MANAWATU AND RUAHINE WELL TO FORE IN TOP AWARDS

Chronicle (Levin), 14 February 1949, Page 6

MANAWATU AND RUAHINE WELL TO FORE IN TOP AWARDS

Horowhemia's Creditable Performance In Quickstep f ' The Levin Park Domain presented a glorious display of colour on Saturday, when 10 b'ands were in- attendance for the Wellington-Hawke's Bay Pipe Band Centre's annual contest. ' This was the first occasion that Levin has been the venue of a Centre pipe band contest and the able manner in which it was carried through, reflected great credit on the contest president, Mr. J. R. MacFarlane, secretary, Mr. A. L. Dobson, ftiarshall, Mr. C. Banfield, Centre secretary, Mr. F. G. M. Parkinson and recorders, Miss T. McCulloch and W. Shilton, not forgetting the members. of the energetic committee. One of the princip'al events, the quickstep, was won by the Manawatu Scottish Society's Pipe Band, with a total of 237 -points*. Close behind come the Horowhenua Scgttish Society's band with 2361 points. The local band had~a ten point lead in drill points in this event, but Mropped considerably in the musical judging. In the selection the Ruahine Highland Pipe Band was 'first with 84 points closely followed by Manawatu with 83 A- points. In the street march Manawatu and Ruahine were first equal with 28 points and Hutt Valley third. Total ^aggregate points for the quickstep and selection, found Manawatu first with 32(H points, Port Ahuriri. second and Horowhenua third.

The gold medal ' for the most spectacular drummer in the contest was won by Murray Munroe (Port Ahuriri). Two awards for women members of bands will be decided at a later date in Levin, they being silver me'dals for best lady member of bands in quickstep and best lady drummer in contest. Mayor Welcomes Bandsrnen. ' Welcoming the visiting" bandsrnen, the Mayor, Mr. H.-J3. Burdekin, said that -he would particularly mention Mr. and Mrs. V. J. Nicholson. In addition to his being chief of the Manawatu Scottish Society, Mr. Nicholson was acting president of the Highland Pipe Bands' Association of New Zealand. It was the nature of the British race to have a love of pageantry |an$Tthe marching that $ay tpust have leatisfied- all present. ■ In conclusion he congratuiated the president of the Horowxienua Association, Mr. J. R. MacFarlane and all the officials, on- the excellent way in which the contest had been conducted' and all those citizens' who had co-operated. He felt sure that all the bandsrnen would carry away happy recollections of Levin. Levin was proud to welcome then and would be happy to •see them back agaim t • :Replying on behalf .of the Wel-lington-Hawke's * Bay Pipe Band Centre and the New Zealand Pipe

Bands' Associa'tion, Mr. V. J. Nicholson said that they were pleased to have the contest in Levin and congratuiated and thanked the committee responsible for the contest and also the ladies' committee. He also extended tnanks to the pipe bands, many of which had come some distance. In particular he mentioned the Gisborne, Wellington Watersiders Junior and the Wairarapa Caledonian bands, all of which were experiencing their first venture in contests. In conclusion Mr. Nicholson read telegrams of apology from the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, -who regretted not being able to attend and also telegrams of godd wishes from Mr. I. D. Cameron, president of the Pipe Ban'ds' Association, aiid Mr. P. Young, a committee member who is at present in hospital. During the afternoon three memorial trophies were presented to the centre, the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, asking Mr. V. J. Nicholson, president, to accept on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. H. B.' Wise, the Graham Wise Memorial Cup for annual competition. Mr. Burdekin also presented* on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. W. Swan, the Andrew Swan Memorial, Shield, while Mr. N. Thornley, repr'esentative of the Levin Junior Chamber of. Commerce, presented the Keitli Jack Memorial Cpp on behalf of Mr. and Mrs.- W. R. Jack and family. In- accepting these trophies on behalf of the Centre, Mr. Nicholson made touching references to the 1 persons whose memory they would, perpe.tuate, also adding that it was , a 'most pleasing way in which to keep alive the names of I those who1 had served their coun- 1 try and given 'such excellent suppprfc to pipe bands,

i Test Selection Comment. "The 'A' grade bands put up a fine performance and demonstrated 'that experience in previou's contests count," said the judg.e ,..of music, Pipe-major S. Clotnier,' of Hamilton. "The execution in the reel playing could be improved upon, also team work with precision drums and pipes. A weak>ness in 'B' grade bands was that most bands'' were not correctly tuned; also' tone could be much im-

proved. Experience is' needed to know how to tune a band. It is advisable to have all chanters of !one make or chanters of same pitch j to tune a band quickly and correctly. The drumming sections of most bands do not realise that they are the accompaniment — more team work is needed. In many cases the drums increased their tempo in the double forte; steadiness is essential; some bass drummers hit too hard, they should try to get a nice tone by a lighter touch. Slow marches were played too slow — there is a difference between a slow march and a slow air or lament. "In the 'B' grade, some music was beyond' them to get good executidn and interpretation. It was a matter of labouring through the selections. I would advise that simpler tunes be selected to enable them to be nicely played. I noticed drones wuvering which is caused by uneven ' blowing. Some of the pipes seemed harsh, maybe on account of having harsh reeds — reeds play a big part in getting tone. I would advise the young players to practise the g'race notes, cuttings, grips, etc., slowly at first, gradually quickening as one gets more efficient which may take months of hard practice to -perfect." The Contest. The contest, which began with a street march, drew a large crowd and public interest was maintained through out the day and in the evening wheu the selection competition was held. Thcompveting bands were from Welling ton, Grisborne, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, and Manawatu. Present on behalf oi the New Zealand Pipe Bands ' AssQciaUon was the acting-presideat,

Mr V. J. Nicholson, of Palmerston North. The contest marshal was Air. (J. Baniield, of the Levin Municipai Brass Band. Also in attendance was the (Jaledonian Girls' marching teanl (Levin), which staged a denionstration during the afternoon. One of the iargest crowds to gather Ln Levin on a Saturday morning linett Oxford Street to watch the first event, the street march competition, each band receiving a hearty ovation as it passed. A few paces ahead of each band mfirched a member of the Caled-onian marching team. Tlie following was the order of march with marching team members being ;hown in parentheses: Hutt Valley .(Miss lennifer Jack), Gisborne (Aliss Yaldh i-'aterson), Wanganui (Aiiss J.une Pater •;on),. Horowhenua (Aliss Shirley Smith), Wellington Watersiders Jun mr (Aliss Doreen Shilton), Wairarapa (Aliss Alurial Alalcpim), Port Ahuriri, Napier (Aliss Avis Wilton), Ist Bn. Wellington Regiment G.W.O. (Merrila Moriarty), Alanawatu (Aliss Lesiie Young), Ruahine (Aliss Ngaire Scotsou and Aiiss Joan Jenuings). The comjjeting bands were: — A grade: Alanawatu Scottish Society's 1'ipe Band, Ruahine 'Highland Pipe Band, Wanganui Highland Pipe Baiul. 15 grade: Gisborne Highland Pipe Band, Horowhenua ^Scottish Society's Highland Pipe Band, Hutt Valley Pipe Band, Port Ahuriri (Napier) Caledonian So cietv 's Pipe Band, fipes and Drums ot lst Battalion Wellington Reginient .O.W.O.), Wairarapa Caledoniau So cietv Pipe Balid, Wellington W-atersid . ers' Junior Pipe Band. ' The following constitnted the judging panel: — Alusic, Pipe-major S. Clothiej-, (Hamilton); • dress and instrujiients, ijrum-major J. Nairn (Hawera); .druni , ming, Mr J. Taylor. (Wellington); mili Lary, military persoiinel appointed by .he centre. Street march. — Alanawatu and Ruahine, 28 points, equal 1; Hutt Valley, 2(5 2-3 points, 3,;,,f4qt-o\ybpn\Ai aiid, .Jjprt Ahuriri, 26 poiuts, equal 4; Wellington Reginient, 25 2-3 poiuts, 6; Wanganui, 25 1-3 points, 7; Wellington Watersiders' Junior, 25 points,. 8; Wairarapa, 24 2d3 points, 9; Gisborne, 24- 1-3 points) 10. -.

Selection (100 points). Ruahine, 84 points) 1; Manawatu, 831 points, 2; Wanganui, 83 poiuts, 3; Hutt Valley, S2A points, 4; Tort Ahuriri, 82 poiuts, 5; Horowhenua, 75i

points, 6; Gisborne, (58 points, 7; - Wellington Regiment (C.W.O.), 67 points, 8; Watersiders' Junior, 664 points, 9; Wairarapa, 57 -J points, 10. Championship (Quickstep and Selec- ' tion) . Alanawatu, 3204 points, 1; Port Ahuriri, 3124 points, 2; Hol-owhenua, 312 points, 3; Ruahine, 309| pbints) 4;Wanganui, 309 points, 5; Hutt Valley, 299| points, 6; Wellington Watersiders' Junior, 2884 points, 7.; Wairarapa, 2791 points, 8; Gisborne, -279 points-, 9; Wel-. lington Regiment *' (C.W.O.), . 2731 points, 10. Driun-Major's Display (100 points). Ruahine, 76 2-3 points, 1; Alanawatu and Wanganui, 74 2-3 points, equal 2. Staff Flourishing. Drum-AIajor D. A. Almond (Wanganui), 62 points, 1; Drum-Aiajor R. Matheson (Alanawatu), 564 points, 2. Special Awards. Street march (His Alaster's Voice (N.Z.), Ltd., Cup, winning baud to liold cup, gold medal to drifm-major and silver medal to drum-major of second band) : Alanawatu and Ruahine equal 1. Quickstep (Alanawatu - Wanganui Cup) : Alanawatu 1 (gold medal to drum-major), Horowhenua 2 (silver medal to drum-major). Highest points in music (medals for pipe-majors) : Alanawatu aud Ruahine equal 1. • . , ..Druin-major 's display (WellingtonNelson Cup): Ruahine 1 (gold medal to drum-major), Alanawatu and Wanganui ecjual 2. ' . ; Special medal for drum-major of baud gaining most points in street march and quickstep: R. Atatheson. (Alanawatu). Riverhead Gold Cup for highest points in drumming: Alanawatu, 244 pgints.

Keitli Jack Memorial' Cup «- for B grade band gaining most points ux quickstep and selection: Port Ahuriri-, 312-J points. Graham Wise Alemorial Cup for B grade band with second highest points in .quickstep and selection: Horowhenua," 312 points. Andrew" Swan Mepiorial Shield lior best drummer in B grade: Horowhenua and Port' Ahuriri, 23 points equal 1. ENTRIES FOR N.Z. CONTEST. Twenty-four pipe bands have en.tere'1 in the New Zealand Pipe Band contest to be held in New Plymouth on Alareh •18, 19, and 20. Nine A grade entries have come from Wanganui, Hawera, W ellington, ^ Hamilton, Christchurch, Timaru, Manawatu, Ruahine, and New Plymouth. In the B grade there will be 15 bands.

O O o ^ a Ct • ■ 5 — tn w VJ •r~i - ^ 74 v— j ,rH o ^ O O hi AH Manawatu 149 88 237 llorowheiiua .. .. 159 ' 774 236^ Port Ahuriri ..... 151 79 i 2304 Wanganui 142 "84 226 Ituahine 137! S8 225! Wellington Watersiders' Junior 137 85 222 Wairarapa 143! 78 22 1 1 Hutt 134! 83 217] (xisborne . . . . , . 133 78 211 Wellington Regiment . . .„ .. 130| 76 20(5!

Quickstep.