ROCK ’N’ ROLL CONTEST

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28261, 26 April 1957, Page 7

ROCK ’N’ ROLL CONTEST

Two Men Dance For 26 Hours

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 25. One of the five young men who broke the world record for endurance rock ’n’ rolling in Wellington last night needed hospital attention. After dancing 24 hours he stopped, and was soon over- . come with exhaustion. He was , taken, soundly sleeping, to hos- . pital. The young man, Mr J. Kaiwai, of Willis street, Wellington, was discharged early today. ‘ Five of the 11 dancers who be- . fan in the contest at 8.45 p.m. ; on Tuesday confounded the supervisors by dancing for 24 hours and showing no sign of stopping. The two finalists were D Gill of Lower Hutt, and V. McCarthy, a ; Samoan. When at 10.30 p.m. they • were still dancing on the stage ; of the Town Hall, where a rock ’ll’ roll jamboree was in progress, the contest supervisors became worried. The ' hall had to be empty by 11 p.m., no alternative hall was available, and Anzac day was drawing near. The decision to declare the pair joint world record-holders at 10.45 pjn.. after 26 hours’ dancing, was ’ received with mixed feelings. But • the supervisors were left with no alternative. The two contest winners will ■ each receive a cup for holding t the world record and monetary • prizes. ' The endurance rock ’n’ rolling began in a Victoria street cabaret and through Tuesday night and • yesterday thousands of people • paid Is each to watch the event. • The problem of moving the five • remaining dancers from the ’ cabaret to the Town Hall last , evening was solved by having • them dance along the street. They • were followed by about 150 per- • eons.

Yesterday afternoon the only «irl contestant, Torre Douglas, withdrew after she had established a new women’s rock ’n* roll world endurance record at 18 hours.