Pipe Bands in Contest

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 20, 25 January 1937, Page 10

Pipe Bands in Contest

Honours Carried Off By Ruahine (Dannevirke)

HEAVY WIND MARS FUNCTION The story is told that once a Scotsman prayed for gales of wind to fill his bonny bagpipes. If the story is true then he must have asked for the wind on Saturday last, the occasion of the first Pipe Band contest of the Welling-ton-Hawke’s Bay Centre of the New Zealand Pipe Bands' Association. The howling gale took away much of tho pleasure that generally attends these functions and as the Centre was setting out on a new adventure, the elements might have been a little more kind. There was a feast of Scottish pipe music and marching out of which the Ruahine (Dannevirke) pipers emerged with flying colours. Not only did they annex the Munro Cup for the most points gained in the quickstep and test competitions, but they also carried off tho drum majors' display of marching and manoeuvring to the accompaniment of cheers from an appreciative audience. There were six bands scheduled, but the Feilding combination failed to put in an appearance. The bands assembled in the Square and marched to the Showgrounds where tho events were to be staged, attracting considerable attention all along the route. Considering tho weather, there was a large attendance of the public. The first event was the quickstep. This was divided into two sections — marching and music. Wellington Caledonian carried off the honours iu the latter section, but Ruahine left the others well behind in the marching, and ran out first in the aggregate. Details were as follows: — Band. Marching. Music. Total.

Test Selection. The bands were allowed to choose their own test selection, but it had to comprise slow march, march, strathspey and reel. This was a purely musical event and was rendered from a raised dais. The points awarded were as follows: Wgtn. Caledonian 87 Ruahine 85 Manawatu Scottish 79 Scots College 7G Wairarapa High School did not compete. Drum Majors' Display. Ruahine were awarded 1)G points for ‘heir display followed by Manawatu Scottish 8G and Wellington Caledonian 71. From the public point of view this was perhaps the most picturesque event of the afternoon, the bands proceeding through a variety of turns and figures. Again the marching of the Ruahine pipers was outstanding and they were applauded and cheered for their effort. Wairarapa High School and Scots College did not compete. The tartans of the bands were as follows:—Manawatu Scottish, “Cameron Erracht"; Ruahine, “Hunting Stewart"; Scots College, “Fergusson"; Wairarapa High School, “Macintosh"; Wellington Caledonian, “Cameron Erracht." The judge of the music was Mr. A. Barclay, of Wellington; the military judges, Capt. G. McCaskill, Major J. Mewett, S.S.M., J. Ryan and S.S.M. A. Holmes; dress and instruments, Mr. A. McSkimming; paces, Lieut. S. Wilson; supervisors, Messrs. A. McDonald and J. S. Jenkinson; marshall, Mr. C. Voss; timekeepers, Messrs. J. Weston Smith and G. Short; reception committee, Messrs. W. Allan, C. Cronin, F. Duckworth, J. Thompson, T. Rollins, K. Cooper, R. Emmett. The pipe-majors and drum-majors were as follows: Manawatu Scottish, V. J. Nicholson and J. Peterana. Ruahine, D. Peters and A. Sturrock. Scots College, F. G. Bedding and N. Fellowes. Wairarapa High, Murdo McKenzie, and E. C. Coddington. Wellington Caledonian, C. Stewart and M. R. Price.

Wgtn. Caledonian 156J 80 236* Manwtu. Scottish .. .. 164* 73 237* Scots College 163 71 234 Wair’pa. H.S. 16U 73 242 Kuahine .. .. 1S5J 78 263s