GREAT SUCCESS

Southland Times, Issue 25307, 10 June 1935, Page 5

GREAT SUCCESS

PIPING COMPETITIONS A HIGH STANDARD The lure of bagpipe music was never more in evidence in Invercargill than on Saturday, when» the second annual gathering of the Invercargill Piping , Competitions So • ciety was held in the Victoria Hall. The fixture was an unqualified success, about 95 entries being received, while the hall was packed for all three sessions. The climax came in the evening when the main sections were decided, some very fine pipe music being heard. A. McMillan, a well-known Dunedin piper and recent Otago champion, was the outstanding piper of the gathering, winning the A class marches and coming second to J. A. Cameron (Mataura) in the strathspeys and reels. McMillan thus secured the John MeCrostie Memorial Cup for most points in A class events. In addition to the large contingent of Southland pipers there were a number of competitors from Dunedin. The organization of the competitions was most efficient, the events being completed with despatch and the results being readily available. The prizes and the many handsome trophies were presented amid much enthusiasm at the .close of the evening session. Official Opening. In declaring the gathering officially open, at the commencement of the evening session, the patron (Mr J. L. McG. Watson) stated that these competitions had originated in. Scotland in 1781, and the fixture they were attending, was being conducted along the same lines as that historic gathering It was but meet that they should follow in the footsteps of the olden enthusiasts at Home and perpetuate piping competitions. Great credit was due to the committee of the Invercargill Society for putting so much energy and effort into this gathering of competitive pipers. The committee had shown commendable courage in carrying on the competitions in such excellent style. “It is pleasing to know that the bagpipes have, taken such a grip of the world,” Mr Watson went on. “The bagpipes are the oldest musical instrument in the world and the finest. (Applause.) Among the patrons of the bagpipes are the Kling and the Prince of Wales. The tune composed by the Prince of Wales has been played at this gathering to-day.” Mr Watson then referred to the part played by the bagpipes in the national spirit of Scotland. His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Miller) extended a welcome to the visitors for the competitions. He commented on the fact that a high standard had been shown in the junior sections, going on to say that the large attendance of the public was gratifying because it showed what keen interest there was in gatherings of this kind. He hoped that the competitions would grow in strength and go on from success to success as the years passed. Mr John MacGregor, president of the Competitions Society, extended thanks to the many donors of prizes, saying that continued support had resulted in the addition of three items to the programme as well as £25 to the prize money. The carnival had cost £lOO, but he was happy to state that this amount and a little more was already in hand. It was most gratifying to the society to realize that its efforts were appreciated and that the public were solidly behind it. He, hoped that it would Le possible to sta e an even better gathering next year. Judges’ Comments. Commenting on the sections the judges, Messrs S. Craig (Owaka), A. Duncan (Tapanui) and R. Sutherland (Invercargill) bestowed praise on the performances in general. Mr Craig, who has attended most piping competitions in New Zealand, said it was the largest he had seen in the Dominion. The judges thought it praiseworthy that such a large number had competed in a winter contest. Referring to the youths’ marches competition, the judges said that some of the players reached a very high standard and that good teaching would make many of them outstanding players. The winner, Kenneth Boyce (Christchurch) had given a very fine exhibition, while the others were close tip. Competitors would make better showings, however, if they faced the judge when turning. Class C Amateur Marches. There were some very fine performances in this class, the judges stating that in a few years some of the players would prove difficult to beat. The fault in turning was also noticeable in this section. . The winner, D. Pearce (Wakatapu) secured the decision by a narrow margin. There was some good competition in the class B, for semi-amateurs, slow marches, though the judges offered the criticism that most of the competitors played their marches too slowly, as if they were playing a lament. The winner, R. McKenzie (Mosgiel) gave a fine exhibition. A Class Pibrochs. In the A class pibrochs competition the players gave an encouraging account of themselves, the judges stated. This was the most difficult class in piping and was. very seldom heard in Southland. / The winner, A. McMillan (Dunedin), was outstanding, mastering the intricacies of the pibroch very .well, while the performances were good throughout. A Grade Section. ’Referring to the A grade slow marches the judges stated that the fault of excessive slowness was evident here also, although there were some pleasing performances. The A grade marches, strathspeys arid reels were decided in the evening. The judges said that the marches were a very difficult section to judge, the playing of several of the competitors making it rather hard to separate them. Even in the A grade, however, the fault of players not facing the j'udge when turning was in evidence. The winner, A. McMillan, was outstanding, while he was run a very close second by J. A. Cameron, of Mataura. The latter piper also received much praise from the judges. There was very strong competition in the section for strathspeys and reels, the winners’ playing being as good as any that had been heard previously in Invercargill. Indeed, the judges said that the general standard was so high that there was little they could say in elaboration of this statement. B Grade Marches, Strathspeys and Reels. The B grade marches, strathspeys and reels were also decided at the evening session. The standard in the marches was fair, but the placed competitors were well in advance of the rest. One or two of these might easily have competed in the A grade, the judges said. The B grade strathspeys and reels proved most disappointing, taken all through. Several of the players failed to keep strictly to the music, this fault being most noticeable. R. McKenzie, of Mosgiel, played very well to win the section, the judges considering that he

was now eligible for A grade competitions. Competition Results. The' following are the awards together with the points secured:— YOUTHS’ MARCHES. First prize £2, cup donated by Messrs N. J. M. Rein Ltd., and gold medal given by Mr A. Fraser, second prize £l, third 10/-, fourth 5/- (13 entries).

The John MeCrostie Memorial Cup for most points in class A events was won by A. McMillan, with 544, while the silver medal donated by Messrs G. Lumsden, Ltd., for the youngest competitor went to A. Balloch (Kaitan,gata).

Kenneth Boyce (Christchurch) 209 1 Molly Doyle (Bluff) 207 2 John Gold (Balclutha) 206 3 Ian Gold (Balclutha) 200 4 Boyce also secured the cup given by Mr H. P. Campbell for most points in marching. CLASS C AMATEURS, MARCHES. First prize £2 10/-, cup donated by the Southland Sports Trust and gold medal given by Mr A. E. Arthur, second prize £1 10/-, third £1, fourth 10/(21 entries). D. Pfiarce (Wakatapu) 216 1 K. Boyce (Christchurch) 216 2 J. Gold (Balclutha) 210 .3 C. Hayes (Waimatuku) 207 4 Pearce received 96 points cution and Boyce 93. for exeCLASS B (SEMI-AMATEURS) SLOW MARCH. First prize £2 10/and cup given by Mr James Holland, second prize £2 10/-, third entries). £1 (10 R. McKenzie (Mcsgiel) D. McDonald (Seaward 234 1 Downs) 219 2 A. L. Wilson (Bluff) 218 3 PIBROCHS, CLASS A. First prize £5 and gold medal donated by Mr J. D. Campbell, second £4, third £2, fourth £1 (8 entries). A. McMillan (Dunedin) 278 1 G. M. Robertson (Tinwald) 269 2 M. Watson (Makarewa) 256 3 C. C. (Invercargill) 255 4 SLOW MARCH, CLASS A. First prize £3 and cup given by Mr D. Teviotdale, second £2, thirc entries). £1 (9 A. McMillan (Dunedin) 277 1 J. Cameron (Mataura) 267 2 G. Robertson (Tinwald) 267 3 McMillan received 122 points for execution and Cameron 120. Evening Session. CLASS A MARCHES. First prize £5, second £3, third £2 (9 entries). A. McMillan (Dunedin) 275 1 G. M. Robertson (Tinwald) 273 2 W. J. Milne (Dunedin) 268 3 M. Watson (Makarewa) 268 4 McMillan received 119 points for -execution and Robertson 112. STRATHSPEYS AND REELS, CLASS A. First prize £4, second 10/-, third i£l 10/- (8 entries). £2 J. A. Cameron (Mataura) 274 1 A. McMillan (Dunedin) 269 2 J. W. Milne (Dunedin) '267 3 G. M. Robertson (Tinwald) 261 4 SEMI-AMATEURS, CLASS B, MARCHES. First prize £3 10/ -, second £2 10/-, third £1 10/-, fourth 15/(11 entries). ' R. McKenzie (Mosgiel)232 1 E. Parker (Bluff) 226 2 R. Donaldson (Invercargill) D. McDonald (Seaward 221 3 Downs) 220 4 STRATHSPEYS AND REELS (CLASS B). First prize £3, second £2, third £1, fourth 10/- (9 entries). R. McKenzie (Mosgiel) 238 1 E. Parker (Bluff) 226 2 A. Ashby (Mandeville) „ D. McDonald (Seaward 224 3 4 Downs) 221 Special Prizes.