The Competitions

Marked success attended the annual festival of the Gisborne Competitions Society, held in the Opera House during the school holidays. Our pictures, from Mr H. J. Dunstan except where otherwise acknowledged, show some of those who performed in the demonstration concerts.

Ella Randle's group, "Grand National", winners of the open group dance. From left, Carol Shelton, Valerie Penny, Elizabeth Finlay, Jennifer Bartlett and Robin Haskin.

Miss Barbara Perston, winner intermediate vocal championship and ladies' vocal scholarship.

Neil Nigro, winner piano-accordeon solo under 18, folk song, recitation (own selection), and dialogue in costume, and runner-up for vocal solo and musical monologue. (Photo K.K.K.)

Peter and Carol Shelton. Peter won Mrs Elliott's trophy for boys' test vocal and also restricted song, 12 to 16 years.

Winners of the group dance (not tap)under 12 years. Left to right: Ann Crothers, Valerie Penny, Robin Haskin, and Jennifer Bartlett, pupils of Miss Ella Handle, whose groups won all first three awards in this class.

Robin Haskin (left) and Jennifer Bartlett. Robin won the Ella. Randle Cup and Jennifer the Isabel Sharpies Cup.

Ian Lee, winner dancing scholarship under 15, and winner boys' national dance, open.

Anne Taylor, four wins, four seconds, and 10 thrids, runner-up for the Ella Handle Cup.

Fay Shelton, winner song in costume, 16 and under 20.

Mr C. King's challenge cup for Irish or Scottish group dance (open) was won by Janet Parker, Mary Shipp, Dianne Ovenden and Gillian Nigro.

The Jones brothers with trophies won at both Hamilton and Gisborne competitions this year. At Gisborne Barrie won the piano solo under 16; Trevor the piano solo under 12, vocal solo and accompanist under 12, and scholarship under 16; and Leslie the junior test recital under 12 and the piano solo under 12. (Photo, Alan Gordon).

Janet Lee, now aged 5, who was the youngest placed competitor in elocution classes, also winner of R.F. Leigh cup for second year in succession.

Further competition winners. At left is Judy Welsford, who won the Dawne Le Bas Challenge, Cup and Mrs J. Turnwall's silver medal. At right is Jean Prentice, aged 9 years, whose performance in winning the 15-minute entertainment class at the competitions is the more remarkable because she is entirely self-taught.

Lugging stores and cream cans up new road during temporary impassability due to wet weather.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 15 : September 22, 1955

The Competitions