Tauranga Band's Success At N.Z. Championship Contest

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14636, 3 April 1948, Page 3

Tauranga Band's Success At N.Z. Championship Contest

,pn ACCOUNT OF PERFORMANCES OhU0 hU AT DUNEDIN

(Contributed) • west has been aroused in Tauranga in the visit fir eatl S Pine Band to the Hew Zealand Championship Telegraphic reports gave but a bare out- # tP 'pTults which were a triumph for the Tauranga S and a fuller account of their performances is f fsflta 1 tnr the benefit of the many supporters of the band > loW i members arrived safely in Dunedin at differthe Wednesday prior to Easter after a 'ti® eS fc t for r orne groups had been very eventful. Never.liey,tbt'd was complete when Thursday came and the ile^s the . bf was held at Logan Park, the site of the 1824 jlP ractlce 0% lirjmffa Band officials at this stage, with the prev- ■ pJnerience at the Wanganui contest, were conyear sw. per f orm ances would be sound. They exjjl , r -pver strong opposition from the Port Ahuriri MS winch also had done well in 1947 - opposition !rJsot materialise to any extent.

' concerning the Jfirst e^ el M’ a g the B grade ba b d ’ nn the afternoon of he The Festival of Easter m?L the visitors that r ffthe 29 bands assem:;C' 0 Oval where b'hfwas held and a *g**lj a® o; fr’hmok Padd w hf r ® bblfJ the crowd began or the quickstep were competing. this grade were from Sings, Hutt Valley, f Port Ahuriri, Tau<iiington (Police) m and from Ash(Caledonian), lC fore Marlborough, St. #2L (Christchurch), lels North Otago, Strathand Temuka in the

18; Milton, 276| points, 19. Honour Given Band A grand Scottish Presentation Concert was held in the Dunedin Town Kali at the conclusion of thw contest. The Tauranga Band, as winners of the B grade lest selection was given the honour of opening the piogiamme. Under the conduct© 1 ’- ship of the Pipe Major it repeated its morning s performance, receiving a wonderml oration for its playing. At the presentation, Drum Major Crocker received the Manawatu Scottish Society Shield and Pipe Major Johnson, the gold medal also awarded for the test selection. Trophy money, to the value of £62 was won by the band being made up as follows:—Test selection £35Drum Major’s display £2O; street march £/ 10s.

‘The success of the band has been due to the keenness of its members and to the support given by the residents of Tauranga, when the appeal for funds was made. The band is pleased to have won these honours as they are some return for the confidence placed in it by its many generous supporters. “In the course of conversation witn some of the officers of the association, it was learned that the unofficial opinion is that New Plymouth and Tauranga will probably be regarded as A grade bands for the 1949 contest. If this should happen Tauranga residents can rest assured that the band will be able to hold its own with the majority of bands in the top grade.”

Sjjfl’sSmart Appearance , drew for their turn, Sln eleventh post'Throughout the contest the S in their white shirts it This was unique and the % became known because 1 appearance. The inis carried out prior to ip, nine points out of fawarded. The judge also led Drum Major J. M. fon the way the kilts of the «n were worn, the band be - J best in the grade'in this

U the band performed J the general impression ri in the quickstep, it 3 some vital marks during j o f the movements and jgsth place. Improvement in 0 and on the turns would jcbably made the difference. nature of the ground jl the bands out in their land most .of them were 1 paces over the set 120 for stance. The Tauranga band 3 paces in 59 3-5 sec. The at was that they were ,in music and fifth in drill in at Details of the quickstep i follows (military points, points, total points in that (Plymouth 159,' 85$, 2444, 1; i 181}, 82, 243 J, 2; Ash--1159f,-838, 243:1, 3; * St. r : College, 1565, 86; 2425, ASon Police, 158 f, 82, 240}, 5; -240:1, -6; Can,157,811,2381, 7; Ellesmere, 1,2381,8; Taieri, 150$, 82$, Temuka, 1525, 80, 2324-, 10; 18(1$,230 VlfMA^brir; 1228 J, 12;- Hutt Valley, 1483, 113; Port Ahuriri, 1445, 111; Nelson City, 1424, 814, I North Otago, 144}, 735, h 1401“, 70, 2161, 18; Strath--1211, 701, 210, 19. s championship was deter,l? the most points gained in and the test Selection, ® being held on Easter ?■ To secure the honours it ®ary for Tauranga to make pits over New Plymouth. I s of the quickstep. This 1 too difficult a task but the ns a triumph for Pipe Major *ison, The band was placed .he selection in what is conA bandsmen as the most on the programme. r 1 must go to the Pipe ® attention and care J ave to the music of the success is probably due Jiormity of training of the ■■2 l whom have « by Pipe Major John-

SIDELIGHTS OF THE CONTEST SEVEN HUNDRED BANDSMEN PARADE The most inspiring sight of the whole contest was the massing of bands on the final day, when more than 700 bandsmen paraded in front of the public. A great spectacle followed with the tartans of the many clans represented making a most colourful sight. The parade was marshalled as three bands, of ever 200 in each. Each unit moved and counter marched to the strains of “nigh land Laddie” with 170 drums playing—a memorable sight indeed. Tauranga’s sister band, Hamilton, was successful for the second time in two years, in winning the championshin of New Zealand. They gave an excellent display throughout and the issue was never in doubt. Mutual congratulations among the two bands were the order of the day, $ >;s »;« *:«

Excellent weather prevailed lor the Pipe Band Contest in Dunedin. The only break occurred on Sunday morning rained steadily. However, it cleared in the afternoon and the contest proceeded uninterrupted in brilliant sunshine. It is believed that over 44,000 people witnessed the contest during the four days.

Praise Sf, se of a new set of it I. .Jp pipes has also con- ! aHai j e ? ce^en t tone and Uta-vf Pipers, jk 3* an ’ as t year’s music 5„.f a ,y e valuable assistance of the contest. io„^, hls opinion that the t eband was some of the 3 e Y er heard. |j A 0 the selection were, S 6 points, folilril with 85. %i niarc h> in which 29 6 Wa«„ a meritorious I the o fv® a ‘ Jhe band defeatCf M B grade feck. ’, e h hy Drum Major 5, E l re ’ v second to last few, was a long Glares , u- , ma i n Dunedin feole wtl ! hlch were lined in Tt, ga y e the hand a * in!fe dril . 1 was much CSI whh that of P s ama7i Y Performance ifessiua t , n Sly good, with i hV h Tf ghoUt its ,0 ' be d£ U 5 anga band i 3 in New # ed l as the best fhp . e aland at street i morp D S ts at received Nin than the best A Ij Drum AT V - nt (Timaru). fior e a crnio a ''2 r ' s rbs Piav, S a hsbroSk thi\° 00 , spec ' Wtf i n ’ the band was Ner aSrade with l^UDtn^ rf u rmsnce thpt best- standard. fNverv a i tlngs .’ with, 91 y C( iihslv display t? srf ormar e o Ver variat ions on the day I Results ? r^'y winning v 11: fl, s We re:—Hastir> ran | a > 90 points," 2; £ BB trL u9 ' Points ?,Gdttt; w ’ s College, a.CtI? 11 ;® b 'va s - °x T lbe B grade 1; Wa^ ew Plymouth, IIJ 26 ' Points, » Points 4- a P i°, lnts - 5 : fcftf; St Anil ’ Ashburton, I s - 6; : C ' An hrews College fents 7 er >7 Caledon ’ UifVre-3 P i 3^ uka , 315 |ilV ai nts, ’in. 3: k pom tw 9: Mutt Van lo, G °re, 311 i \ jfjtriri, 3 e o q 3lo r Points ® m4 w Points. ■. is; C&