SKIRL O’ THE PIPES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 71, Issue 6, 18 October 1950, Page 6

SKIRL O’ THE PIPES

BAND CONTEST NEXT MONTH The Pipe Band Contest to be held in Ashburton next month will be of a very special nature. Usually there is run a North Canterbury-West Coast provincial contest annually, but as this is Centennial year it has been decided to hold an inter-provincial contest in conjunction with the provincial, and to style it the Canterbury Centennial Contest.

Apart from this as a unique feature, there are two West Coast bands competing for the first time, namely the Birchfield Highland Pipe §and, which hails from Westport, and the Buffer Caledonian Pipe Band. No fewer than 13 entries'have been received, namely: The City of Christchurch Highland Pipe Band, the same combination’s “B” band, the City of Christchurch Ladies’ Band, the Christchurch Ladies’ Pipe Band, St. Andrew’s College, Ellesmere, Caledonian (Christchurch), Birchfield, Buffer, Methven, Timaru, Temuka and Ashburton. The regular provincial trophies will be competed for, and in addition there will be special inter-provincial trophies to be won outright. Both contests will be held under a sealed handicap system. The Programme

: The contest will occupy a very fuff day. Bands parade at 9 a.m. on Mona Square for inspection. There follows the street march from the square to the Post Office. This should commence at approximately 10.45. The bands will then have lunch at the Radiant Hall, and the Quickstep will begin on the Domain Oval at 1*.30 p.m. This will be followed at about 3 p.m. by the colourful drum-major® display, and the close of the afternoon will be the massed bands’ selections. In the evening, again on the Oval, will take place the test selections, the concluding event being the presentation of trophies.