Marching SCHOOL FOR DEAF TEAM RETURNS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28447, 29 November 1957, Page 3

Marching SCHOOL FOR DEAF TEAM RETURNS

Competition In High Temperatures

Having marched only a few days ago in temperatures of more than 100 degrees, the Schoo] for the Deaf marching team found Christchurch much cooler when it returned yesterday from a very successful tour of Australia. The team marched in Newcastle with the temperature at 106 degrees. During the marching display ’the sky was clouded by the smoke of b"sh fires which burned around the park where the team was competing. The team finished third in the Newcastle championships. being beaten only by the winner and runner-up in the recent Australian championships. “The standard of marching was very good in Newcastle, particularly in midget and junior grades.’’ said the instructor of the School for the Deaf team (Mr B. Hogue). The New Zealanders competed against the six leading Australian teams at Newcastle. “The style of marching is a little different from ours. They go in for a crisp style instead of our smooth style,’’ he said. Tha highlight of the tour was when the girls marched with the Band of the Irish Guards. “The Irish Guards were so impressed with the girls that they changed their programme and gave the girls eight minutes solo,” said Mr Hogue. Others Impressed Others were also impressed by the team. Everywhere the girls went they delighted and captivated the Australians, he said. At the farewell dinner given to the team, the president of the Australian Marching Association (Mr F. Tindall) said that the girls were the finest ambassadors New Zealand had sent to the country.

The Mayor of Newcastle said at the civic reception for the team that when he first went to see the girls compete he expected them to make a few mistakes. The team’s flawless marching made him “sit bolt upright” in rapt attention during the display and he went to see them march a second time. Already the New Zealand girls visit has inspired the formation of a team of deaf girls at Waratah.

MIDGET, JUNIOR TITLES

At the recent midget and junior marching championshins of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Marching Association some excellent marching was seen with conditions almost perfect. In the midget section a very close contest was seen between Blue Star Taxis and Midland. The Midland leader. Faye Kennedy, in her section beat the Blue Star leader, Wendy Donaldson, by three points. The Blue Star team made up the deficit to beat Midland by five points. Both teams were even in the display march, and Blue Star won on the aggregate by two points. The Marathon team finished close third.

In the junior section, Austinettes made a clean sweep with their leader, Lovena Newton, taking the champion leader’s title. This team marched exceptionally well and took first place in the other sections of the championship. Their closest rivals were United Kilties, but on the aggregate they were twenty-eight points behind with Motorways, 75 points behind, in third place. . Blue Star Taxis and United Kilties are two of the teams, which with the senior team, Downings Red Robins, will go to the Australian Championships early next year.

Results were:— Midgets.—Champion leader, Faye Kennedy (Midland); champion team. Blue Star Taxis: display, Midland and Blue Star Taxis (equal); costume. Marathon; champion marker, Judith Easterbrook (Poisons).

juniors.—Champion leader, Lovena Newton (Austinettes); champion team, Austinettes; display, Austinettes; costume. Tattles Frocks; champion marker, Cynthia Browning (Silver Fern).