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Chronicle (Levin), 13 December 1948, Page 4

A gay .and coldurful ,spe?table of marching was presented ay thc Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon on.the occasion o'f the Manawatu Gent're and op'en marching ehampionships. The standard of marchtng in all the teams was excellent and the degree of con- , eentration reqmred -extremely high. ^ The afternoon was hot and though ( there was a slight breeze blowing for ; most of tbe time this did hot stop ' , several of the girls from - fainting . While on the field. It said a lot for. t the disciptihe of the teams that these - fainting afeeidents did not caxise them ^ to break .their -order or upset them in ( any way. In the way the.y were turnecl , out and the preeision with v which they marched, the teams were first class. The contest. opened with a march ; past 'the main stand of 24 teams, Lieut.- ! Colonel. G. P. O'Leary, taldng . the SaluteV Mr. W. E. Jack, 'president 1 of the Manawatu* Marching^ Centre, then welcomed the visitors who had eoine from as far afield as New Plyinouth, Wanganui, Hastings and Wellington and asked>Mr. 'M. . II. Oram, M.P., patron of ■ the centre, to deelare ] the contest open. Mr. Oram paid triliute to the organlsation of% the march'* ing and said the growtli of this new ! sport had been very rapid in New Zealand. . • ' ' Perhaps it is true that as our civilisation dovelops on somewhat drab and ntilxtarian lines, we miss subconsciously some of the glitteTing pageantry, pomp"and colour that used' to delight the eyes, stir the senses and fire the imagination of past generations, ' ' said Mr. Oram. "And that jnakps ond think of Christopher Eobiii.* and the countl'ess thousanxls of others' who have wdtched aAd thrilled to thb' sight of the ehangiiig of the guard at Buckingham Palaco. The appeal there was not so much a display of militaiy prowess or a close; association with royaltv, but a thrilling and colourfui spectacle. The watchefs marvelled at the picturesque uniforms, the meticulous attention to the last detail of dress, drill and deportment, poise and grace -of body, absolute preeision ot 1 moveiuent, rocklike steadiness, discipline, physical fitness, leadership and acceptance of leadershipf poise of carriage and pride of ' achieyement. -All these characteristics are present here today. ' ' •After Mr. Oram's speech Mr. R. H, Billens, nianaging-editor of the "Mnnawatu Daily Tirnes, ' ' presented "The TimeS" Marching Cup which was later awarded to the teain with the most points in the Manawatu Centre. The results of the contests were: — Junior contest for the Benson Challenge tShield: Young Com,rades (Wanganui) 281 points, I,, Marshailsj (Fox-* ton) 258 2/ Alpine . (Levin) . 2441 S, , Tuis Interihediate (ptaki). 4., Manawatu Centre Chainpionship '(f or ' ' The Times ' ' Cup ^paledoiiian . ( Levin ) 276 1, Municipal (jfeilding)j(2^«5,2, Pfen-\ heys 264 3. ' Champion leader of the Centre: Miss S. Hrnith (Caledoniian) 52 1, Miss II. Bills (Bandoliers), , Miss I>. Kitchen (Alotor Traders) and Miss P. Lowe (Peiiheys) 48 equal 2. Open marching c-hampionship: The. Fashion (Dannevirke) 286 J 1, J. W. Sha\v rs. (Hastings), 2791 2, Dil.C. (Wanganui) 274J 3. ' Open costume: Bandoliers (Otaki) 46i 1, Maisettes . (Wellington) ■ *46 2, D.I.C. (Wanganui), Petone, Eebels, ! Fowler, Drummond and Waddell (Hast-. ings) and Caledonian, ( Levin) 451, 3. • Open leader: Miss Rennie (D.I.C.) 55 1, Miss E. Glenhill (Maisettes) and Miss McNaughton' (Hastings Police) 54 j equal' 2.