ROCHDALE TRIUMPHANT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7147, 19 December 1949, Page 6

ROCHDALE TRIUMPHANT

SUCCESSES AT ROTORUA TEAM MARCHES WELL AGAINST STRONG OPPOSITION [By The Team’s Special Reporter] By winning the three principal events at Rotorua on Saturday, the Rochdale; girls’ marching team performed the “hat-trick” for they won at Hamilton on the occasion of this year’s A, and P. Association’s Show, and at New Plymouth a fortnight ago. The successes augur well for the team making the trip to Christchurch in March when the New Zealand championships will be held. The Kuirau Reserve, Rotorua was on Saturday the scene of the fourtn annual marching championships of the Rotorua Marching and Recreation Association and nine teams competed, Shaw’s Kilties, of Hastings being the team that travelled the greatest distance. The weather was fine but overcast and just as the street march was about to commence, a few drops of rain fell that sent anxious eyes heavenward, but Ihhe weather plan must have relented for it kept fine throughout the day. Forming up in front of the Municipal Buildings the teams marched off in the following order: Shaw’s Kilties (Hastings), Green Arrows (Putaruru), Citizens Band team (Hamilton), Rainster (Tauranga), Rochdale (Te Awamutu), Rotorua Caledonian Society Pipe Band who provided the music for the march, Rotorua Midgets, Robin Hood (Rotorua), Tauranga Pipe Band team, Ascot (Rotorua), and City Football team (Hamilton). The march was spectacular and attracted favourable attention by those who were on the footpaths. The teams marched a certain distance, where they fell out and were transported to the reserve by cars and buses.

There was lx particularly small and disappointing attendance of the public, but those who were present were treated to an exhibition of marching that taken on the whole was good, and the standard was higher than that that prevailed at New Plymouth. The Rochdale girls had consequently had a greater test of opposition and the way they came through that test with colours flying made their successes all the more gratifying. Prior to the start of the competitions at the reserve the result of the Street March was given and when it was announced that Rochdale had won it the team and their supporters joined in by the sporting public acclaimed it most enthusiastically. The results were Rochdale 37.3 points 1„ Robjin Hood (Rotorua) 36.7, 2, Hamilton Citizens Band team 36.6 3. The first team to march in the open championships was Shaw’s Kilties (Hastings). The Rochdale team marched fifth to music supplied by the Rotorua Municipal Band. In the Street March, Miss M. Rigby marched with the team for the firsttime and it must have been a pleasing experience for her to be privileged to march with the winning team. The Rochdale girls were also delighted to welcome back to the team Miss R. Duncan, who has been ill. Miss Duncan marched with the team in the open competition and naturally she was thrilled to again march with her team mates. The thoughts of the girls were with Miss Southcombs who recently underwent an operation and consequently was not able to accompany the team. At the close of the competitions which were got through in a most expeditious manner, the Maze March was performed and it provided a spectacular finish to a highly successful day’s marching. The officials lost no time in announcing the results which were as follows: Open Marching Competition, Rochdale 434 points 1, Shaw’s Kilties (Hastings) 427.3 points 2, Ascot 423 points 3; best leader, Miss Nola Morriss 83 points 1. Ascot (Rotorua) won the class restricted to the Rotorua County and Borough teams. The Rochdale girls secured 84.5 marks for their uniforms, Shaw’s Kilties being the winners.

The result was vociferously acclaimed and the wildest excitement prevailed amongst the girls and Miss Morriss was quickly surrounded by her team mates who congratulated her on her win in the leaders class, in the time honoured manner adopted by girls and which made the inaie supporters of the team somewhat envious that they could not claim the privilege of the same method of congratulation. The Rochdale team consisted of Mrs Laurel Grey, Misses Josie McLeish, Ngaire McLeish, Mary Meldrum, Aiisa Trask, Pat Dymore Brown, Bernice Bowden, R. Duncan, Betty Adams. The team won the Rex Cottrell Memorial Shield with individual medals; the Montague Shield and medal for the best leader, the Hobb’s Shield and miniature Cup for the street marching competition and Mr F. Waters received a silver medal as the instructor of the team. Miss Lynette Waters who owing to indisposition was not able to be with the team, of which she has been mascot. and now an emergency received a silver medal from the president of the association. Miss Lynette practices regularly with the team each morning and the team were pleased to see her receive the medal. The midget team who marched well were presented with boxes of chocolates and on the call ot the senior teams they were given three hearty cheers. The Marching associations in New Zealand owe a deep debt of gratitude to the bands, both brass and pipe of the Dominion for they undertake a tiring and at times somewhat thankless task in providing the music for the marching. The Rotorua Municipal and Caledonian Pipe Bands on Saturday discharged a heavy day’s work most unselfishly and willingly, and they are to be congratulated on the part they played in the sucess of the day. Sidelights No report of the day’s proceedings would be complete without public recognition of the kindness extended to the team and their supporters by the management of Tainui Private Hotel who not only provided a delightful lunch at very short notice, but placed a room at the disposal of the girls to change and leave their street

attire. The girls last year stayed at the hotel and it speaks volumes for the impression they created that the hotel people so eagerly and courteously welcomed them back again. Te Awamutu residents can feel justly proud of the high standard of conduct of the girls, who wherever the., go make friends and bring distinction and add lustre to Te Awamutu. It is said that listeners hear no good of themselves and something of the truth of that old saying was heard on Saturday. The secretary’s tent was too close to the microphone of the loudspeaker system with the result that some interesting conversation was heard. An official was heard to express the opinion that there were far too many men judges, particularly of the Army type and that there should be more women judges for the marching •competitions. After the competitions some of the party went for a swim in the Blue Baths and it was a tired but happy crowd of Te Awamutu people who arrived back in town. A successful and enjoyable dance at Mangapiko in rhe evening brought a highly auspicious day to a close. Congratulations girls on your successes.

The team will next march at Mount Maunganui early in the New Year, when some good marching and further successes are hoped for. Demonstration at Hamilton

Eight marching teams of the Waikato Marching Association took part in a demonstration at Hamilton yesterday. They provided a beautiful spectacle as they marched from Hood Street to the High School grounds, which made the best setting of any yet marched in by the local teams. First-class inudic was (supplied (by the Hamilton Citizens Band and the Hamilton Caledonian Pipe Band. By the combination of the two bands and the Rochdale girls’ spectators were enabled to see three champion combinations in action at the one time, a very pleasurable experience. There was no special competition but the teams were judged and helpful criticism was given by competent judges and such should prove most helpful to the teams especially the more recently-formed ones. The day was in all respects most enoyable and successful. The following were the. marks awarded to the four leading teams: Rochdale 436 points, Green Arrows (Putaruru) 406 J points, Citizens Band team (Hamilton) 405 points, Ascot (Te Awamutu) 3911 points. Leaders of teams, Miss Nola Morriss (Rochdale) 104 points, Miss Betty Wilson (Hamilton Citizens) 100 points.