QUICKSTEP WINNERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 77, 28 February 1938, Page 10

QUICKSTEP WINNERS

A GRADE TO WANGANUI. BAND CONTEST CONCLUDES. The New Zealand brass band championship contest was brought to a fitting conclusion on Saturday witli the grand military display and quickstep competition. Conditions were all that could be desired except that late in the afternoon there was a light 'shower, the weather clearing again for the performance by the massed bands. There were about six thousand people present, and the display was of a particularly high standard, the smart appearance of the various bands and their demonstrations of marching making a colourful spectacle. As each band went through the various evolutions marches, counter-marches, turns and wheels—the public showed their, appreciation in no uncertain manner. In the A grade competition there were seven entries, the winners being tli Wanganui Garrison Band, whose performance was particularly outstanding, The Timaru Municipal Band was second, and the Ist Batt. Auckland Regiment Band third. However, it was left to a B grade band to score the highest points in the military display, the Wellington Boys’ Institute Band securing 184 J points against the 1752 points scored ny the top A grade band (Auckland Regimental). The -Hastings Citizens Band also gave a better military display than the senior bands. The Wanganui Garrison Band were first in music and second in the military display in the A grade section, while in the B grade Institute (the winners) were fourth in music and first in military display. The Efawera Band, which was second, in the aggregate, was first In music and third in the military display. The special prizes for drum-majors went to Mr G. Hallam, of the Ist Batt. Auckland Regiment Band (A grade) and Mr M. Kehoe, of the Wellington Boys’ Institute Band (B grade). Details are as follow, the drummajor’s name being given in parentheses) : j. A GRADE. .

Dickson), “'Hie Howitzer” 165 s 86 251 j The judge of music was Mr E. P. Kerry (Sydney), while the military judges were Captain Barry, N.Z.S.C. (Wanganui), and Sergeant-Majors Holmes, Ryan and Cederman, N.Z.S.C. (Palmerston North) Prior to the announcement of the results all the competing bands formed up in front of the main stand and, under the baton of Mr Kerry, played the march “Dominion.” There was a very noticeable spirit of relaxation among the bandsmen with a heavy week of competition completed, and while the public awaited the pronouncement of the figures they were treated to a good deal of burlesque music. DEMONSTRATION CONCERT. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. In the evening a final demonstration concert was held in the Opera House, the venue having been changed: from the Showgrounds on account of the wet weather. The building was corwded to. the doors and the programme, with the champions taking part, was of a highclass order. Proceedings opened with the Wanganui Garrison Band, under Mr R. Francis, playing their winning quickstep number, which was followed, as an encore, with their winning piece in the hymn test. The Port Nicholson Silver Band’s winning quartette played the selection “White Heather,” and equally popular was the trombone solo by Bandsman H. Croucher (Hawera). The Ashburton Silver Band, under Lieutenant W. H. Osborne, rendered the second test selection, and this was followed by the Wellington Boys’ Institute Band playing their contest march. A baritone solo by Mr Bromler was next on the ■ programme and, as one of the highlights of the evening, Bandsman Allan Martin, of the Blind Institute Band (champion cornetist) and C. Gardner, of the Ist Battalion Auckland Regiment Band (second in the cornet championship), rendered cornet duets. The opportunity was taken to present the prizes won during Contest Week. Mr E. Palliser (president of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association) said that the contest had been very successful, and although the attendances during the week had been a little disappointing, the public patronage that day and that evening had left nothing to be desired. “We have witnessed to-day,” he added, “a display seldom equalled in New Zealand, and certainly never surpassed.” He congratulated the winning bands and the winning solosists, paying a special tribute to the Wanganui Gar-

rison Band for carrying on under the trial of a bereavement, and to the Wellington Boys’ Institute Band for the high standard of their military, display.

On behalf of the association, Mr Palliser thanked the Mayor and citizens of Palmerston North for undertaking to conduct the contest, and for the efficient organisation of it.. The venture cost in the vicinity of £I2OO to hold, and he hoped that when the final figures were made known there would be no need to call on the guarantors.

The chairman of the local committee (Mr A. E. Mansford) also congratulated the successful bands and soloists, and paid a compliment to the conduct of the bandsmen while off parade. “Your excellent behaviour while in Palmerston North,” he said, “is a credit to you and to yopr town or city.” (Applause.) Only some of them could win—only some of them could take back trophies, but he hoped all of them would take back happy recollections of their stay in the city. Mr Mansford thanked the citizens’ committee, the military judges and the public generally. It had really been a wonderful week, he said. Mr Mansford then presented the prizes, the amounts won by each hand being as follow:—Port Nicholson Silver (A grade championship £SO. first'test £SO. second test £SO), £150; Timaru Municipal (second in A grade second test £3O. second in A grade quickstep £2O, third in A grade first test £lO, third in hymn test £5), £65; Wanganui Garrison Band (first in hymn test £ls, first in quickstep £35. second first A grade test £3O), £80; Wellington Boys’ Institute (first in B grade first test, £45, third in second test £lO, first in B grade quickstep £35), £9O; Dannevirke Municipal (second in B grade first test) £25; Ashburton Silver (second in B grade second test £25, third in B grade quickstep £10), £35; Hawera Municipal (first in B grade second test £45. second in hymn test £lO. second in B grade quickstep £2O). £75; Ist. Batt. Auckland Regiment (third in A grade quickstep £lO, first in street march £10), £2O; Wellington Tramways (third in A orrade second test), £10; Christchurch Municipal (third in B grade first test), £lO. The A grade Championship Challenge Cup was won by the Port Nicholson Silver Band, the B grade Champion Challenge Shield was won by the Ashburton Silver Band; the Shardlow Memorial Challenge Shield for the B grade quickstep went to Wellington Boys’ Institute; and the McLeod Cup for the hymn test was won by the Wanganui Garrison Band. Bandsman Allan Morton (Blind Institute) secured the New Zealand cornet championship shield as well as the Gordon Bergersen memorial gold medal.

The winners of the solo competitions received gold medals and those who . came second received silver medals.

Wanganui Garrison (F. P. Koorey), “Harlequin” Timaru Municipal (W. G. Angus), ’’Knight of the Vlil. Mus. Agg. Pts., Pts. Pts> 174 143 317 Road” 1st Batt. Auckland Regiment (G. Hallam), “Knight of the Road” Palmerston North Garrison (S. Wilson), “Appreci173a 139 3123 1753 117 2923 ation” Auckland Artillery (R. Sutton), “20th Century” ...... Wellington Tramways (E. P. Troy) “Russe” Port Nicholson Silver (M. 1673 122 2893 171 118 239 1523 125 2773 Kehoe), “B.B. and C.F.” B GRADE. 163| HI 2743 Wellington Boys’ Institute (M. Kehoe), “20th Century” Hawera Municipal Band (A. E. Stevens) “Viva Birkinshaw” Ashburton Silver (J. Wilkie) Vlil. Mus. Agg, Pts. Pts. Pts. 1843 121 3053 169j 127 2963 “Knight of tho Road” ... Hastings Citizens (W. Cate), 1693 12b 2953 “Challenger” Dannevirke Municipal (H. J. E. Hirtzcl), “Punchinello” Palmerston North Silver (D. 180 112 292 1673 123 2903 Dennison), “Punchinello” . Te Awamutu Municipal (F. Green), “Canberra” Feilding Municipal (Mr Levy), “Viva Pettee” ... Christchurch Municipal (T. Coulter), “The Flying 1643 105 2693 163 96 259 1673 87 2543 Squad” Wellington Artillery (1. 166 88 254