CHAMPIONSHIP HONOURS TO THE FASHION, DANNEVIRKE, AND CALEDONIAN, LEVIN

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1948, Page 4

CHAMPIONSHIP HONOURS TO THE FASHION, DANNEVIRKE, AND CALEDONIAN, LEVIN

Large Crowd Witaess Spectacular Marching Displays , • , One of ihe most eolourf ul and spectacular displays ever seen in the Horowhenua district . took place in Levin on iSaturday, when the pre^Mhrth Island marching championship ' was decided- on the Park"Domain. It was a perfect outdoor day and a large crowd took 'the opportunitY of ,having_ their first day ont with their children since the lifting 'of the infantile paralysis r'estrictions." • ' . *

The prpgramme was opened with .a .mareh past of teams," headed "by - the Horowhenua Pipe Ban'd, the salute being taken by Captain L. R. Baigen't, M.E., Palmerston North, •who had associated with him Mr. D. Fitzgerald, Shannon, patton of th,e~ association, Mr. R. L. Murray, president, Mr. W. R. Jack, chairman, Mr. D. J. Gardiner, deputy-i mayor, and members of thc New 'Zealand executive of the New Zealand Marching and Recr.eational Association. The teams made a circuit of the oval and came In to form up ten abreast in the centre. With all teams in position, they marched en masse across the oval 'to corrie into position infront of the grandstand, making a grand sight which was greeted with tremendous applause.

With the roll of the drums for the hommencement of the National Arithem, Brian Col'lett and Peter Frederikson broke the Union Jack and New Zealand Ensign, . team leaders saluting. ' • Mr. 'Murray, president of .the association, introduced Mr. Gardiner, deputy-mayor, who sai'd it was indeed an honour and a pleasure to be present at such an exceptional gathering. Mr. G'ardirier applogised for the absence of the-Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, who was on holiday. In congratulating the pfficials of the association on their wonderful organisation in presenting the afctraction, Mr. Gardiner said it was certainly an •a.chieyement. it had a very able secretary /Mr. Dobson) and committee, to whom all honour was due. There was -a gr.eat deal of work attached to organising championships, much of it unseen. "On behalf of the Levin -Borough and district, I have very much pleasure in welcoming all the visiting teams, their' officials and officers, and also the bands. It is indeed a gala day for us, and we do appreciate the honour of having thi§ • 1 dhampionehip ' meeting- he'r-e. We welcpm'e youlto Levin and hope ypu have an-.enjoyable time," eonclqded Mr.. Gardifien - > . * * > l 5 •' "This-is. Jcei'tainly a red letter 4dy I for': the '■ association, "r sSaid? ' tltg pato •. roh MrcFitzgerald, "ahd/ wear every

pleased'; to f' see s'u&h»-fine -weatherWe 'atem wish/'to- "ostend thank^-for s the manner- in which "people have come here, especially from a dis.tance, and I aLo wish -to sfate that, it is' very gratifying "to" the associa-. tion tp see the way in, which everyth'irig' has- gonq, -aloh'g. I have' much "...pleasure " Ih •- declaring thecpmpetition / open,"; qbnclujjed ^Mr Fitzgerald," .'I V l^everal newly-fprmp4" took p.aft ih th'e; cohtest,..ana. tb'e'^ggregaf.e championship, 'was wph by .The Fashion (Dannevirke):, who: came fourth in .the reeent'New Zealand championships 'at Dunedin, while D.I.C. (Wanganui) improved on th.eir third placing at Dunedin to gain second place. The aggregate championship for Horowhenua teams was won by Caledonian (Levin) , while K.B.H- (Levin) hlled second place. "Opon the arrival of Mr. A.. L. Harper, Assistant Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, the public was treated to one of the most spectacular serpentine marches yet attempted in New Zealand. Planned by Mr. J. R> Maefarlahe and led by Misses Sr j. Smith arid J- Perigo, leaders of Caleclqnian and K.B.H. respeetively, the teams eombined in , an intricate mareh which gave an' amazing blend of colour as they . criss-

crpissed and looped across the field. The- twP''loeal leaders>a;rb-;desepvmg of the highest praise in taking the responsibility to lead 230 girls each in "these most diffioult manoeuvres, and it speaks voiumes for Mr. Macfarlane's ability in organising a .mareh which also demonstrated the precision ,of all teams taking part, no girl making a wreng mov.e or getting out of step. Following the serpentine Mr. Fitzgerald took the opportunity of officially welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Harper and party, and extending thanks on behalf of the association tp Mr. Harper for attending to present the trophies. Replying to the welcome extendsd to him, Mr. Harper said: "First of all, thank you very much for the invitation extended to my wife, myself and party to come here this afternoon and witness this •very • colourful display, I wish " to congratulate the association on staging the pre-North Island championships. I.have .just returned from the championships in" Dunedin, but I can say ..that the Dunedin display was nptfin any way better than what I witnessed here this afternoon. It is a compliment to the officers and to the- girls to produce such a wonderful . effort. I have just witnessed the serpentine mareh," concluded Mr. Harper, "and'I wish to congratqlate the marshal on the way it was staged." At the conclusion of the eontest Captain Baigent addressed the gathering. He thanked tlie association for the honour -of allowing him to take the salute. "it must be very gratifying to the association, #nd to the people of Levin, to see so many teams competing," he cpntinued. "It must also be gratifying to "the teams to see the response that the publie has givep tp their show. It is o!ten .said by people coming from overseas/ that

fchey come here to see the beauties pf :New Zealand. It is rather a pity I think that those people were not here "this afternoon to see a concentration of beailty. I wish to congratulate the .teams an.d the aSsoelatipn for the dempnstration they have staged. The value of this sort of a meeting I think would be obvi'Ous from what we have seen. The e^cellent costumes were worn by the young ladies of the teanls, who show such a grand . depor tment and fine,, physical fitness. The teams have all carried out their parts very well indeed, and some of the intricate movements are deserving of high praise. The leaders all carried out their part excellently, I would like to . ask you to keep your interest in marcliing and to encourage others to join. To those of you who are going to compete in the North Island championships" in the near future I wish' you all the best of- luck." ; Mr. Rangi Logan also spoke and . eomplimen te d the teams on their fine performances, and said, as chief judge to the Horowhenua Marching Association, that he would like to add his thanks

•not only - to the oflicials oi the ' association, but ' also tp the citiaens of Levin. "You. have a live association," concluded Mr. Logan, "and if you gst right behind their efforts and send your teams to outsi'de competitioris yo'u will bring . the name of your town before large -afidiences in other'ceritres, and thus let people know it is a good sound town, with great people, and one that v/ill make rapid strides .in the very near future." The costume judges, Misses J. Brabner (Pahiatua) and P. Stewart (Wellington) also gave their comment, and said the many welfinade and desjgned uniforms had made their task no easy one. With sueh a large number of teams to "get through the recorders, Messrs. -C. Nichol and W. Shilton and Miss N. Barnett had no .easy task, and, it was a litfle while .before the finai results Wefe known, but a very lhige ci'6!wduW!SLited batiently tb hea'r them;-' "i;1 ••• i ;The prizes wereipresented by Mr. HarpejL' , in ] conj unptipn with. Mrs. Fitzgerald, who congratulated the

winne'rs *'on\ their fine performances. ' • Mr. Norman « Thorley made an exceUent announcer for the day, giving a r'unning commentary on the contbst. • Mr. Murray, president bf the association, said it- had been very gratifying to witness the number of teams takmg. part in the conipetiti'on. '"We hbpe that all the members of the' teams have enjoyed themselves. We have enjoyed having them. . To those who have aesisted u.s on this day, the St. John Ambulanee, the bands, the Legion of Frontiersmen and the Boy Scouts^ and all others, we extend our thanks. " "I would like to express publicly my appreciation 'of the services rendered by my executive. There is a tremendous amount 0f work entailed in running one of these fixtures. ■" I would like to express my gratitude for the co-operation that has been given by the Ladies' Committee, which has had . charge of the catering arrangements." f Details of r esults are as foilows:— Pre-N.I. Championship Aggregate The Fashion (Danhe- 4,. yirke) 281 : . . . . . . ' 1 . • D.I.C. (Wanganui) 280I 'S, . • - 2 .Lustre •(Wellington) -27M1 ,'k. ); 3

■ Contest Mareh • The Fashion 234-J 1 , D.I.C. 232-i- 2 ' Lustre 2Z7£ 3 , Champion Leader Miss H. Chiles (Rebels) Petone 48i 1 Miss N. Rsnnie (D.I.C.) Wanganui 48 2 Miss E. Gledhill (Clarion) Wellington 46) 3 Coach Of Chamipon Team Mr. P. Mclntosh, The Fashion Dannevirke. Best Costumes Rebels (Petone) 21)- *. .. 1 D-'I.C. .(Wanganui) 21)- 2 Caledonian (Levin) 20| c Horowhenua Aggregate ' Caledonian (Levin) 268)- 1 K.B.H. (Levin) 266 3-8 5 Premier (Shannon) 252)- ... c Contest Mareh Caledonian (Levin) 225 3-8 . 1 K.B.H. (Levin) 223 3-8 5 Premier -(Shannon) 212 1-8 . 2 Best Horowhenuai Leader Miss L. Evans (Manawatu (Foxton) 43| ... 1 Miss J. Perigo KB.H. (Levin) 43 ,...., 2 Miss S- Sinith Caledonian (Levin) 42 7-8 2 O Be§t 'Enjergency Miss A. Wilton 1 Juvenile Competition . Marshall's (Fpxton) 143 3-8 . ) -Aipine (Ltvin) i37f * Goiden Eagle (Shannon) 183 5-8 i