BANDS CONTEST

Northern Advocate, 5 March 1929, Page 6

BANDS CONTEST

QUICKSTEP COMPETITIONS. A GRADE TO ST. KILDA. HASTINGS TAKES B, SECTION. (Per Press Association. —Copyright.) WANGANUI, March 4, There were about 10,000 spectators at Cook’s Gardens on Saturday afternoon when the annual Quickstep competitions were decided. There was much excellent marching. The bands left at regular intervals from, the town bridge and marched up Victoria’ Avenue, which was lined by thousands of people, to Cook’s Gardens. At a point in the Avenue, unknown to bands, were stationed judges for marching. At Cook’s Gardens the B Grade band® marched to Steward’s “Broad Adrc” and the A Grade bands to “Shumadinska” (Dufhka MiroVitch). The marching was of high order arid though military experts would, probably have little difficulty in findiilg flaws in some of the marching, the croWd were general in their appraise for all ' competitors, the most popular being Woolston, Palmerston North, Timaru, St. Kilda, Garrison and Queen Alexandra’s—the last two being exceptionally fine in their marching. The musical section was judged by Mr Rees and the combined military and musical points give following results: B. GRADE. , Hastings, 256;}, 1. First Battalion, Taranaki, 250, 2. Feilding, 2474, 3. A. GRADE. iSt. Hilda, 2754, I. Queen Alexandra’s Own, 2694, 2, Wellington Tramways, 2664, 3. . 'Additional Quickstep results: B. Grade. —Hawera 2464, 4; Ashburton 2375, 5; New Plymouth Citizens’ 2145, 6. A. Grade.—Wanganui Garrison 2644, 4; Otago MoUnteds 261, 5; Palmerston North. 2505, 6; Greymouth 2554, and Timaru 2555, 7; Woolston 2545, 8; Wellington Silver 2504, 9; Kaikorai 2485, 10. ■ The placed bands in the inarch up the Avenue were Wanganui Garrison 1, Palmerston North 2, Ashburton 3. Many people ■ were surprised that Woolston, after a magnificent performance Which has been subject of much comment, did not gain a higher place in the second A Grade test. It appears that they lost points mainly because they were ever a minute too slow in tempo. , St. Kilda, the winners, have had congratulations showered upon them from all parts of the Dominion.

JUDGE VERY PLEASED,

CftMPEiMOES EiULOGISEO. CHIEiP PRIZE WINNERS. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) This Day. Mr T. J. Rees, judge of the band contest, says he greatly appreciated the sporting manner in which the bandsmen took hi® decisions and the gentlemanly way they conducted themselves throughout the week. He was greatly impressed with their smartness ' and cleanliness and the military discipline of the respective bands. “I must confess that We have'not anything at Home amongst the civilian band® to compare with the strict discipline of the New Zealand bands,” said, Mr Rees. “The march contest

would be an eye-opener at Home and it proves to me that this is one of the chief events from the spectators’ point of view.” The following are the chief prizewinners

A Grade.—-St Hilda £216; Wanganui Garrison, £B7 10s; Queen Alexandra’s Own, £75 16s 8.(J; Timaru, £35 16s 8d; Greymouth, £22 10a; Woolston, £ls IGs Sd; Wellington Tramways, £ls,

B. Grade. —Ashburton, £80; Hawera, £62 10 s; Hastings, £62 10s; First Battalion, Taranaki Regiment, £ls.