COMPETITIONS OPENED AT GREYMOUTH

Grey River Argus, 23 August 1949, Page 3

COMPETITIONS OPENED AT GREYMOUTH

Judges Favourably Impressed In Ail Sections

The Greymouth Competitions Society was greeted yesterday by a generous public response at the opening of its thirty-fifth annual festival in the St. John’s and Wesle v Halls. The entries are exceptionally large, competitors coming from an parts of the South Island.

The festival was formally opened at St. John’s Hall last evening by the deputy-Mayor, Mr J. E. Stokes, who apologised for the absence of the Mayor, Mr F. F. Boustridge. Mr Stokes said that it gave him great pleasure to open the thirty-fifth annual festival. The society by the enterprise of its members, had braved all difficulties which had confronted it, with the lack of a suitable hall. The competitions, said Mr Stokes, were of immense public benefit, giving young and old the opportunity to display and enjoy theirtalents.

The greatest ambition of all was culture, and the competitions made for culture. He congratulated the society on the wonderful success it had attained and sMd that the Borough Council hoped to have a suitable hall in the next year or two. Rev. T. G. Campbell, president of the society, welcomed Mr Stokes, and the four adjudicators, Mrs Mavis Perfect (National Dancing); Miss Muriel Swann (F'ancv Dancing); Miss Beryl Baggs (Elocution); and Mr Clifton Cook (vocal and instrumental). Mr Clifton Cook, on behalf of the judges, thanked Rev. Mr Campbell and Mr Stokes for their remarks and said he felt sure that they would ail enjoy their stay in Greymouth. Mrs Mavis Perfect, who, West Coasters will recall, conducted a School of Dancing in Mawhera Quay as the Mavis Burgoine Dancing Salon, is the adjudicator in the National Dancing section, it being pleasing to see Mrs Perfect here again this time in an official capacity. Her ability as a dancer —national, fancyand to say the best ballroom —is unquestionable. Mrs Perfect judged no fewer than 120 competitors yesterday which surely constitutes a record insofar as West Coast competitions are concerned.

The standard of dancing on the whole was excellent, in fact better would not be seen anywhere in New Zealand, said Mrs Perfect, who added that it was well-known that the South Island showed the way in field of dancing. It was hard to single out any particular dancer, as there was very little between them. She was particularly impressed with the Sailor’s Hornpipe, 10 to 13 years section. The final event last evening, the Irish Reel (open) revealed some outstanding young dancers, among whom Miss Josephine Pickens . excelled, and she should have a bright future on the stage, possessing al) the attributes of a first-class ballerrina.

Miss Muriel Swann, the Fancy Dancing adjudicator, said that all performers in her sections were good without any being really outstanding. Miss Kay Cleghorn, however, impressed greatly. Joan Adams in winning the Operatic Dance 13 and over, gave a magnificent performance added Miss Swann.

Mr Clifton Cook the vocal and instrumental adjudicator was highly impressed with all sections but he made special mention of the musical quartette, Misses Ula Drummond, Rene .Morgan, Marion and Anne Eadie, who were brilliant musicians

Miss Beryl Baggs spoke in praiseworthy terms of the elocution section, which had large entries, more especially among the younger sections and it was most heartening to see the ability of the small children before a large audience. Piano duet, boy or girl, under 14, own selection: Anne Stratford and Joan Sadi’er 82, 1; Patricia Mason and Beverley Heenan (Hokitika), 80, 2; Jocelyn Hill and Patricia Grenfell (Hokitika), 78, 3. Highly commended: Mary and Michael Bell, 77. Recitation, boy or girl, under 16, not humorous, own selection: Lorraine Shaw (Christchurch), 78, 1; Graham Elcock (Christchurch), 76, 2; Joan Jamieson, 74, 3. Song, boy or girl, under 8. own selection: Catherine Connor, 78, 1; Lois Shannahan and Marie Allen (Runanga), 74, 2 equal. Violin solo, boy or girl, under 16, own selection: Michael Bell, 74, 1; Philip Mead, 70, 2; Gordon Worsley, 69, 3.

Novice Fling: Nancy Rodger (Sumner) 1; Beverley Goodall 2; Beth Irvine (Nelson) 3. Very highly commended: Cynthia M. Howat, Rosemary E. Molloy (Runanga), Gaynor Blair (Coal Creek), Lorraine Mills (Rangiora), Anne Fraser. Tap Dance, 13 years and 'over: Joan Adams (Christchurch), 80, 1; May Galvin, 79, 2; June Barnes (Christchurch), 78, 3. Very highly commended: Valmai Henderson and Zelda Cleghorn, 68.

Recital in character, with costume (boy or girl, under 14), humorous: Glenys Smart (Hokitika), 75. 1; Patricia Mason, 71, 2. Recitation (Boy or Girl under 12) not humorous: —Patricia Morris 1; K'/Jia Herfect (Christchurch) 2; Jeanette Meech and Barbara White, equal 3. Recitation in Character with Costume (boy or girl under 14) humorous:Glenys Smart (Hokitika) 1; Patricia Mason 2.

A-aano Solo (Boy or Girl under 12) —Patricia Adams (ceeston) 1, Margaret Thompson (Hokitika') 2; Patricia West (rrou Hou) 3. Recitation (Boy or Gill’ under 10) humorous: —Maxine Wicks 1; Gwyiha Kiilner (Christchurch) 2; Ricnaxd Olsen and Janine Gordon equal 3. Highly commended Dorothy Scnuitz. boprano soio: — Lorraine M. Graham 1. Margaret Bierne and Doris Mary Hogg, equal 2. Violin or Stringed Instrument Solo Ray Hill 1, Vincent Duny 2; Gordon Worsley and Maziel Fraser, equal 3. Chier Piano Solo (open): J. VV. Fair!io (Hokitika) 1. Vocal solo with obligato (Lady or Gentleman): E. McCarrigan 1; Elsie Haglund 2; Furnley Cramond and Dons Hogg equal 3. Recitation (Lady or Gentleman), not humorous: Margarita Smeaton (Timaru); Patricia Caldwell (Reefton) 2. Tenor Solo, test:—■ George Williams 1; Thomas Menzies 2. Shakespearean Recitation: Patricia Caldwell (Reef ton) 1; Margarita Smeaton (Timaru) 2. Musical Quartette: Ula Drummond, Reno Morgan, Marion Eadie, Anne Eadie 1; V. G. Duffy, R. Campbell, D. Gifford, S. Datsun 2; P. Mead, G. Worsley, D. Gifford, A. Bourke 3. Vocal Solo: —Max Braithwaite 1; James Laughton 2. Piano duet: Lloyd Dowell and J. W Fairlie (Hokitika) 1; Joan Cr'ough and Ellen Shearer (Hokitika) 2? Charlotte Fitzgerald and Muriel Shearer (Hokitika) 3. Highland Fling (10 and under 13): Vernon Norris (Christchurch) 1, Tanette Ellis (Christchurch) and Judith Peters (Nelson) 2; Fred RBridger (Green Island) and Valerie ’ Operatic Dance-(under 10): Dianne McLaughlan (Christchurch) 1, Kay leghorn 2: Alison Wilson 3. ' Sailor’s Horn--’" 1 ? (10 and under 13V Judith Peters (Nelson) 1. I.ynette Honkinson 2, Fred R. Bridger (Green Island) 3. Sean Triubhais (under 10): Jill

Fagan (Christchurch) 1; Gaynor Hurrmg (Dunedin) 2, Jillian McKendry (Christchurch) 3. Operatic Dance: Joan Adams (Cnnstehurch) 1, Leoia Goodall 2, June Barnes (Christchurch) 3. Barefoot dance (10 years and under 13): Nola Perfect (Christchurch) 1, Valerie Harris 2, Lynette Hopkinson 3. Skipping Dance 13 years and over) Joan Adams (Christcnurch), 1 Leola Goodall 2, Noeline Spiers (Christchurch) 3. Reel O’Tulloch (open):—May Galvin (Dunedin) 1, Josephine Pickens (Christchurch) 2; Noeline Spiers (Christchurch) and Anne Hawker (Christchurch) equal 3. Highland Fling (13 years and over): May Galvin (Dunedin) 1, Josephine Pickens (Christchurch) and Cecil Hurring (Dunnedin) equal 2; Leola Goodall and Anne Hawker (Christchurch) equal 3. Character Dance (13 years and (Over): —Leola Goodall 1, Joan Adams (Christchurch) 2, Valmai Henderson 3. Tap Duo (open):—Grace and June Barnes (Christchurch) 1, Marlene Fabian (Linwood) and Kathleen Palmer (Riccarton) 2. Irish Reel: Josephine Pickens (Christchurch) 1; Noeline .Spier (Christchurch) 2; Anne Hawker (Christchurch) and May Galvin I (Dunedin) equal 3.