PIPING AND DANCING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16709, 1 June 1916, Page 4

PIPING AND DANCING

FIFTH ANNUAL GATHERING. The fifth annual championship meeting of the Pipers and Dancers] Association of New Zealand was opened in the Art Gallery liall last night. The entries are up to the usual average, and a large audience of lovers of Scottish music and dancing took a keen interest in the proceedings. Mr Dugald M'Pherson 'president of the association) presided, and in a brief, appropriate speech formally opened the meeting. The piping competitions are being judged by .Mr K. Cameron and the dancing bv Mr H. Ai'Kay (Timaru). Main interest centred in the juvenile dancing championship awarded for most points in Highland reel, Highland fling, and seantreuss. The reel and fling were taken last night, L>ut the 10 competitors have yet to bo seen in the seantreuss, which will be taken to-night. The judge that the playing of the marclies with which the programme opened was excellent) throughout. There were five competitors whom he found it very difficult t.o separate. They gave very gO'id interpretations, but on (he part oi some of the competitors there was a tendency to play too slcwly. The same tendency was also noticeable in the strathspeys and reels. M'lntyre, the winner in that section, gave a good all-round performance. Selby's execution was very fine, and M'Millan scored in tone and_ expression. The general standard was again very high. The boy who was placed second in the Highland fling for boys under 12 had much the neatest style of any, but he lost points through getting out of his position. The first prize-winner did not get sufficient lift into his dancing. The girl placed first in the sword dance for girls under 12 gave a first-class exhibition, and was excellent in all the positions.. The second girl was a neat little dancer, but needs more training. In the class for boys under 18 Anderson danced a very neat seantreuss. The adult dancing was good, and gave the judge some difficulty in reaching a. decision. _C. M'Kenzie danced a fiist-class_Highland fling, and was almost- perfect in his positions. H. M'Donald was very close up in the same competition. The first two girls in tho sword danc-e gave a very good exhibition, and the same remark applies to all tho three placed competitors in the men's sword dance.

Tho proceeds of the gathering,_ — hich will be brought to a close this evening, are to bo devoted to tho Highlands and Islands Relief Fund.

The following are the results: —

Marches (open). Seven entries—A. MTntyrc 1, J. M'Calium and Angus -u.'Miilan (equal) 2. Highland Fling boys under 1.2). .Five entries—A. Wilson 1, W. Smith 2, C. Shaw 3.

Sword Dance (girls under 12). Four entries-— S. Sutherland 1, E. Murray 2, B. King 3.

Seantreuss (boys under 18). Foot entries— J. Anderson 1, C. Shaw 2, W. M'Kenzie 3. Strathspeys and Reels (open). Eight entries—A M'lntyre 1, C. Selby and A. M'Millan (equal) 2. Highland Fling (adults). Six entries—o. M'Kenzie 1, H. M'Donalcl 2, R. Clark 3. Sword Dance (girls under 18). Eight on-irics-«1. Riddell 1, S. Sutherland 2, G. Fagot 3. Sword Dance (adults). Six entries—G. Anderson 1, R. Clark 2, H. M'Donald 3.