BAND CONTEST ENDS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 134, 2 March 1936, Page 10

BAND CONTEST ENDS

Woolston Wins Quickstep, With St. Kilda Second SPECTACULAR DISPLAY Dominion Special Service. New Plymouth, February 29. The Dominion brass band championships which lasted a week were concluded at Pukekura Park this afternoon with the A and B grade military display and quickstep march, which were won respectively by the Woolston and Hastings Citizens’ bands. The weather was glorious. A crowd estimated at over 15,000 was present in the afternoon, and at the demonstration concert in the evening over 8000 people listened to selections played by the champion bands and bandsmen. \The prize-giving ceremony was performed by Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P. The New Plymouth band contest committee was warmly congratulated by representatives of the 1 New Zealand Brass Bands Association. A review and march past of the competing bands was held from the Post Office fo Pukekura Park via Liardet Street. Every vantage point was occupied, and the footpaths along the streets were lined with thousands of spectators. Military judges were stationed at variou., points along the route. “Twentieth Century March” was the chosen selection. Port Nicholson Silver Band was awarded first prize for this display. Cairns Citizens’ and Timaru Municipal bands were second and 'third. In conjunction with the march past, a special drum-major’s medal was won by Ser-geant-Major J. E. Duncan, of the winning band. Pukekura Park was thronged with the biggest crowd in its history. The crisp execution of counter-march, turn and halt movements was watched with interest, and the firm, brisk marching was a spectacular symphony of movement. The B grade section was held first, the musical judge of both sections being Mr. A. Baile, Sydney. The Taranaki Regimental and Municipal Band set a high standard of precise evolution in the B grade, but it was the Hastings Citizens’ Band’s particularly good interpretation of “Twentieth Century March” which gave them the lead, only half a point in front of Taranaki. Both performances were points ahead of the others. The Wellington Boys' Institute Band was third in this grade. Enthusiasm grew unbounding as the A grade bands marched, played and manoeuvred almost faultlessly. St. Hilda’s marching was particularly impressive. In announcing the results, the judge said that the playing was quite the equal of anything he had heard in other contests in New Zealand, and the standard set was as high as that of aoy brass band in the world. Conducted by Mr. Baile, the bands massed and played the “Invercargill" inarch. In conjunction with the quickstep, base and side drum champions were selected, the Winers being bandsmen H. J. Hall (Wanganui Garrison) and L. E. Smith (Taranaki Regimental) respectively. Detailed results of the quickstep contests were as follow, music, military and total points being given in order:—

A GRADE. Woolston 147 ,178 “9“. St. Kilrla Municipal 1 13 1804 3231 Port Nicholson .... 141 1783 319? Tirnaru Municipal . 141 170 J 31 H Cairns Citizens’ . . . 1 16 107 3I3 Wanganui Garrison 135 100 J 205} Nelson Garrison 132 155} 287} R GRADE. Hastings Citizens’ . 140 165 A 3051 Taranaki ResiniPiilal 133 172 305 Wellington Institute 131 155 280 Greymouth M unici pal 130 140} 2 7 •»i Wailara Municipal 129 134 263