STREET MARCH TO TIMARU

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 142, 29 March 1948, Page 2

STREET MARCH TO TIMARU

Pipe Band Contest at Dunedin QUICKSTEP TO HAMILTON < P.A.) DUNEDIN, March 28. There was a crowd estimated at about. 18.000 persons at Carisbrook on Saturday afternoon when 10 of the leading pipe bands of the Dominion participated in the A Grade quickstep which resulted in a popular win for the Hamilton Caledonian Society’s band under Drum-Major Kenneth McAllum and Pipe-Major S. Clothier. The winners gave a superb, display of marching but on the musical side were beaten by City of Christchurch Highland Pipe Band and Dunedin Burns Highland Pipe Band.

The whole of the 10 bands gave a brilliant display of marching and many judges claim never to have seen better at any previous contest in the Dominion. The winning band also carried off the honours in the A Grade at last year’s contest which was held at Wanganui. The A Grade contest was followed by another spectacular event, the drum-major’s staff swinging contest which attracted .12 entrants from both A and B grade bands and was won with one point to spare by K. Manning, of Timaru Highland Pipe. Band, from J. R. Sims, of the Nelson City Pipe Band, with K. J. Campbell, of the New Plymouth Pipe Band, who led his band to a meritorious win in the B Grade contest the previous afternoon in third place. The staff swinging contest proved extremely popular and although one or two of the contestants made bad mistakes early that practically lost them all chance from that stage, the crowd showed its appreciation in no uncertain manner.

The greatest spectacle of the day was when the whole of the 29 bands engaged in the contest gave an exhibition of marching and countermarching. A Grade Quickstep: Hamilton Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band (military points 173-2, music points 90i), total points 2641 ; Mamawatu Scottish Society’s Pipe Band (170, 91) 261: Burns Highland Pipe Band (1681, 92), 2601; Ruahine Highland Pipe Band (1691, 90), 2591; City of Christchurch Highland Pipe Band (163, 94), 257 ; Caledonian Pipeßand of Invercargill (167, 8151), 2521; Wanganui Highland Pipe Band (1661 b 84i), 2511; Dunedin Highland Pipe Band , (1642, 85), 2492; Timaru Highland Pipe Band (1622, 851), 2471; Wellington Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band (1562, 79), 2352. Staff swinging contest for drummajors: K. Manning (Timaru) 371pts 1, j. R. Sims (Nelson) 361pts 2, K. J. Campbell (New Plymouth) 351pts 3, N. R. Fussell (Auckland and District) 35pts 4, D. Hutchison (Marlborough) 332pts 5, C. G. Maher (Dunedin Highland) 33pts, R, Matheson (Manawatu) 33pts* T. A. Gordon (City of Christchurch) 33pts, Miss A. McGregor (Taieri) 312pts.

Street march, section A: Timaru Highland Pipe Band 54pts .1, Dunedin Highland Pipe Band 52ftpts 2, Ruahine Highland Pipe Band 51pts 3. Section B: Tauranga Highland Pipe Band 55pts 1, Wellington Police Highland Pipe Band 543pts 2, t New Plymouth Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band 541pts 3, St. Andrew’s College 54pts 4, Temuka Pipe Band 52»pts 5. Drum-Major’s Day

It was drum-major’s day at Carisbrook to-day, and it provided a crowd of about 12,000 with a unique and highly picturesque display. The afternoon was brilliantly fine. The B grade contest was won by Drum-Major E. A. Mosley, of Hastings, and the District Scottish Society’s Highland Pipe Band. At the conclusion of his display, Drum-Major Mosley, who had given a magnificent performance, which earned frequent rounds of applause, collapsed and had to be carried off. It was not until 5.20 that a start was made with the A grade section and the massed bands’ display had to be cancelled, but will be given to-morrow afternoon at the conclusion of the test selections The whole of the evolutions in this contest were under the control of the drum-major. The maximum time allowed for each display was 12 minutes, and the minimum 10 minutes, with a penalty of one point for each 15 seconds over or under the time. Results were:

Drum-major’s, display, B grade—E. A. Mosley (Hastings and District Scottish Society’s Highland Pipe Band), 9lpts, •1; J. M. Crocker (Tauranga Highland Pipe Band), 90pts, 2; K. .1. Campbell (New Plymouth Caledonian Society’s Pipe-Band), 892pts, 3; M. A. Cameron (Temuka Pipe Band), 88:jpts, 4; N. R. Fussell (Auckland and District Highland Pipe Band), 86pts, J. P. Musgrove (St. Andrew’s College), 85Vpts; D. Hutchison (Scottish Society of Marlborough). S-13pts; W. Budge (Port Ahuriri Caledonian Socity’s. Pipe Band) 84-lpts ; L. L. Aitken (Ashburton County Scottish Society’s Pipe Band), 841pts: Miss A. McGregor (Taieri Pipe Band), 82 Apts; L. N. Billcliff (Canterbury Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band) 814pts ; D. White (Ellesmere Highland Pipe Band), 811 pts; A. McKechnie (Gore Pipe Band) 804pts; W. Byers (Strath Taieri Highland Pipe Band), 792pts ; W. Russell (Milton Pipe Band), 741 pts; J. R. Sim (Nelson City Pipe Band) 71pts. A grade drum-major’s display—T. A. Gordon (City of Christchurch), 934 pts, 1 ; G. Peters (Ruahine), 91J pts. 2; C. S. Henderson (Caledonian Pipe Band (Invercargill), 911'pts, 3; D. A. Almond (Wanganui) and C. G. Maher (Dunedin Highland Pipe Band) equal, 90Apts; K. Manning (Timaru) BOf pts; K. McAllum (Hamilton Caledonian). SSpts; R. Malhoson (Manawatu Scottish). 872pts; A. .1. Adamson (Burns Pipe Band, Dunedin) 87Apts; D. D. I. McLennan (Wellington Caledonian) RGnis.