BAND CONTEST.

Grey River Argus, 1 March 1927, Page 5

BAND CONTEST.

THE QUICKSTEP. WELLINGTON. Feb. 28. There were nine hands in the A grade and sixteen in the B Grade for the quickstep competition. It was probably the most spectacular competition of the kind ever seen in New Zealand. The drill work was splendid in many instances and the music was very fine. A Grade bands played “ W.iirarapa,” and B Grade bands “The Outpost.” In the A. Grade, Ist Canterbury Mounted (Ashburton) under DrumMajor W. Rucker, a past master in drilling and leading a band in this ?Tass of competition, gave a splendid all-round performance, and so did St. Hilda, Wanganui Garrison and Kaikorai. There was one great band in the F? Grade, Invercargill Civic (old Hibernians), who led the next competition in drill by twelve points. Top place for music, however, went to the sth Mounteds (Oamaru). Th- decisions in each case were very popular. In the A grade quickstep, nine bands took part. Although St. Hilda headed all the bands in the military section only two possible mark? were scored in the more important sections. These were on’the right turn and in paces, the band stepping the measured !<»<> yards in exactly 120 paces. One otlu » band equalled this performance, namely Woolston. Wanganui Garrison was but one point behind St. Hilda in drill points. It gained the greatest number of maximum allotments, these being in steadiness, cleanliness of instruments (the only hand to gain full points in this department), left turn, and the first counter march (also the only band to gain the maximum). Ist Canterbury had two important possibles, for the right turn and the right wheel. Queen Alexandra's Own Band also gained the maximum for a very fine wheel. Strange to say. no band quite caught the correct time, that is marching the 100 yards in exactly one minute. The best performance under this heading was by Wanganui Garrison and St. Hilda, iiich each took exactly the same time, 60 1-5 secs. The highest points gained for general appearance was 9 out of 10 by seven of the nine bauds. Forming marching order was evidently faulty, for no band received more than 8 points and the figures went down to 6. The first counter march was well done by all the bands, one gaining the maximum, six securing 9, and two 8. The second counter march was not quite so well done, only two bands gaining 9 out of 10, six securing 8, and one 7 marks. The left turn saw all but one band gain good marks. The right turn was well done, points varying from 8 to 10 marks. The right wheel was equally successful. Quite a number of minor maximum points were gained by practically all the bands. Following is the order of play and points allotted for paces and time:— A GRADE. Paces. Time. Port Nicholson (Druin-Majar Osborne . .. 22 211. Kai kora i (Drum-major W. Perrin . . .. 24 22 j St. Hilda (Drum-major Donaldson ) . . 24 24} Queen Alexandra’s Own Drum-major Anderson) 24 21J Woolston (Sergeant-Major Lilburnc) .. ..25 21 Wanganui Garrison (DrumMajor Cromic) . . .’. 22 24} Greymouth Municipal (DrumMajor Ames) .. .. 22 19? First Canterbury Mounted, Ashburton (Drum-major Tucker) . . . . 23 20 Wellington Tramways (Ser-geant-Major Led!rook). ..22 20 Following is the result of the champion solos: — T. Robertson (Wanganui Garrison) 1; J. King (Wellington Tran - ways) 2. Also competed.— K. Smith (Jupp’s Silver), A. Homer (St. Hilda), S. Woods (New Plymouth Citizens), F. Llovd (Wellington Tiarnways), D. Co: vin (Wellington Train’.'ays), L. Fogo (KaikoraQ, E. W bb (Queen Alexandra’s Own), an.l P. ' rift (Wellington Tramwavs).