RECORD ENTRIES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 247, 30 July 1937, Page 4

RECORD ENTRIES.

THE COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL. TOTAL OF 955 RECEIVED. Entries for the Ashburton Competitions Society’s festival, which will be held from August 23 to August 31, are a record. The entries total 955, compared with 722 last year and 884 in 1933, when the previous record of the society was established. The adding ot schools’ classes has increased entries bv 65 this year, but even without this class entries would have been niore than in any other year. Elocution entries are the largest this year, and show an increase of about 50 from last year. The instrumental and vocal classes both show large increases, but entries in the national dancing have not increased to the same extent, and in fancy dancing they have decreased. Details of the entries for this year and last year are:—

The secretary (Mr O. J. McEachen) said this morning that one of the most pleasing features, was the large number of individual entrants who were coming forward to take an interest in the competitions. There were many more entrants than previously. The large number of entries would mean that extra time would be required for running the classes, but this would probably be arranged through more extensive programmes in the secondary hall which the society uses.

Instrumental 1937. 90 1936. 56 Vocal (adults) 142 111 Vocal (children) 144 99 Elocution 192 143 Dancing (fancy) 133 148 Dancing (national) ... 189 165 Schools 65 — Totals 955 722