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By Stewart Sutherland A group of 100 local girls between the ages of 12 and 20 crissâ€"crossed Canada and the United States this year in a quest for international reâ€" cognition and laurels. And after logging more than 12,000 miles in their three Mercedesâ€"Benz Highway Cruiser buses, the ‘army‘, as some peoâ€" ple fondly refer to them, returned to the Twinâ€"Ciâ€" ties with nine major awards to their credit. The Ventures Drum and Bugle Corps, after miles of travel and many competitive one night stands, reached a pinnacle this year, according to Phil McArthur, corps director. ‘‘This was the most successful competition year in the corps‘ history,"" McArthur said. "The girls really proved themselves this year. The awards didn‘t just fall into their laps. It was all very competitive and the girls worked hard to get where they are." The nine major 1980 awards won by the Venâ€" tures include: Drum Corps International (DCI) Class ‘A‘ Champions and DCI All Girl Chamâ€" pions, both in Birmingham, Alabama; DCI Canaâ€" da Class ‘A‘/All Girl Champions in Hamilton; DCI East Class ‘A‘/All Girl Champions in Allenâ€" town, Pennsylvania; Ontario Provincial All Girl Champions in Scarborough; U.S. Open All Girl Champions in Marion, Ohio; American Interna:â€" tional All Girl Champions in Butler. Pennsylâ€" vania; Canadian National all Girl Champions in Jonquiere, Quebec and the corps won a group award in a special category as Kitchenerâ€"Waâ€" terloo Oktoberfest Women of the Year during the recent Bavarian festival in the Twinâ€"Cities. But the corps wasn‘t always so successful. The Ventures were established in the fall of 1972 in response to a public plea for youth activities inâ€" volving girls in the 12 to 20 age group. McArthur said corps organizers placed a strong emphasis on music, travel, teamwork and selfâ€"discipline when interviewing potential members and he said where there are 100 appliâ€" cants, only 10 may actually make it into the corps. ‘‘Some of these kids never really stop to think about all that‘s involved in being a member of the Members of the Ventures perform at Seagram Stadium in a concert last summer. Ventures enjoyed best season ever corps. There‘s a lot of practicing, travel and just plain hard work and that sometimes scares some girls,"" he said. e â€" **About 80 per cent of the girls that came to us last year had no previous music or marching skills, but you sure wouldn‘t know that now,~ McArthur said. ‘"They‘ve shown incredible progress. In fact, the Ventures are one of the top drum and bugle corps in Ontario. A staff of between 12 and 15 volunteers teach the girls brass, percussion, marching and maneuâ€" vering and color guard techniques and along with the training program. the corps also supplies inâ€" struments and uniforms. ‘‘We were on the road for 62 days this year. I guess you could really call us a little army or circus, at least that‘s how we think of ourselves," McArthur said. When the corps is on the road they become virâ€" tually selfâ€"sufficient in that their adult support staff cooks all meals, washes and repairs uniâ€" forms and maintains all instruments. And the corps is looking for new members at the same time. They meet every Sunday at St. David Junior High School at 1 p.m. and every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Laurel Vocational school. Girls interested in joining the ‘little army‘ are urged to attend one of these practice sessions or call Phil McArthur at 578â€"4993 for more informa:â€" tion And the pace shows no signs of slowing down for the Ventures in their 1981 season. In fact, they are already booked to perform during Waterloo Days next June and prior to that they l1 be comâ€" peting in Frankenmuth, Michigan during that city‘s Bavarian Festival. On June 24, the corps will load up the buses and set off on a nineâ€"city tour of the southwestern United States, The trip will take them to Denver, Colorado; Ogden, Utah, Las Vegas and then on to such California cities as Stockton, San Jose, Monâ€" teray, Riverside, Los Angeles and Disneyland. But in the meantime, members have gone into a selfâ€"imposed hibernation of sorts for the winter ... not to sleep, but to prepare for their next seaâ€" J.G. Martin, 0.S.0., QC S.R. Cameron, LLB WR Greenwood. B.A. LLB RL. Warren, B.A. LLB M W McCarter, B.A. LLB. G.E Eastman. C.D. QC Price includes COLD BREAKFAST. 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