PIPE BANDS CONTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26731, 29 March 1948, Page 6

PIPE BANDS CONTEST

Hamilton Caledonian Success In A Grade

SPECTACULAR MASS DISPLAY

There was a crowd estimated at 18,000 at Carisbrook on Saturday afternoon when 10 of the leading highland pipe bands of the Dominion participated in the A Grade Contest, which resulted in a popular win for the Hamilton Caledonian Society’s Band, led by Drum-major Kenneth McAllum, and Pipe-major S. Clothier. The winners gave a superb display of marching, but on the musical side were beaten by the City of Christchurch Highland Pipe Band and the Dunedin Burns Highland Pipe Band. The whole of the 10 bands gave a brilliant display of marching, and many judges claim that they have never seen better at any previous contest in the Dominion. The big crowd, which included the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, and the Mayor. Mr Cameron, applauded each performance, and they were impartial with their favours. The winning band also took the honours in the A Grade at last year’s contest, which was held at Wanganui, and is undoubtedly one of the finest combinations seen in the Dominion for years.

The A Grade Contest was followed by another spectacular event, the Drum-major's Staff Swinging Contest, which attracted 12 entrants from both A and B Grade bands, and was won with one point to spare by K. Manning, of the Timaru Highland Pipe Band, from J. R. Sims, of the Nelson City Pipe Band, with K. J. Campbell, of the New Plymouth Pipe Band, who led his band to a meritorious win in the B Grade Contest the previous afternoon, in third place. The Staff Swinging Contest proved extremely popular, and although one or two of the contestants made bad mistakes early that practically lost them all chance from that stage, the crowd showed its appreciation in no uncertain manner. One of the most popular of the contestants in this event was the drum-major of the Taieri Pipe Band. Miss A. McGregor, one of the few women drum-majors in the Dominion, if not the only one, and she gave a most creditable performance. Thrilling Spectacle The greatest spectacle of the day was reserved for the end, when the whole of the 29 bands engaged in the contest gave an exhibition of marching and counter-marching that will long remain in the memories of the thousands who witnessed it. There were more than 600 pipers engaged, and to the accompaniment of some of the most inspiring of Scottish melodies they rose to supreme heights as they divided inot two sections, each led by a bevy of drum-majors, as they carried out their movements with the greatest military precision. The precision of movement seen throughout the day, as on the previous afternoon, was a magnificent tribute to the work of the drum-majors, and was the culmination of months of arduous practice. A tribute, too, must be paid to the drummers, whose work' throughout was outstanding, and it added immeasurably to the spectacular side of the contest. Parade of Streets One of the last of the centennial processions was provided by the bands in the morning, when, led by the Burns Pipe Band, they paraded the city streets. This spectacle attracted many thousands of admiring citizens, the bands being loudly applauded- all along the route. The Prime Minister and the Mayor, who have taken a keen interest m the proceedings, were present to see the bands move off. , . .. The appearance of the bands in the A Grade Quickstep, and the selections played, were^ —City of Christchurch, Highland Pipe Band (“ Captain Towse, V.C.”), Caledonian Pipe Band of Invercargill (“15th Scottish”), Dunedin Highland Pipe Band (“ Captain Towse, V.C.”) Ruanine Highland Pipe Band (“Captain Towse, V.C.”),_ Timaru Highland Pipe Band (“The Blue Bonnets”), Wanganui Highland Pipe Band (“Mrs McDougall”), Burns Highland Pipe Band (“Captain Towse V-C. ), Wellington Caledonian Society s Pipe Band (“Captain Towse, V.C. ), Manawatu Scottish Society’s Pipe Band (“Captain Oldfield”), Hamilton Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band ( The Cold Winds”). . The judges were:—Music, Mr W. A. Morrison (Timaru); drums, Mr C G. Smith: military, Captain J. A. McPherson, daptain W. Malcolm, Captain W. Sellen, Lieutenant C. F Warrant Officer L. W. Jl . JVlurpn}, Staff-sergeant A. J. Mathie, Sergeant R W. Smith; pace checkers, Staffsergeant W. T. Shields,, Staff-sergeant F Cherry. The results were:—

of Christchurch Highland Pipe Band, and the B Grade by Drum-major E. A. Mosley, of the Hastings and District Scottish Society’s Highland Pipe Band. At the conclusion of his display. Drum-major Mosley, whose work had earned frequent rounds of applause, collapsed, and had to be carried off. He was reported later to have made a good recovery. It was not until 5.20 p.m. that a start was made with the A Grade section, and this did not conclude until after 7.30 p.m. The massed bands’ display had to be cancelled, but will be given this afternoon at the conclusion of the test selections. Finish in Darkness It was unfortunate that the most striking display of the day was given in darkness, although there was still a good sprinkling of spectators present. This was by the drum-major of the City of Christchurch Band, T. A. Gordon. It was a thrilling and original performance presented with consummate skill and vivacity. The performances of both the Ruahine and Invercargill Bands were also outstanding, the Ruahine Band, which comes from Dannevirke, putting such dash into their work that the drum-major and pipers were accorded a well-deserved ovation. ■* The whole of the‘evolutions in this contest were under the control of the drum-major. The maximum time allowed for each display was 12 minutes, and the minimum 10 minutes, with a penalty of one point for each 15 seconds over or under the time. The time was taken from when the band moved off until the band finally halted, not when tney finished playing. The results were:— A Grade Drum-major T. A. Gordon (City of Christchurch Highland Pipe Band), 934 points 1 Drum-major G. Peters (Ruahine Highland Pipe Band), 912 points .. 2 Drum-major C. S. Henderson (Caledonian Pipe Band of Invercargill), 912 points .. .. 3 Drum-major D. A. Almond (Wanganui Highland Pipe Band), 904 points 4 Drum-major C. G. Maher (Dunedin Highland Pipe Band), 90J points 4 Drum-major K. Manning (Timaru Highland Pipe Band), 892 points • • 5 Drum-major K* McAllum (Hamilton Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band), 88 points 6 Drum-major R. Matheson (Manawatu’ Scottish Society’s Pipe Band), 87J points 7 Drum-major A. J. Adamson (Burns Highland Pipe Band), 874 points 8 Drum-major D. I. McLennan (Wellington Caledonian So'ciety’s Pipe Band), 86 points •• 9 B Grade Drum-major E. A. Mosley (Hastings and District Scottish Society’s Highland Pipe Band), 91 points .. .. 1 Drum-major J. M. Crocker (Tauranga Highland Pipe Band), 90 points 2 Drum-major K. J. Campbell (New Plymouth Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band), 89| points .. .. 3 Drum-major M. A. Cameron (Te muka Pipe Band), 88 J points .. 4 Drum-major N. R. Fussell (Auckland and District Highland Pipe Band), 86 points 5 Drum-major J. P. Musgrove (St. Andrew's College), 854 points 6 Drum-major D. Hutchison (Scottish Society of Marlborough), 84} points 7 Drum-major W. Budge (Port Ahuriri Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band), 843 points .. 7 Drum-major L. L. Aitken (Ashburton County Scottish Society’s Pipe Band), 842 points .. 8 Drum-major Miss A. McGregor (Taieri Pipe Band), 824 points 9 Drum-major L. N. Billcliff (Canterbury Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band), 814 points. .. .. 10 Drum-major D. H. F. White (Ellesmere Highland Pipe Band), 81J points ; .. • - 11 Drum-major A. McKechnie (Gore Pipe Band). 804 points .. .. 12 Drum-major W. Byers (StrathTaieri Highland Pipe Band), 792 points •• 13 Drum-maior W. Russell (Milton Pipe Band). 744 points .; .. 14 Drum-maior ,T. R. Sim (Nelson City Pipe Band), 71 points .. 15 Final Day The contest will conclude to-day with the B Grade Test Selection in the morning and the A Grade Test Selection in the afternoon. The bands will play from a specially-erected platform facing the main grandstand. At night there will be a concert and the presentation of prizes in the Dunedin Town Hall.

A Grade Quickstep Hamilton Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band (military points, 1732, music points 904), total points, 2644 .. •• . • • • 1 Manawatu Scottish Society s Pipe Band (military points .170, music points 91), total points, 261 • •• • • ■• • •• " Burns Highland Pipe Band (military Points 1681, music points 92), total points, 2601 •• •• 6 Ruahine Highland Pipe Band (military points 1691, music points 90), total points, 2591 ■. 4 City of Christchurch Highland Pipe Band (military points .163, music points 94), total points, 057 • • 0 Caledonian Pipe Band pf Invercargill (military points 167, music points 851), total points, 2521 b Wanganui' Highland Pipe Band (military points 1665, music points, 844), total points, 2514 7 Dunedin Highland Pipe Band (military points 1643, .music points 85), total. points 2495 ... 8 Timaru Highland Pipe Band (milir tary points 1623, music points 854), total points, 2481 ... .. » Wellington (Caledonian Society s Pipe Band (military points 1565, music points 79), total points, 2355 .. • • Staff Swinging Contest for Drum-majors.-K. Manning (Timaru), 374 noints 1: J. R- Sims (Nelson) 364, 2, & J Campbell (New Plymouth), 354, 3-' N R Fussell (Auckland and District) 35, 4; D. Hutchison (Marlborough), 335, 5; C. G. Maher (Dunedin Highland), 331; R. Matheson (Manawaiu) 33; T. A. Goruon (City oi Christchurch), 33; Miss A. McGregor (Taieri), 315: J. P. Musgrove (St. Andrew’s) and M. A. Cameron (Temuka), 28- D. A. Almond (Wanganui), 214. Street March. —Section A: Timaru Highland Pipe Band, 54 points, 1; Dunedin Highland Pipe Band, 524, 2; Ruahine Highland Pipe Band, 51, 3. tion B: Tauranga Highland Pipe Band, 55 points, 1; Wellington Police Highland Pipe Band, 545, 2; New Plymouth Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band, 544, 3; St. Andrew’s College, 54, 4; Temuka Pipe Band, 524, 5.