Lochiel Drill Team
Of all the marching teams in the history of the sport in New Zealand one team stands above all others for excellence of attainment, and that is the team Lochiel.
A notable British entrepreneur gave this description following their first appearance at the 1978 Edinburgh Tattoo, “A fresh new discipline, as different from the style of drum majorettes and baton twirlers as chalk is to cheese”.
In New Zealand this is a competitive sport where teams compete in what can be described as a spectacular colourful display of precision drill. The Lochiel Marching Drill Team is not only New Zealand’s oldest established precision marching drill team but also the country’s most celebrated. Lochiel has won the New Zealand champion team title on thirty separate occasions a record that will stand for many years to come. This prestigious drill team of 20 young women is not only a household name within New Zealand but is also well known to many overseas audiences throughout the world. Audiences in Australia, Asia, America, Canada, South Africa, Europe and the United Kingdom have acclaimed and applauded the team’s skills.
The team’s display of precision skills are now legendary and as audiences view the finished product one may wonder if they are fully aware that each movement within a display is based around mathematical calculations.
Colleen Pobar has been the coach of Lochiel for the last forty five years and under her stewardship both the team’s local and international reputation has grown extensively with many international invitations received annually. Colleen’s efforts both to the sport and her service to young women has been acknowledge by her receiving a QSM in 1996 and being awarded in 1995 as the top sporting New Zealand Female Coach.
Achievements
Winners of 30 New Zealand Championships
Edinburgh Tattoo – 1978, 1983, 1993, 1997 and in Wellington in 2000
Danish International Tattoo – 1985
Japan – 1986
Durban Tattoo, South Africa - 1995
Nova Scotia International Tattoo – 1996, 1999
ANZAC Tattoo – 1999, 2006
Virginia International Tattoo – 2001
Chinese New Year, Hong Kong - 2002
Breda Military Tattoo in Holland – 2000, 2004
Swedish Army Military Tattoo – 2004
Norwegian Military Tattoo – 2000, 2006
Basel Tattoo, Switzerland – 2007
Edinburgh Tattoo - 2008
OTHER INFORMATION
The Lochiel Marching Team was formed in the late nineteen fifties when an ex army Drill Instructor, Mr Frank Weldon, decided to train a team of young women in marching drills and routines under the auspices of the New Zealand Marching Association. Marching developed in New Zealand during a period in the mid forties when there were little organised team sporting activities for girls and young women. The early pioneering days saw marching as an opportunity to involve young women in an activity that would provide team skills, in an outdoor environment, for a minimum of cost. These days the sport is divided into age groups for competing purposes - Under 12, Under 16, Senior and Masters. The premium grade of the sport is the Senior Grade where girls compete over the age of 16 and up to their middle thirties if skill level is maintained. The sport has 3 distinct and very different sections for competing purposes. They are
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Technical – This section is very military based with set drills and movements done by all teams in the grade and marched to the traditional marches available at 120 beats to the minute
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Display – This section is choreographed by the coach and the team chooses their own music. While it does contain some military marching and drills the main emphasis is freestyle and music interpretation. Lochiel will be performing a mixture of both when participating at the Tattoo
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Gala – This is a stage show performed in a theatre and once again the team chooses their own music and choreography
The uniform worn by the girls was designed many years ago with small changes being made over time. They wear the Cameron of Lochiel Tartan in their skirts, hats and plaids and the jackets are white with black and red trim.
The Lochiel Marching Team retains members for many years and as a result are committed and dedicated to attaining and retaining excellence in their routines and drills. The girls are very proud of the team’s history over the past 45 years and many re-unions are held for past and present members to socialise and swap stories of their time in the team.
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