Competitions 50th Jubilee

The Competitions Society's 50th Annual Festival of Talent drew good entries. The demonstration concert was packed out. Winners and guest artists (winners from the past) provided grand entertainment.

Tip-top tappers Leigh Ferris, Lynda Brown, Judith Whitley, Sharon Loveridge and Emily Paenga won the tap troupe, under 12.

Murray Aitken, winner of the piano accordion solo under 13.

Robyn Ellis, Karen Hollis and Trudy Steele won the skipping trio, 12 and over. Robyn also won the open tap test, 12 and over, and the 12 and under 15 tap.

Former competitors and later judges, Mr T. W. Lighton, Mrs M. Davidson and Mrs Lighton were guest artists at the demonstration concert.

Mrs Colleen Parker, who first competed in the competitions in 1927 at the age of nine, gave an exhibition Irish Jig.

Megan Ellis, winner under 8 tap cup, joint winner Goodyear Cup.

Heather Piesse, winner 10 and under 12 tap

Robyn Robson won the Bruce Cup for highest marks in any operatic dance in the festival.

Christine Milligan won the junior speech championship and the senior speech scholarship.

Carryne Compton was the senior ballet winner

Lynne Pearse, Honey Moeau, Jeannette McDonald (in front) Adrienne Wilson and Lynn Mehrtens won the Twisleton Cup for song and dance with "Tip-Toe Through the Tulips".

Without the efficient management of the stage crew the competitions would be chaotic. Four of those behind, and in front of, the scenes were, from left, Rex Hickman (lights), Dave Lee (stage manager), and Doug Carlyle and Andrew Kerr (curtain).

Doug Cooper won the McBreen Memorial Challenge Cup for Open Brass Solo. He was also equal first with Ray Wood for the Mawson Cup. This is awarded to the person gaining the highest marks in any section of the competitions. By happy coincidence, Doug's father, Bill Cooper (right) won the Mawson Cup the first year it was presented, in 1957. No other instrumentalist had won the cup in the years between. Bill, who appeared as a Golden Jubilee guest artist, also won the McBreen Cup in 1957 and 1958, and again in 1960.

A successful soloist for many years was Leaonie Small (nee Bimler). Here she is pictured with her daughter Erin-Mary who appears to be following in her mother's footsteps.

Lester Waugh won the J. Watties Canneries Challenge Cup for Under 14 Brass.

Trudy Steele won the Le Bas Memorial Cup.

David James was greeted with thunderous applause for his interpretation of the "Mephisto Waltz" by Liszt. He was called back for an encore for which he played a Paganini Transcription, also by Liszt.

Prue McLeod, another up-and-coming pianist, took the open piano test.

Jennifer Berridge was another successful dancer.

Janet Bodle and Clive Allcock were other guest artists who gave recitations.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 171 : September 11, 1968

Competitions 50th Jubilee