Hat-trick for 1st Old Boys in 2018 BBLNI Spring Festival
Congratulations to 1st Old Boys under Stephen Cairns who were awarded first place in The Brass Band League of Northern Ireland (BBL). The contest returned to the Alley Theatre in Strabane to present its annual Spring Festival where the own choice test-piece competition proved to be as popular as ever, supported by the North West Music Festival.
Congratulations also to second section winners Roughan Silver, led by Stephen Crooks. In the School Band and Youth Sections the top honours went to Enniskillen Royal Grammar and 1st Old Boys Youth Band.
Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Ian Brownbill
1. 1st Old Boys Association Silver Band (Stephen Cairns) — 93
2. Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band (Stephen Crooks) — 91
3. Downshire Brass (Michael Alcorn) — 89
4. Strabane Brass Band (Peter Christian) — 88
5. Murley Silver Band (William Hill) — 86
Best Percussion: Laganvale
Best Trombone Section: 1st Old Boys
Best Soloist: Alan Haworth (euphonium) — 1st Old Boys
Best Soprano: (All Sections): Mark Ruddock (Laganvale)
Second Section:
1. Roughan Silver Band (Stephen Crooks) — 84
2. Comber Silver Band (Wesley Thompson) — 81
3. CWA Brass (Ernie Ruddock) — 79
4. Wellington Memorial Silver Band (Gary Proctor) — 78
Best Horn Section: Roughan
Best Soloist: Andrew Gordon, Cornet (Roughan)
Youth Band Section:
1. 1st Old Boys Youth (Jacklin Bingham) — 93
School Bands Section:
1. Enniskillen Royal Grammar (Stephen Magee) — 91
2. Omagh Academy (Stephen Crooks) — 88
Best Trombone Section: Omagh Academy
Band of the Year Awards:
Championship: 1st Old Boys Association Silver Band
Second Section: Ballyduff Silver
Third Section: Wellington Memorial Silver
Fourth & Fifth Section: Warrenpoint Silver
Overall NI Band of the Year: 1st Old Boys Association Silver Band
