PIPING AND DANCING

Evening Star, Issue 17366, 31 May 1920, Page 6

PIPING AND DANCING

COMPETITIONS IN DUNEDIN.

RECORD ENTRIES AND KEEN INTEREST.

The ‘music of the bens, the glens, and 1 the heroes,” and the dancing that often goes with it, are the features of a Highland carnival that opened in Dunedin to- I day under the management of the Otago ! Centre of the Piping and Dancing Asso- i ciation of New Zealand. lhe preliminary interest shown in the competitions indicates that the trad i* I tions and spirit of Scotland are not ' losing grip on tho descendants of Ca!e- 1 donia.in the far country. The entries for 1 all classes in tho competitions constitute : a remarkable record, no fewer than 128 competitors, representing 700 entries, com- i ing forward from all parts of the Domin- j ion to ” blaw and foot it brawlv” for four I vigorous days.

The competitors include many “ wcelkenned ” names of doughty champions in piping and Highland dancing—Cameron, of Southland, the present Mew Zealand champion of strathspey and reel piping ; Munro, of Dunedin, formerly of the Black Watch, and the Dominion champion last year; Robertson and MTntvre, of South Canterbury; Scott, of Wellington; and Angus and Archie M’Millan, of Dunedin. T hey are keen in homely rivalry, and all tit to pipe for a kingdom. In the dancing competitions an excellence of grace is assured. Many winsome champions have come forward, including the Misses Thorn (of Masterton), Turner (of Christchurch), M’Lellau (of W’eilington), Shaw (of Timaru), and Winnie Robinson (of Dunedin). There are no fewer than 13 entries for the Reel o’ Tulloch. Enthusiasm is keen, and promises to become keener as the competitors pipe and dance into the spirited tests. The arrangements for t!ie tourney are excellent, due largely to the keen thoroughness of Mr Kenneth Cameron, Dominion president of the association, who in a foreword to the betartaned programme interprets the aims and spirit of the Piping and Dancing Association, and appeals to brither Scots and ither folk to promote the movement for the encouragement of Scottish traditions. To-day the preliminary' tests in several competitions were initiated and carried well forward, to the interest and obvious enjoyment of a large attendance in the Burns Hall, which, for a time, will be as a npok in the Hielan’s. The results were as follow: Piobaireachd (Ceol Mor). For juniors. Open to pipers who have never. won a first prize in any union, open, or allcomers’ piping competition.—William Harvey (Masterton), ‘Ol engarry’s Lament.' 1; L. APKillop (Mosgiel), ‘Glengarry’s Lament,’ 2; T. B. Murray (Dunedin), ‘ Glengarry’s Lament,’ 3; Thomas Munro (Dunedin), ‘The Glen Is Mine,’ 4. Five entries. Highland Fling. Boys over over eight and under ten. Six steps.—Malcolm Robb (Dunedin) 1. Hugh M‘Arthur (Dunedin) 2. Two entries. Sr-ann Triubhais. Girls over eight and nndcr ten. Five steps slow time and one quick time. —Miss Lorna Budge (Dunedin) 1. Miss Hazel M‘Leod (Gore) 2, Alisa Doreen Wheeler (Dunedin) 3, Miss Elizabeth (May Donaldson (Tiraaru) 4. Fourteen entries. Irish Jig. Six steps. Boys over eight and under ten.—Malcolm Roob (Dunedin) 1. Two entries. Sword Dance. Girls over 10 and under 14. r lhroe steps slow and one step quick time.—(Miss Ruby Ford (Timaru) 1, Miss Gwen Ritchie (Timaru) 2, (Miss Eileen M'Carthy (Dunedin) 3, Miss Jean MacLachlan (Wellington) 4. Twentyseven entries. March Playing, for novice pipers under 16 years of age.—D. Robinson (Invercargill. ‘John Mac Donald of Glencoe) 1, M. Allan (Dunedin, ‘The Athol Highlanders') 2. R. F. Donaldson (Invercargill, ‘The Stirlingshire Militia’) 3, WTn. Budge (Dunedin. ‘Th.e Athol and Breadalbane Gathering’) 4. Five entries. Highland Fling, six steps ; girls over 8 and under 10-—Lorna Budge (Dunedin) 1, Maisie Fitzsimmons (Timaru) 2, Hazel M'Lood (Gore) 3, Mabel Sinclair (Timaru) 4. Fourteen entries. Sword Dance ; boys over 10 and under 14. Three steps slow and one quick time. • —W. Brown , .ellington) 1, W. Smith (Dunedin) 6, W. Batt (Invercargill) 3, J. Mayhew (Invercargill) 4. Six entries. Tim judge of piping and dancing (Mr Donald M’Kerhme) said that the playing of the junior pipers this morning was very good. The dancing was also extremely good, the only fault being that some of the competitors did not keep their positions too well. One or two of the dancers, he thought, were competent to dance anywhere. TO-NIGHT. Tho competitions will bo continued at 7.30 this evening, the items set down including the Strathspey and Reel playing, the E-eel o’ Tulloch, and tho Seaun Triubhais champio'-'shin.