WOOLSTON BAND GAINS MUSICAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17783, 1 March 1926, Page 11

WOOLSTON BAND GAINS MUSICAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

WILL 3RING THREE SHIELDS BACK HOME. Special to the “Star.") DI'XEDIX, February 2s. When the musical points were announced after the quickstep yesterday, it was found that Woolston had beaten Wanganui Garrison by nine points, a result which gave Woolston the musical championship in connection with the contest. This fine playing performance of the band on the march therefore results in Woolston retaining the New Zealand Championship Shield, which the band also won at Auckland last year, and at Christchurch the previous year. The shield is presented by Dr Thacker for the A grade band obtaining the highest musical points in the two test selections and the quickstep. In defeating Wanganui in the quick-step music, the band reproduced the playing result of the International Exhibition held in Christchurch in 1906, on which occasion Wanganui won the test selection championship, but was beaten by Kaikorai in the music of the quickstep. Kaikorai therefore winning the musical championship as Woolston has at the 1926 Exhibition. The other two shields won by Woolston yesterday were the Besson and the Conn Shields. The conditions of the former shield are the same as for the Thacker Shield, those of the Conn Shield being for the highest aggregate points in the music of the two test selections, quickstep and the operatic own choice selection.

The latter cyent was held in the Festival Hall of the Exhibition yesterday evening, before a crowded attendance. Woolston was the second band to play, and gave a very fine performance of a well-arranged selection from “Parsifal” (Wagner), for which it was allotted 133 marks. This gained the band second prize in this event, the first going to Queen Alexandra's Own. under Conductor G. Buckley, which gave a finished rendering of another Wagnerian selection, “Tristan and Isolde,” arranged by the late Alexander Owen of Besses of the Barn Band fame. This performance so pleased Mr F. J. Ricketts, the judge, that he awarded it 13S points. The St Kilda Band, playing a "Lohengrin” selection (Wagner) was third with 132 points, while Wanganui, playing a selection from “William Tell” (Rossini), Swift’s arrangement, was next with 131 points. Wanganui gave a brilliant rendering of the Rossini work, but apparentlj- the music did not appeal to the judge as much as the Wagnerian selection of the winners.

In announcing his decision in this selection, Mr Ricketts said that it was rather obvious to him that the bands had devoted more time to the test selection, a slackness in detail being observed in the own choice work. Nevertheless he had enjoyed the playing very much, and he congratulated the bands on their good work. Woolston played No. 1 in the quickstep, and gave a fine musical rendering, receiving 91 points out of 100. but they fell away considerably in the military section, and finished well down the list. Christchurch Municipal, on the other hand, gave a very good account of itself in the military work, its allotment of points, 169, representing a very good performance. In the musical section, its playing was of good standard, and it was allotted 85 points. St Kilda second, and Palmerston North, third, also gave very fine displays, both in drill and music, the judge bracketing these two equal top in the music section with 92 points. The weather conditions in the quickstep were the worst probablj’- ever experienced at a band contest, in either the North or South Islands. Rain had fallen on nearly every day of the week, and on Friday evening it set in particularly heavy, continuing throughout the night. The outlook in the morning for an event of the kind appearing almost hopeless, it was freely anticipated that the quickstep would be abandoned, but the committee met during the morning, and decided that, as most of the bands had to leave for their homes on Monday, the quickstep would be held, under any circumstances. The Exhibition sports ground, on which the contest took place, was practically under water, but a liberal dressing of cinders on the 100 yards test track made the going fairly firm for the important test of time and paces. Despite the rain which, fell more or less heavily throughout the competition, there was an attendance of several thousand spectators, and the appearance of a great forest of umbrellas was rather novel from a Christchurch viewpoint.

Auckland Artillery repeated its success of last year at Auckland, and its smart drill work and excellent discipline electrified the large attendance, the band being rewarded with the frequent applause it so well deserved. This band was the only one to march the 100 yards in 120 paces, thereby gaining the maximum marks. Its time was a little out. for it received 21 i marks out of 25 in that section. The -full total of military marks awarded Auckland was 183$, out of a maximum

of 200. St Kilda 1712, and Palmerston North 1692, also gave very creditable military displays. The prizes were presented at the close of the operatic selection in the evening Mr .T. H. Walker, chairman of the Dunedin Contest Committee, following which the directors of the Exhibition entertained the contest officials. the judges and conductors of the various bands, and some prominent visitors, including Mr R. Hawke, head of the well-known London music firm, Ilawke and Son, who is in Dunedin on a business visit. A toast-list was hon-

oured. and some interesting speeches were made. On behalf of the Contest C ommittee, Mr R. Bennell made presentations to Mr F. J. Ricketts and Mr \\. S. King, tjie judges of the music, and Mr Walker made a presentation to Mr J. flunter, supervisor, the chairman making special reference to good work Mr Hunter had done for New Zealand bands at contests held during the last twenty years.

Most of the visiting bands will leave »n Monday.