you unmute when it is your time to compete. Please keep an eye on the time when you are warming up so you are not late for your performance slot.
- The Steward will ask you to turn on your video device at your allocated performance time and will announce you. The stewards’ announcement at the start of the video is what verifies the performance so it is really important that this is captured at the start of the Light Music performance and at the start of the Piobaireachd performance. Videos should not be edited.
- Please remember that ALL light music events are played in your assigned performance time slot, but competitors can re-tune or stop between events. *An Example of how the order might go for light music... The steward will ask the competitor to Turn on their video recording device, The steward will announce you, and the competitor starts- tune if you need to, play your 2/4 March…… stop/re-tune/drink water but don't stop the video.... Play your Strathspey/Reel... Stop/re-tune/drink water/, but don’t stop the video….Play your Jig/6/8 March and then stop your video recording device.
- It is useful for the judges if you add your name and tune names in the Youtube description box when uploading the video.
- Allow enough time to upload your videos to YouTube.
- Results will be announced via live video using The CLASP Facebook page. Results will also be published on BagpipeNews and on the news section of The CLASP website.