PIPING AND DANCING

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 28

PIPING AND DANCING

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS (Photograph in this Issue.) OPENING EVENTS. The Otago Centre championship piping and dancing competitions were commenced in the Town Hall concert chamber last week in the presence of a fairly large attendance of the public. The entries this year total 94, compared with 83 for the previous year. In the piping events competitors from as far north as Palmerston North have entered, while the dancers are mainly from Dunedin, although there is a sprinkling from various other parts of Otago, Christchurch, and Southland. The competitions were officially opened by the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black), who, after announcing that he had set at the correct time and wound a gold watch to be awarded the person ■who guessed nearest to the time it stopped, said that it was a great asset to the city to have Scottish traditions upheld worthily by the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Piping and Dancing Association. It gave him much pleasure to see and hear the lads and lasses dancing to the lilting strains of the pipes, and it behoved all to assist the association. He concluded by wishing the festival every success, and expressed the hope that the usual high standard would be maintained. Only one piping competition was heard last evening, the balance of the programme being devoted to dancing events. By reason of the large number of entries in some of the individual competitions, it was found impossible to adhere to the time, table, and the judge (Mr D. M'Kechnie) intimated that it would be necessary for him to judge three at a time in the dancing events for that evening. Unfortunately, this would make it impossible for him to give a detailed report, to which pupils and teachers were certainly entitled. Each pupil had a perfect right to know why he or she was not placed, but the circumstances made a report impossible. The following are the results:— MARCHES (Open).—C. C. Selby (Mo'kotua) 1, A. MacMillan (Dunedin) 2, P. Davidson (Dunedin) 3. Also competed: S. Chisholm, W. Budge, Norman Stratton, Stanley Stratton. HIGHLAND FLING (girls under 10 years).—Hazel Neil (Christchurch) 1, Beatrice Macfie (Oamaru) 2, Norina Marshall (Dunedin) 3. Also competed: Betty Gerrie, Madge Robertson, Ellen MacMillan, Mavis I. Conley, Gladys R. Maclean, Agnes Stewart, Joan Maclean. Maisie Hastings, Peggy Black, Wilmur Thomson, Neva Clement, Jean Clack, Louisa Downing, Marjory Reeves, Peggy Mowat, Audrey Ramsay, Shona Oliphant, A. Metcalf, Betty Brown. IRISH JIG (type of steps optional, girls under 12 years).—Phyllis Lange (Gore) 1. Wilmur Thomson (St. Kilda) 2, Agnes Stewart (Roslyn) 3. Also competed: Nellie Egen, Nora P. Steele, Hazel Neil, Fairlie Miller, Peggy Black, Josephine Wilson, Norma Harper, Margaret Harper, Rua Holland, Nancy L. Goodlet, Joan Maclean, Betty Gerrie, Rena M. Jacobs, Shona Oliphant, Elva St. Clair, Rita Drysdale, Maisie Hastings, Irene Jones.

SWORD DANCE (boys under 10 years).—Keith Cameron (Tainui) 1, Jim wTctt (Dunedin) 2, William Reynolds

(Dunedin) 3. Also competed: Ronald Cunningham. SAILOR’S HORNPIPE (boys under 18 years).—Charles Stewart (Wellington) 1, George Reilly (Dunedin) 2, Gordon Reid (Dunedin) 3. REEL o’ TULLOCH (girls under 15 years).—Daphne Allan (Dunedin) 1, Patricia Atkinson (Dunedin) 2, Muriel Lee (Dunedin) 3. Also competed: Veronica Dillon, Marjory Stewart, Reta Warren, Macdonald, Jean Brown, Hazel Neil, Margaret Lange, Dorothy Smith, Patricia Wilson. SEAN TRUIBHAIS (girls any age).— Lorna Budge (Dunedin) 1, Patricia Atkinson (Dunedin) 2, Rita Millar (Oamaru) 3. Also competed: Agnes Kleski, Valmai Skilling, Babs Saul, Tui Cairns, Norma Douglas, Jessie Jardine, Flora Macdonald, Lilian’Richardson, May Wilson, Doris Cannon, Violet Cameron, Nancy Drew. SEAN TRUIBHAIS (boys under 15 years).—Charles Stewart (Wellington) 1, George Reilly (Dunedin) 2, Keith Cameron (Tainui) 3. Also competed: Gordon Reid. IRISH JIG (girls under 18 years).— Tui Cairns (Oamaru) 1, Babs Saul (Dunedin) 2, Patricia Atkinson (Dunedin) 3. Also competed: Skilling, Norma Douglas, Violet Cameron, Doris Cannon, Jessie Jardine, Margaret Lange, May Wilson, Patricia Wilson, Dorothy Smith, Maisie Scott, Lilian Richardson, Daphne Allan, Flora Macdonald, Edna Pettet, Muriel Lee.

TUESDAY EVENING’S EVENTS. The competitions were continued on Tuesday evening, when, in addition to the dancing events, the South Island championship for strathspeys and reels was held, Piper A. MacMillan, of Dunedin, being the winner. The judge (Mr D. M'Kechnie) said that the dancing generally had been of a high class. Some of the girls had put up a really fine performance, but the technique had been just a little wrong. In the Highland fling, and indeed in the Highland dancing generally, the weakness had been in the cutting. In the Irish jig the trippling had been too far away from the centre of the body, and some fine performances had been spoiled through this. Some of the competitors in the sword dance had kept too far away from the swords. The idea of the dance was defiance, and therefore they could not keep away from the swords. One very outstanding performance had been spoilt just through that fault. One or two little mistakes had also been made in the Highland reel. Two ladies had started opening right to right, which was quite wrong. 1 think some of the schools must be teaching that,” Mr M'Kechnie added, i Jx e Passing in the whole of the reel is left to left, so why should it open right to right. . I had to put some of the girls out on this account.” The competitions will be concluded today, and in the evening a grand Scottish co " c , ert , A y, l]l be held in the Town Hall. The following are last night’s results:— Strathspeys and Reels, South Island Championship (open) .—Archibald MacMillan (Dunedin) 1, William Budge (Dunedin) 2, P. Davidson (Dunedin) 3 Also competed: C. C. Selby, John Copland.

Seann Truibhais (girls under 10 years). —Hazel Neil (Christchurch) 1, Wilmur Thomson (St. Kilda) 2, Norma Marshall (Dunedin) 3. Also competed: Agnes Stewart, Shona Oliphant, Peggy Mowat, Maisie Hastings, Peggy Black, Joan Mac-

lean. Beatrice Macfie, Betty Gerrie, Jean Clack. Navo Clement, Gladys R. Maclean, Betty Brown, Nancy Maxwell, Mavis I. Conley, Louisa Downing. Highland Fling (boys under 10 years). —Keith Cameron (Tainui) 1, Jim Flett (Dunedin) 2, William Reynolds (Dunedin) 3. Also competed: Ronald Cuningham, Allan Harle. Sword Dance (girls under 12 j’ears).— Irene Jones (Dunedin) 1, Nora P. Steele (Dunedin) 2, Peggy Black (Dunedin) 3. Also competed: Nelly Egers, Rua Holland, Hazel Neil, Daphne Jack, Margaret MacMillan, Joan Maclean, Rita Drysdale, Betty Gerrie, Elizabeth Malcolmson, Fairlie Miller, Wilmur Thomson. .Nancy Goodlet. Norma Harper, Phyllis Lange, Josephine Wilson. Elva Sinclair. Hilda Ewart. Irish Jig (boys under 18); South Island Championship.—Charles Stewart (Wellington) 1, George Reilly (Dunedin) 2, Gordon Reid (Dunedin) 3. Seann Truibhais (girls under 15 j’ears); Dominion championship.—May Wilson (Mornington) 1, Patricia Atkinson (Dunedin) 2, Hazel Neil (Christchurch) 3. Also competed: Patricia Wilson, Marjory Stewart, Dorothy Smith, Nora P. Steele, Muriel Lee, Doris Connor, Veronica Dillon, Daphne Allan, Jean Brown, Margaret Lange, Flora Macdonald, Reta Warren. Dewar Cup Highland Fling (girls any age); Championship of Otago.—Rite Millar (Oamaru) 1, Lorna Budge (Dunedin) 2, Patricia Atkinson (Dunedin) 3. Also competed: May Wilson. Tui Cairns, Valmai Skilling, Nancy Drew, Violet Cameron. Flora Macdonald. Norma Douglas, Babs Saul, Agnes Kleski, Doris Cannon. Jessie Jardine, Lilian Richardson. Sword Dance (boys under 12 years).— George Reilly (Dunedin) 1, Gordon Reid (Dunedin) 2, Keith Cameron (Tainui) 3. A .so competed: William Reynolds. Highland Reel (girls under 18 years). —Valmai Skilling (Timaru) 1, Maisie Scott (Dunedin) and Patricia Atkinson (Dunedirf) (equal) 2. Also competed: Babs Saul, Lilian Richardson. May Wilkin, . Margaret Lange, Doris Cannon, Jessie Jardine, Violet Cameron. Danhne Allan, Flora Macdonald. Muriel Lee. Norma Douglas, Edna Pettet, Tui Cairns. CONCLUDING DAY. The competitions were concluded on Wednesday in the Town Hall Concert Chamber. The Dominion championship in the sword dance for girls under 18 was won by May Wilson, of Dunedin, with Lilian Richardson, of Timaru, the runner-up. The pibroch competition was won by Piper A. M'Millan, of Dunedin, who also becomes champion piper.

Commenting on the results the judge (Mr D. M'Kechnie) said that the dancing generally was exceptionally good. The chief fault had been in the cutting, partieularly in the Highland fling, when the competitors threw too far back, away from the calf. The foot at the back should be hidden in most cases from the view °f the public. In the sword dance the chief weakness was in dancing to the floor instead of away from the floor. The posit.ons were very good generally, although the aerial positions were not so good. In the hornpipes and jigs there was too much thigh action instead of knee and ankle. 1 have had a great deal of pleasure in the judging,” Mr M'Kechnie concluded, and I would ask the little children who have not got prizes not to be disappointed, because the dancing has been very good

The following are the results of yesterday s events:—

PIPING. Marches, for junior pipers, any age.— Norman Stratton (Mosgiel) 1, J. G. Coplaßd . (Balclutha) 2, Sinclair Chisholm (Christchurch) 3. Also competed: Roy C. Walker, Robert Hornal, Edward Waters, Charles Stewart, Ewen D. MacLennan, Sandy Wright, Thomas Fahey, Ivor Chirnside, and A. Ross. Jigs and Hornpipes.—P. Davidson (Dunedin) 1, Archibald MacMillan (Dunedin) 2. William Budge (Dunedin) 3. Also competed: C. C- Selby, Murdoch MacKenzie, John MacKenzie. Marches, novice pipers, any age.—lvor Chirnside (Mosgiel) 1, Charles Stewart (Wellington) 2, Sandy Wright (Roxburgh) 3. Also competed: Ewen D. MacLennan, Edward Waters, Roy (J. Walker, Robert Hornal, Thomas Fahey. Pibrochs (open).—Archibald M'Millan (Dunedin) 1, C. C. Selby (Mokotua) 2, P. Davidson (Dunedin) 2. DANCING.

Highland Fling (boys under 12 years). —George Reilly (Dunedin) 1, Gordon Reid (Dunedin) 2, Keith Cameron (Tainui) 3. Highland Fling (hoys under 12 years.) —George Reilly (Dunedin) 1, Gordon Reid (Dunedin) 2, Keith Cameron (Tainui) 3. Sword Dance (girls under 10 years).— Hazel Neil (Christchurch) 1, Maisie Hastings (Dunedin) and Peggy Black (Dunedin), equal 2. Also competed: Wilmur Thomson, Peggy Mowat, Jean Clack, Neva Clement, Betty Gerrie, Louisa Downing, Beatrice Macfie, Nancy Maxwell, Agnes Stewart, Mavis I. Conley, Joan Maclean, Shona Oliphant, Betty Brown, Gladys R. Maclean, Ellen MacMillan, Norma-Marshall. Irish Reel (girls under 15 years).— Patricia Atkinson (Dunedin) 1, Daphne Allan (Dunedin) 2, Muriel Lee (Dunedin) 3.

Highland Fling (girls under 8 years). —Norma Marshall (Dunedin) 1, Louisa Downing (Oamaru) 2, Maisie Hastings (Dunedin) 3. Sword Dance (boys under 18 years).— Charles Stewart (Wellington) 1, George Reilly (Dunedin) 2, Gordon Reid (Dunedin) 3. Highland Fling (boys under eight years).—William Reynolds (Dunedin) 1, Ronald Cunningham (Dunedin) 2. Sword Dance (boys under 15 years).— Charles Stewart (Wellington) 1, George Reillv (Dunedin) 2. Keith Cameron (Tainui) 3. Also competed: Gordon Reid. Highland Fling (girls under 12 years). —Hazel Neil (Christchurch) 1, Fairlie Miller (Oamaru) 2, Wilmur Thomson (St. Clair) 3. Also competed: Rena Jacobs, Millie Baxter, Nancy Goodlet, Norma Harper, Phyllis Lange, Elva Sinclair, Nora Steele, Nellie Egen, Norma Marshall, Daphne Jack, Elizabeth Maleolmson, Peggy Black, Joan Maclean, Josephine Wilson, Rita Drysdale, Rua Holland, Irene Jones, Betty Gerrie, Hilda Ewart, Margaret MacMillan. Irish Jig (boys under 12 years).— George Reilly (Dunedin) 1, Gordon Reid (Dunedin) 2, Keith Cameron (Tainui) 3. Also started: Ray Miles. Sword Dance (girls under 18 years). Dominion Championship. —May Wilson (Mornington) 1, Lilian Richardson (Timaru) 2. Violet Cameron (Herbert) 3. Also competed: Tui Cairns, Valmai Skilling, Muriel Lee, Daphne Allan, Edna Pettet, Norma Douglas, Jessie Jardine, Babs Saul, Margaret Lange. Marjory Stewart. Patricia Atkinson, Flora Macdonald, Doris Cannon, Dorothy Smith, Maisie Scott. Seann Truibhais (boys under 10 years). —Keith Cameron (Tainui) 1, William Reynolds (Dunedin) 2, Jim Flett (Dunedin) 3. Consolation Highland Fling (girls.under 10 years).—Peggy Mowat (Dunedin) 1, Neva Clement (Dunedin) 2, Shona Oliphant (Timaru) 3. SPECIAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS. Piping. Otago Champion Piper.—A. M'Millan (Dunedin). Most Points for Playing Pibrochs and Marches.—C. C. Selby (Mokotua) and A. M'Millan (Dunedin) equal. ' Most Points for Marches (junior and novice). —Norman Stratton (Mosgiel) and Ivor Chirnside (Mosgiel) equal. Dancing. Most Points, Boys Under 10 Years.—K. Cameron (Dunedin). Most Points, Girls Under 10 years.— Hazel Neil (Christchurch). Most Points, Boys Under 12 Years.— G. Reilly (Dunedin). Most Points. Girls Under 12 Years.— Hazel Neil (Christchurch), Phyllis Lange (Gore), and Irene Joucs (Dunedin), ail equal. Most Points. Boys Under 15 Years.— C. Steward (Wellington). Most Points, Girls Under 15 Years.— Patricia Atkinson (Dunedin). Most Points, Boys Under 18 Years.— C. Steward (Wellington). Most Points, Girls Under 18 Years.— May Wilson (Dunedin), Valmai Skilling (Timaru), and Tui Cairns (Oamaru). all equal. Speight’s Rose Bowl for Most Points in Dewar Cup and Seann Truibhais.— Lorna Budge (Dunedin).

. Work is proceeding without interruption at the Charming Creek mine, the site of the recent demonstration against the co-operative workers. —After living all her life in a Surrey workhouse, a woman aged 84 has just died in the institution. During the war—l 4 years ago to be exact —a man who was then, and still is, in business in Queen street. Auckland, thought that whenever he came across a sovereign or half-sovereign he would put it aside, and into a cloth bag he occasionally dropped one of the now very rare coins. Just how many he saved he does not know, but thinks'there were about 30, and the bag he “ planted ” under the floor boards on top of which stood an iron safe. There the little nest egg was allowed to remain for four or five years, when the owner decided to recover the money. The safe was removed, the flooring lifted, but the currency had considerably deflated aiid the owner found only a badly-rotted bag. and half a dozen sovereigns. Rats had caused the damage. A search is now being made for the remaining coins.