PIPING AND DANCING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 29

PIPING AND DANCING.

'ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITIONS. A SUCCESSFUL OPENING. The annua! competitions in piping and 'dancing under the auspices of the Otago Centre of the I’iping and Dancing Association of New Zealand, were bsgun cn Monday, 4th instant., under favourable conditions in all respects save climatic. Even in spite of the boisterous, cold, and wet weather there was a large attendance at each session, and the various performances were followed with critical interest. (Competitors have been attracted from all parts of the Dominion, and embrace ail the leading exponents of both playing and dancing. The arrangements throughout are excellent, and are going like clockwork thanks to the '■apable supervision of the lion, secretary (Mr K. Cameron) assistant hon. secretary (Mr F. A. Chevne), an energetic committee, and the following officials:- Supervisor of competitions, Mr T. W. King; assistant supervisor. Mr H. A. Robinson : judge of piping. Mr Alex. C. Dickson, Wellington; judge "of dancing. Mr Duncan Mackenzie, Dannevirke; judge of wearing of Highland dress, Mr’ Hugh Paterson, Dunedin; stage stewards and parade stewards —Messrs J. A. Budge, P. M'Carthy, Alex. Mac Kay, T.cn. Lamont; result hoard steward, Mr 11. A. Robinson. Pile official pipers were Messrs Len. Lam on r. and Angus M'Millan. The judge of the piping events was last year’s champion piper, and the judge of dancing is the champion dancer. Following are the results of the first day’s competitions:— MARCH PLAYING. For Novice Pipers; any age.—Stanley ~tratton (Mosgiel), 1; Neil Munro (Port Chalmers), 2; Edgar P. Lane (Christchurch), For Novice Pipers; under 16 years of age. Neil Munro, 1; Raymond Stratton, 2; Alex. Kane (Milton), 3.’ HIGHLAND FLING. For Boys under 10 vears of age.—Leslie D M’Grcgor (Mosgiel), 1; Ronald Ritchie (Mosgiel), 2; Graliame M'Kinley (Dunedin), 3. For Girls under 10 years of age.—Lucy Robinson (Dunedin), 1; Violet Cameron (Herbert), 2; Norma A. Douglas (Oamaru), 3; Rhona J. Y ilsen (Dunedin), 4. SWORD DANCE.’ For Girls under 10 years.—Winifred Macpherson (Invercargill), 1; Florence Miller (Waikaka). 2; Agnes Kieskie (Mosgiel), 3. For Boys under 10 years —Leslie D M’Gregor (Mosgiell, 1; Graliame 2; Ronald Ritchie, 3; Willie Murray (Invercargill), 4. SEAN TRIUBHAIS. For Boys under 10 years.—Leslie D. M’Gregor, 1; Ronald Ritchie, 2; Willie Murray, 3. A protest was entered against Ritchie on the ground that he gave the signal for quick time too soon. For Girls under 10. —Lucy Robinson, 1; Winifred Alacpherson. 2; Violet Cameron, 3; Noel Ferris (Oamaru!, 4. IRISH JIG. For Girls, 10 to 12 years.—May Donaldson (Timarui, 1 ; Mabel Sinclair (Timaru), 2; Doreen O'Sullivan (Dunedin), 3; Dorothv HaJl (Timaru), 4. For Boys, 10 to 12 years.—Percy H. Lockhart (Dunedin), 1; Harold Wilson (Dunedin), 2; Eric Gordon (Moogielj, 3; Robert W. Wright (Dunedin), 4. SECOND DAY RESULTS. PIPING EVENTS. Piobaireachd (Ceoi Miori, for pipers who have never won a first prize in any senior, open or “all-comers’’ competition.—Dave Robinson, Invercargill (“Glengarry's Lament ’), 1; Cuth C. Selby, Invercargill (“Massacre of Glencoe”), 2; Donald M'Kay, Dunedin (“Glengarry’s Lament”), 3. Reel-playing, Championship of Otago.— John A. Cameron, Mataura, 1; Albert MTntyre, Maunganui, 2; Cuth C. Selby, 3. DANCING ITEMS. HIGHLAND fling. For local giri3 under 12 years of age.— Edna Cameron, Balchitha, 1; Mary M’Diarmid, Balclutha, 2; Joy Mitchell, Balclutha, S; Winifred Savage, Milton, 4. For girls 12 to 15. —Ruby Ford, 1; Ruby Robinson, Dunedin, 2; Baba Coy, 3; Jean M’Lachlan, 4. SWORD DANCE. For girls 12 to 15 years of age.—Jean M’Lachlan, Wellington, 1; Babs Coy, Wellington, 2; Ruby Ford, Albury, 3; Isabel Matheson, Dunedin, 4. For girls 10 to 12. —Dorothy Hall, Timaru, 1; May Donaldson, Timaru, 2; Mabel Sinclair, 3; Mavis Burgoyne, Timaru, 4. SEAN TRIUBHAIS. David Ross Memorial.—For girls 15 to 18. — Thelma M’Kenzie, I; Beulah King, 2; Rita Beck, Dunedin, 3; Grace Cameron, Balclutha 4. REEL O’ TTJLLOCH. For girls 18 years or over. —May Thorn, Mataura, 1; Thelma Gillespie, Dunedin, 2; Jean M Kenzie, 3; Muriel P. Waugh, 4. IRISH JIG. Irish Jig (plain steps only), for girls 15 to 18 years.—Beulah King, Dunedin, 1; Thelma M’Kenzie, Wellington, 2; Eileen M’Carthy, Dunedin, 3; Davidina Bruce, Christchurch 4. Piobaireachd, for juniors, any age (six entries) —Dave Robinson (Invercargill) 1, Arthur C. Selby (Invercargill) 2, Donald M’Kay (Dunedin) 3. Sword Dance, girls 12 to 15 years (25 entries) —Jean M’Lachlan (Wellington) 1, Babs Coy (Wellington) 2, Ruby Ford (Timaru) 3. Irish Jig. girls 15 to 18 years (12 entries) — Beulah King (Dunedin) 1, Thelma E. M’Kenzie (Wellington) 2, Eileen M’Carthy (Dunedin) 3. Reel Playing, all-comers (10 entries)— J. A. Cameron (Southland) 1, Albert MTntyre (Christchurch) 2, Cuth. Selby (Invercargill) 3. Highland Fling, girls 12 to 15 years (21 entries) —Ruby Ford (Timaru) 1, Ruhy Robinson (Dunedin) 2. Babs Coy (Wellington) 3, Jean M’Laohlan (Wellington) 4. Sword Dance, girls 10 to 12 years (21 entries) —Dorothy Hall (Timaru) 1, ...ay Donaldson (Timaru) 2, Mabel Sinclair (Timaru) 3. Sean Triubhais, girls 15 to 18 years (13 entries) —Thelma E. M’Kenzie (Wellington) I, Beulah King (Dunedin) 2, Rita Beck (Dunedin) 3. Reel o’ Tullooh, girls 18 years or over (six entries) —May Thom (Mataura) 1, Thelma Gillespo (Dunedin) 2, Jean M’Kenzie (Wellington) 3. Jig and Hornpipe Playing, Championship of Otago, all-comers (eight entries) —J. A. Cameron (Southland) 1, Cuth Selliy (Invercargill) 2. Duncan Stuart (Southland) 3, Albert MTntyre 4.

Highland Fling, girls 10 to 12 years (22 entries) —May Donaldson (Timaru) 1, Mavis Burgoyne (Timaru) 2, Mabel Sinclair (Timaru) 3. Sword Dance, boys 10 to 12 years (37 entries) —Erie Gordon 1, Percy Lockhart 2, Douglas Brown (Timaru) 3. Highland Fling, boy 3 and girls under 15 years (15 entries)—Jean M’Lachlan 1, Babs Coy 2, Ruby Robinson 3. Sailor’s Hornpipe, boys 12 to 15 years (three entries) —Alexander Sinclair 1, John Mayhew 2, William. M’Gill 3. Sean Triubhais, girls 18 years and over (six entries) —May Thorn 1 Jean M’Kenzie 2, Thelma Gillespie 3, Olga Seaman (Wellington) 4. WEDNESDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. The annual competitions under the auspices of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Piping and Dancing Association were continued in His Majesty’s Theatre on Wednesday. Results: PIOBoj-REACJID (CHAMPIONSHIP OF OTAGO). All-comers. Nine Entries. C. C. Maodonakl 1 Archibald M’Millan 2 Albert MTntyre 3 Murdoch Watson .. .. .. -. .. 4 HIGHLAND FLING (local); Girls 12 and under 18 years. Seven entries—Ena Paterson 1. Clace Head 2, Jean E. Russell 3, Winnie Murray 4. IRISH JIG (“Broken Time” Step Only); Girls 15 to 18 years. Five entries—Thelma M’Kenzie 1, Beulah King 2, Nan Wills 3, Eileen M’Carthy 4. STRATHSPEY PLAYING (Ceol Chrictheil). All-comers. Ten Entries. Championship of New Zealand. Archibald M’Millan .. .. .. 1 Chas. C. Macdonald .. ». 2 Cuth C. Selby .. .. 5Dave Robinson 4 SEAN TRIUBHAIS; Girls 10 to 12 years. Kinenteen entries —Mavis Burgoyne 1, Connie Potts 2, Mabel Sinclair 3, May Donaldson 4. HIGHLAND REEL; Girls 18 years and over. Six entries—May Thom 1, Thelma Gillespie 2, Jean M’Kenzie 3, Muriel P. Waugh -1. SWORD DANCE; Boys 12 to 15 years. Four entries —Alex. Sinclair 1, Jack-Mayhew 2, William M’Gill 3. HIGHLAND FLING; Girls 15 to 18 years. Thirteen entries —Davidina Bruce 1. Thelma E. M’Kenzie 2, Beulah King 3, Emily D. Turner 4. IRISH REEL; Bovs and Girls under 13 years (four of -four parties)—Ruby Robinson, Lilian Fox, Jill Fox, and Ethel Sinclair 1; Doreen Wheeler, Ethel Sinclair, -Phyllis Gray, and Maisie Thompson 2; May Hungerford, Margaret Gall, Annie Moore, and Lorna Budge 3; Isa Philips, Margaret Gall, Hazel Ritchie, and Doreen O’Sullivan 4. The following were the results of Thursday’s events: THE DUGALD M’PHERSON MEMORIAL. Slow march playing (Coel Socairach); championship of Otago; all-comers; special competition; also two silver cups and gold medal for most points. This speeial competition is for the playing of a slow march. The tune must be a new one, composed in New Zealand, never published so far in any hook of music, nor played anywhere in public prior to this competition. A manuscript copy of the tune, signed by the composer, shall be lodged with secretary at time of entry. If the player in the competition is not the composer, the composer’s consent to the use of the tune must he endorsed on the manuscript. The judge, when deciding the competition, shall take into account the merits and suitability of the composition as a lament, as well as the playof it. Eleven entries. Charles C. Macdonald .. .. .. 1 Archibald M’MSllan 2 Cuthbert C. Selby 3

MARCH PLAYING, for juniors, any ago (for pipers who have never won a first prize in any junior, semi-senior, or intermediate piping event at the Otago Centre’s competitions; or a first prize in any senior, open, or all-comers’ piping competition at any leading gathering). Twelve entries Stanley Stratton 1, William Budge 2, James Miller 3, Neil Munro 4. HIGHLAND FLING, boys 10 to 12 years. Eight entries.—Eric Gordon 1, Robert W. Wright 2, Harold Wilson 3. IRISH JIG (“broken time,” steps only), girls 12 to 15 years. Nine entries.—Jean M’Lachlan 1, Ruby Robinson 2, Lorna Budge 3. REEL O’ TTJLLOCH, boys ana girls under 15 years. Twelve entries.—Jean M’Lachlan 1, Ruby Robinson 2, Babs Coy 3, Ruby Ford 4. (Most correct wearing of Highland dress, irrespective of its want of quality or its incompleteness. Open to men and boys, any age. Competitors will be judged mostly by how they wear their dress throughout the wholo of the competitions, and will parade for final inspection. Fourteen entries. — Charles C. M’Donald 1, Albert MTntyre 2> Archibald M’Millan 3. IRISH JIG (type of steps optional), girls 18 years of age and over. Six entries. —May Thorn 1, Olga Seaman 2, Thelma Gillespie 3, Jean M’Kenzie 4. MARCH, STRATHSPEY, AND REEL PLAYING-, semi-seniors, any age. For pipers who have never won a first prize in any semi-senior, senior, open, or all-comers piping competition at any leading gathering; nor the intermediate piobaireachd event at this centre’s competitions any year prior to this year. Eleven entries.—Dave Robinson 1, Neil Munro 2. Wry. Budge 3, George Ross 4. SEAN TRIUBHAIS, CHAMPIONSHIP OF NEW ZEALAND; Girls 12 to 15 years. Twenty-two entries—Jean M’Lachlan 1, Babs Coy 2, Doreen Wheeler 3, May Hungerford 4. The piping and dancing competitions, under the auspices of the Otago Centro Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand, were brought to a successful close on Friday, when there were good audiences present throughout, the day. The competitions this year compare favourably with those of previous years. The following are the results :—• MARCH PLAYING, all comers, under 16 years. Five entries—Peter W. Davidson 1, Raymond Stratton 2, Victor J. Barker 3, and John Milne 4. IRISH JIG (“plain time” steps only), girls 12 to 15 years. Twenty entries— Jean M’Lachlan 1, Daisy M'Rao 2, Ruby Robinson 3, and Lilian Fox 4. HIGHLAND FLING, boys 12 to 15 years. Four entries —Alex. Sinclair 1, Jack Mayhew 2, William M’Gill 3. SAILORS’ HORNPIPE, girls 15 to 18 years. Thirteen entries—Thelma E. M’Kenzie 1, Beulah King 2, Davidina Bruce 3, Grace Cameron 4.

REEL, boys and girls 15 to 13 years. Ten entries—Davidina Bruce

1, Beulah King 2, Thelma E. M’Kenzie 3, Eileen M’Carthy 4. MOST CORRECT WEARING OF HIGHLAND DRESS, irrespective of its want of quality or its incompleteness. Open to ladies or girls of any age. Competitors to be judged chiefly on how they wear their dress while competing in the dancing events, but also by a parade for special inspection. Twenty-three entries—May Thorn 1, Beulah King 2, Davidina Bruce 3. MARCH PLAYING (cell siubhlach), Championship of Otago; all comers. Ten entries—John A. Cameron 1, Charles C. Macdonald 2, Albert M’lntyre 3, Archibald M’Millan 4. REEL 0’ TULLOOH, boys and girls, 15 to 18 years. Ten entries —Davidina Bruce 1, Thelma M’Kenzie 2, Beulah King 3, Grace Cameron 4. SAILORS’ HORNPIPE, girls 10 to 15 years. Nineteen entries—Ruby Robinson 1, Jean Irvine 2, Jean M’Lachlan 3, Rub Ford 4. SWORD DANCE, Championship of New Zealand; girls 15 to 18 years. Ten entries. Beulah King ... ... ... ... I Thelma M’Kenzie ... ... 2 Davidina Bruce ... 3 Eileen M’Carthy 4 Special Prize, awarded for the best Composition of a Slow March played in the Dugald M’Pherson Memorial Slow March Competition. The first prize composition becomes the property of the Otago Centre of (ho Association, and the tune is to be named “Chief Dugald M’Pherson’s Lament.” Ten entries —Kenneth Cameron 1, Duncan Cameron 2, Murdoch Watson (Browns) 3. SPECIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Strathspey Playing Championship of New Zealand (all comers). —Arohd. M’Millan. Otago Champion Piper (all comers). —C. O. M’Donald. Most points for playing Pibrochs, Marches, and Slow Marches (ail comers). — C. C. M’Donald. “Chief Dugald M’Pherson Memorial.” — Special prize, £3 3s, for best original composition, slow march, composed in New Zealand. entitled “Chief Dugald M’Pherson’s Lament.” —Kenneth Cameron. “Chief Dugald M’Pherson Memorial.”— Special prize, £5 ss, gold medal, for best playing arid composition combined of slow march, “Chief Dugald M’Pherson’s Lament.”—C. C. M’Donald. Best “Junior” Piobaireachd Player.—D. Robinson. Sword Dance Championship of New Zealand (girls 15 to 18 years of age).—Beulah King. Sean Triubhais Championship of New Zealand (girls 12 to 15 years of age).—Jean M’Lachlan. Otago Champion Girl Dancer, over 18 years.—May Thorn. “MOST POINTS” TROPHIES. Class A (boys under 10 years).—Leslie M‘Gregor. Class A (girls under 10 years).—Lucy Robinson. Class B (boys 10 to 12 years).—Erie Gordon. Class B (girls 10 to 12 vears). —May Donaldson. Class C (boys 12 to 15 years).—Alex. Sinclair. Class C (girls 12 to 15 years).—J. M’Lachlan. Class E (girls 15 to 18 vears).—T. M’KenZlO. Classi D and F (girls under 18 years).— hirst Prize Party: —Grace Cameron, Ena Murray, Edna Gray, Eileen M’Carthy; Second Prize Party:—Ruby Robinson Lily Fox, Jill Fox. Ethel Sinclair. DEMONSTRATION CONCERT. . 'lhe first demonstration concert in connection with the piping and dancing competitions was he d m His Majesty’s Theatre in the evening before a very large and demonstrative audience. Ihe programme, which was entirely national in its character, consisted of dances, bagpipe music, and songs, and as the contributors represented the cream of the competitors at the preceding competitions the entertainment was of the highest class and was thoroughly enjoyed by all present.

Mr Massey, who arrived at the theatre shortly after half-past 9, was accompanied by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Sir Walter Buchanan, and the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley). The Prime Minister was played on to the stage by Piper M’Milian amidst hearty applause, and Sir Walter Buchanan was greeted in Gaelic, responding in the same tongue. The visitors were welcomed by the president of the association (Mr W. King), who also introduced them to the audience.

The Prime Minister presented the prizes with a word of congratulation to each of the recipients, and the members of his party then took their seats in the dress circle, remaining imtil the demonstration concluded.