maybe the adjudicator was partaking in some of "the local atmosphere"
Bad luck on this - tis something which really gets on my nerves. An adjudicators sheet should be a positive critique of a band's performance. We're all capable of saying "Good at A - Basses did well - balance good. well done" Not much good though is it?
Most bands that contest are on the receiving end of some really dodgy results. In a recent contest, in which we were required to play two pieces, one of our choices yielded a section-winning 70 points, while the other a mere 65. When you consider that in these contests, a difference of 2 is normal, and 3 is considered large, we couldn't believe that there were 5 points worth of difference between the two pieces. On perusal of the adjudicator's comments, there was no mention whatsoever of anything which would result in a single point difference, let alone 5.. Everything was positive and impressive etc etc.
Everyone gets these from time to time, but it does raise questions about what the hell the adjuticator is thinking, and why he didn't write it on the blasted sheet.
At the end of the day, adjudicators answer only to themselves...