ASCOTS DO WELL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 80, Issue 7152, 16 January 1950, Page 4

ASCOTS DO WELL

SUCCESS FOR TEAM AND LEADER ROCHDALE’S DEFEAT MAKES NEWS (By the Team’s Special Reporter) The Bay of Plenty Marching Championships, held at Tauranga on Saturday in gloriously fine weather, was remarkable for two things, the pleasing success of the Te Awamutu Ascot team and the total eclipse of Rochdale who failed to gain a single place in any of the events in which they were eligible to compete. The Domain, a most suitable place for such an event, held a large number of spectators, who were most enthusiastic in their appreciation of the efforts of all the teams and the applause showed that residents of the fair town of Tauranga are not afraid to audibly express their appreciation. Ten teams competed and they were as follows:—. Robin Hood, Rotorua, red green and white; Mt Maunganui, green and gold; Farmers Troupedors (Opotiki), cherry and lemon; Rochdale, blue and wnite; Ascot (Rotorua), green and white; Highland Pipe Band Team (Tauranga), Gordon tartan and white; Rainster (Tauranga), gold and white; Green Arrows (Putaruru), gold and white; Ascot (Te Awamutu), green and white; Whakatane United (Whakatane), maroon and cream. The street march took place from Wharepai Private Hotel in Cameron Road to the Domain, and while such a route deprived the frequenters of the Strand and other shopping area frequenters of the opportunity of seeing a pleasing and colourful spectacle yet, in view of the very hot weather, the move was a wise one and those responsible tor it are to be commended. The first series of five teams to march was led by Robin Hood of Rotorua, and they were preceded by the Tauranga Pipe Band who are the Auckland Provincial champions. Rochdale was fourth in the order of March. The second five teams were preceded by the Tauranga Municipal Band, also an excellent musical comomation, and the local Ascot teain was fourth in the order of marching. On arrival at the Domain no time was lost in getting the competitions under way, Rainsters of Tauranga being the first team to compete. The Rochdale team drew fourth place and the Ascots ninth place. The competitions were divided into classes —open, novice, and Bay of Plenty championships, best leader and best uniforms. There were quite a few novice teams and that class was won by Farmers Troupedors of Opotiki, the Te Awamutu Ascots being only two points behind to gain second place, with Mt Maunganui third. The best novice leader was Miss Joy Main of the Ascots and her welldeserved success was wildly acclaimed not only by her own team but by the Rochdale girls, who enthusiastically rejoiced in the successes their fellow team had achieved. The Ascot team comprised Misses Joy Main (leader), Pat Woodhouse (marker), Mona Clarke, Ngaire Roa, Joy Crysell, Desme Dawson, Mary Stafford, Muriel Butterworth, Alma Clarke, Alma Turkington. The coach was l,fr John Bartley. The Ascot team is to be heartily congratulated on its success which the members have worked so hard to achieve. Under Mr Bartley’s able friendly and painstaking coaching the team has practised assidiously and the earlier predictions that have appeared in the Courier that the team would be moulded into a competent marching combination has been borne out. The success was naturally most pleasing to Miss Main and her team and to Mr Bartley, but it is also most pleasing to the team’s friends and supporters and all can confidently look forward to the team soon being out of the novice class into open competition and furthermore Te Awamutu residents can be assured that they have in the Ascot team one that will along with Rochdale right worthily uphold the good name and fame of Te Awamutu. Miss Main received a handsome cup which incidentally was donated by a namesake. The success of the Ascots should be heartening to .them and they will receive the i congratulations of residents of town and district 'and the very best wishes for further successes. Open Competition The open championship was won by Robin Hood, 451 points; Tauranga Pipe Band was second with 449 points and Ascot, Rotorua third with 448 points. Rochdale failed to get a place. Practically everyone knows the old gag as to what constitutes news, that is if a dog bites a man it is not news, but if a man bites a dog it is news. The defeat of Rochdale is news, for that team has to its credit a long list of unbroken successes and without reflecting in any way on the merits of the winning teams, they have on previous occasions won against much stronger opposition than they met on Saturday. However, there was no excuse for their defeat, they were simply not good enough on Saturday for the verdict of eight competent judges cannot be challenged, and indeed it was not disputed in any way. The Rochdale girls took their defeat in the same sporting spirit that they accepted victories and they were really great in defeat. There are no more true sports in New Zealand than the Rochdale Girls and Saturday’s defeat will spur them on to retrieve the position they have lost. One swallow does not make a summer and one defeat is not a major calamity and the girls are determined to practice more earnestly and assidiously than ever if that is possible. They found very real consolation in the success of Ascot and the friendly relations that exist between the teams has to be seen to be admired. The Rochdale team consisted of Misses Nola Morris (leader), Elayne Southcombe (marker), Pat DymoreBrown, Bernice Bowden, Josie McLeish, Ailsa Trask, Betty Adams, Ngaire McLeish, Marie Rigby, Mary Meldrum, and Ruihi Duncan. Mr F. E. Waters is coach. The team was mCt at the Domain by Mr and Mrs Waters and Lynette, who is the team’s mascot and an emergency. Lynette marched with the team in the Maze March. A number of Te Awamutu resi- I dents who are either living at Tau- I

ranga or are on holiday at the Mount, were present. The Street March was won by Robin Hood, Rotorua, the Tauranga Pipe Band being second, with Whakatane and Rotorua Ascots being equal for third. The Bay of Plenty Championship was won by Robin Hood, Tauranga Pipe Band second and Ascot, Rotorua third. Miss D. Hodge of Ascot was the best leader while Green Arrows, Putaruru, won the best costume class. At the close of the competitions the Tauranga Pipe Band gave a quickstep display and it was one of the highlights of the day. The Maze March, in which all teams competed was a colourful and kaleidoscopic spectacle. The trophies were presented by Mr Wilkinson, Mayor of Tauranga, who congratulated the teams on their successes and efforts. Mr Irvine, president of the Association, also spoke and both speakers are to be commended on the brevity of their speeches which were apt and to the point. A telegram of good wishes for the success of the event was received from the Hon. W. Sullivan, Minister of Labour, and the. reading of it was followed by some then calling out “Good old Bill.” Telegrams of good wishes were received by the Rochdale team from the McLeish Family, Grandma Gane, Pakura Street Gang, and Mr and Mrs Ken Bowden. The writer would again stress the fact that such telegrams are a great source of encouragement to teams and if the senders could only see the pleasure it gives the girls they would feel amply repaid for the trouble taken. No report would be complete without a tribute being paid to the coaches of all teams. They put in a tremendous amount of work and they are really the foundation stone of success. The girls of all teams are well aware of that fact for they are the first to acknowledge the worth of the training given by the coaches. The two local teams travelled to Tauranga by bus and a very happy time was spent in both journeys. The competitions were in every way a success and the conduct of them reflected the greatest possible credit on those responsible. xhe officials were:— Judges Messrs Aked, McNeil, G. R. Hamilton, McNamara, Dalgleish (chief), Nichols, Kirk, Denby. Costume judges, Mr Colleen and Mrs Irvine. Secretary, Mr N. F. McMillan. President, Mr R. J. Irvine. Marshall, Mr F. Prichard.