BAND CONTEST ENDS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25734, 21 February 1949, Page 8

BAND CONTEST ENDS

QUICKSTEP WON BY ST. KILDA WANGANUI GARRISON RUNNERS-UP (P.A.) AUCKLAND, February 20. The St. Kilda Municipal Band again showed its supremacy By winning the military display and quickstep championship from the Wanganui Garrison Band, with Auckland Watersiders’ Silver Band a close third, at the close of the Dominion contest on Saturday. The Wellington Boys’ Institute senior band did well to win the B grade section, followed by the Auckland Artillery Band and the Lower Hutt Municipal Band. -The C grade contest was won by the Masterton Municipal Band by a wide margin from the Gisborne City Band, which also had a substantial lead over the Patea Municipal Band in third place. A significant feature of all three contests was that the bands that excelled in music were also smartest on parade. Although many of the bands were lacking in some of these essentials of paradeground drill, they obviously took pride m their appearance, particularly some of the younger competitors. Ashburton Misses Flag Two unfortunate occurrences marred F^? rade A and B section display, the Ashburton Silver Band and the Palmerston North Garrison Band being virtually put out of the competition by missing out one of the flags and eliminating several important movements. Both were possible winners of the event, Palmerston North having gained most points for music and Ashburton being well up m this department. Some of the other bands blamed the use of white flags, which might not be seen against the white picket fences, for the mistakes, and maintained that coloured flags should have been used. An effort was made by later competitors, including those in the championship class, to have the markers changed. This suggestion was officially dismissed on grounds that a change would be unfair to the bands who had already marched on white markers, and that the regulations did not provide for flags of any particular colour. At the conclusion of the contest, 31 bands comprising 1000 bandsmen formed U P, on one side of the ground, and in a colourful display, marched across in mass formation to the tune of "Colonel Bogey.” Mr A. H. Baile, Australian judge at the contest, stood on a platform opposite the stands and conducted the playing. Results of contests on Saturday, with the judge s comments, were:—

Championship Display and Quickstep Apart from two bands, who were not as good as some of the B grade, the marching in this grade was very good. According to the judge, the dressing of the bands on the march was a prominent fault, and nearly all failed to perform the wheel properly. All bands lost points for not keeping a proper interval and observing correct distances. The playing of the bands was better than he expected, said the musical judge (Mr Baile). They had improved immeasurably since he was here 15 years ago, and he expressed the hope that they would continue to progress. Placings were:— A Grade.—St. Kilda Municipal Band, points, 1; Wanganui Garrison Band, 2; Auckland Watersid’ers’ Silver Band, 320, 3.

B Grade, A and B Section Marching in the B grade was very good, but some of the bands made mistakes through the drum majors not knowing the proper sequence of drill. Some of the military judges said the appearance of these bands, on inspection, showed room for improvement, points being lost for omissions that could have been easily rectified. Some of the bandsmen needed their hair cut, and most did not know the proper position ajt attention. Placings were:—Wellington Boys’ Institute Senior Band, 288>£ points, 1; Auckland Artillery Band, 287%, 2; Lower Hutt Municipal Band, 279%, 3.

C Grade The turnout of the bands was of a rather low standard, although there was no lack of enthusiasm. The judges commented that the marching generally was good for bands of this class. Points were lost for not taking full pace at the march off and incorrect dressing. Drum-majors were very good in martialling the bands. The judges remarked on the steady marching of the Te Ararana Girls’ Silver Band and the promise shown by the Ponsonby Boys’ Brass Band.

Placings were:—Masterton Municipal Band, 270 J points, 1; Gisborne City Band, 262, 2; Patea Municipal Band, 256, 3. Trophies were awarded as follows:

Championship ChaHenge Shield, A section: Wellington Boys* Institute Senior Band. Challenge Cup, B section: Hamilton Citizens’ Band. J. R. Williamson Memorial Challenge Shield, A section: WeHington Boys’ Institute Senior Band. Challenge Cup, B section: Hamilton Citizens’ Band. J. R. Williamson Memorial and Challenge Shield, A and B sections: Wellington Boys’ Institute Senior Band. E. W. Rose Memorial Challenge Shield, C section: Masterton Municipal Band. Detailed results of the champion test selection, which was won on aggregate points by St. Kilda, were:—first test selection: St. Kilda Municipal Band, 191 points; second test selection: Wellington Waterside Silver Band, 191 points.