Izzy in Room 15 returned to school this week after attending the Marching New Zealand Championships in Dunedin. Forty-nine marching groups of various ages from around the country gathered at Dunedin’s Edgar Centre to put their routines to the test. After days of close competition, the Marching New Zealand Championships ended in a dramatic three-way tie.

Izzy joined 'Monarch Marching' in June last year. Monarch was a team of Under 12 marchers and a new entrant to the marching scene this season. Izzy was lucky to be one of their founding team members. The Marching season runs from October to March each year and most teams begin training around June each year.

Marching in NZ is a sport that combines team spirit and self-discipline into one competition. It heightens powers of concentration and physical fitness, encourages good deportment, pride in grooming and personal achievement and offers musical enjoyment. There is a very formal militant style to this sport when teams compete in Review and Inspection and their Technical routine. Then there is also a very creative and fun section called Display, which is more focused on creative dance that still incorporates the marching style.

Monarch Marching worked hard in the competitions throughout the season which qualified them to go Nationals in Otago 2021.

Once at Nationals there was a grand opening ceremony on Thursday afternoon, where all the marching teams got to do a March Past (this is a parade of sorts), and the event was formally opened by the Mayor of Otago along with other NZ Marching officials. The Under 12 teams looked so tiny among the other age groups of under 16s, Seniors and Masters.

The teams returned on Friday for their qualifying Marches. Monarch qualified and on Saturday completed their best march of the season and were placed 9th in Plate. The team worked hard, performed well and went out with a bang on their highest points score for the season.

Izzy cannot wait to start marching again next season, and if anyone is interested in having their 7-12 year old girls join feel free to contact Coach Vickiee on 027 5887853.