Southland teams march to top finishes at national champs

The Marching NZ Championships were held at the Claudelands Indoor Events Centre in Hamilton over the weekend.

Southland was represented by three teams competing in the under 12 grade, and while all three teams aquitted themselves very well, the highight was a sixth-placed finish by Gore's Hokonui Militaires.

Fifty-one teams from around the country contested this year's championships, with 19 in the under 12 grade, 15 in the under 16 grade, 13 in the senior grade and four teams in the masters grade.

Each team competes in both a Technical phase and a Display phase. All teams in their grade do the same Technical plan, but for the Display phase it is up to the individual team to create and execute to music of their own choice.

Titles are contested across three divisions: championships, plate and bowl.

Hokonui Militaires achieved their goal with a sixth placed finish in both the Technical Team and Display Team in the Championship division.

Southern Stars Blue Jay (Invercargill) won the Plate Division's Technical Team title and was the first Display Team, while Blue Jay (Invercargill) was fourth in the Technical Team and third in the Display Team in the Plate Division.

Southland teams' results:
*Championship (top 6 in NZ)
– Hokonui Militaires (Gore) 6th Technical Team & 6th Display Team
*Plate division
– Southern Stars Blue Jay (Invercargill) 1st Technical Team & 1st Display Team
-Blue Jay (Invercargill) 4th Technical Team & 3rd Display Team