Success in Scotland for Whitburn
With over forty bands competing in Perth at the Scottish Championships there was plenty for the audiences to enjoy. It was the heavyweights of Scottish banding that concluded the weekend’s fantastic music making with some outstanding performances of Philip Wilby’s ‘Red Priest’ in the Championship Section.
Ten bands competed for the ultimate title, and the Hannaford Jubilee Trophy, in a true spirit of friendly rivalry for the keen ears of adjudicators John Ward and Sandy Smith. It was Whitburn Band who successfully defended their Scottish champion title under the musical direction of Prof Nicholas Childs on a score of 194 points. The band’s dominance was further marked by the judges with the award of seven additional individual honours including: Best Cornet, Best Trombone, Best Horn, Best Euphonium, Best Bass, Best Bass Section and Best Percussion. In second place was the cooperation band, conducted by Mike Fowles, on 192 points and taking the third spot was Dalmellington Band, directed by Erik Janssen, with 191 points.
The winning band will receive an invitation to represent Scotland at the 2024 European Championships in Palanga, Lithuania, and the first and second placed bands qualify for the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall on 21 October. The top six bands will also be invited to compete in the Scottish Open on 25 November. Also qualifying for the lower section National Finals in Cheltenham later this year are Coalburn Silver, Bathgate, Irvine & Dreghorn Brass, Newmilns & Galston, Selkirk Silver, Shotts St. Patrick's Brass, Highland Brass and Penicuik Silver, with particular congratulations owed to the winners of their respective sections. Full results can be viewed below.
Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicators: Sandy Smith & John Ward
1. Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs): 194
2. the cooperation band (Michael Fowles): 192
3. Dalmellington (Erik Janssen): 191
4. Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain): 189
5. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (Thomas Wyss): 188
6. Kingdom Brass (Corsin Tuor): 187
7. Bon-Accord Silver (Adam Cooke): 186
8. Unison Kinneil (Raymond Tennant): 185
9. Bo'ness & Carriden (Garry Cutt): 183
10. Johnstone (Colin McKenzie): 182
Best Cornet: Chris Bradley (Whitburn)
Best Trombone: Paul Kieran (Whitburn)
Best Soprano: Katie Ankers (Dalmellington )
Best Flugel: Stephanie Kennedy (co-operation band)
Best Horn: Andrew McMillan (Whitburn)
Best Baritone: Carole Ednie (co-operation band)
Best Euphonium: Chris Shanks (Whitburn)
Best Bass: Graham Fraser (Whitburn)
Best Bass Section: Whitburn
Best Percussion: Whitburn
* Qualify for National Final
**Receive invitation to represent Scotland at 2024 European Championships in Palanga, Lithuania
First Section:
Test piece: A Day in the Life of a Knight (Philip Lawrence)
Adjudicators: Sandy Smith & John Ward
1. Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman) 190*
2. Bathgate (Mareika Gray) 189*
3. Kirkintilloch Band (Hedley Benson) 188
4. Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston) 186
5. Lochgelly (Chris Shanks) 185
6. DunaskinDoon (Paul Drury) 184
7. Granite City Brass (Bruce Wallace)) 183
8. Tullis Russell Mills (George Cameron) 182
9. Newmains & District (Michael Marzella) 181
Best Horn: Louise McCauley (Bathgate)
Instrumentalist: Calum Blair (Solo Cornet) Coalburn
*Qualify for National Final
Second Section:
Test piece: A Pilgrim's Progress (Rodney Newton)
Adjudicators: Sandy Smith & John Ward
1. Irvine & Dreghorn Brass (Lewis Bettles): 188*
2. Newmilns & Galston (Alan Friel): 187*
3. Clackmannan District (Paul Drury): 185
4. Annan Town (Lewis Wilkinson): 184
5. Broxburn & Livingston (Bryan Allen): 183
6. St. David's Brass (John A Dickson): 182
7. Renfrew Burgh (Mark Good): 181
8. Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Scott Walker): 179
9. St. Ronan's Silver (David McLeod): 178
10. Jedforest Instrumental (Philip Rosier): 177
11. Dysart Colliery Silver (Lynda Nicholson): 176
Best Instrumentalist: Lauren McCormick (Eb tuba) — Irvine & Dreghorn Brass
*Qualify for National Final
Third Section:
Test piece: Chorale and Toccata (Stephen Bulla)
Adjudicators Brett Baker & David Ashworth
1. Selkirk Silver (Charlie Farren): 187*
2. Shotts St. Patrick's Brass (Andy Shaw): 186*
3. Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Joshua Parkhill): 185
4. Perthshire Brass (Willie McMullan): 184
5. Croy Silver (Kenneth Blackwood): 182
6. Langholm Town (Chris Bradley): 181
7. Stranraer Brass (Angela Miller): 180
8. Arbroath & Carnoustie (Audrey Bird): 178
9. Whitburn Heartlands (Paul Kiernan): 177
*Qualify for National Final
Best Instrumentalist: Percussion (Shott's St Patrick's Brass)
Fourth Section:
Test piece: Hungerford Town (Darrol Barry)
Adjudicators: Brett Baker & David Ashworth
1. Highland Brass (Mark Bell): 181*
2. Penicuik Silver (Douglas Anderson): 180*
3. Peebles Burgh (David Robb): 176
4. Bon-Accord B (Jennifer Cook): 174
5. Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Steven Craig): 172
6. Kirkton Brass Bathgate (Simon Railton): 171
7. Hawick Saxhorn (Stuart Black): 170
8. MacTaggart Scott (Peter Holmes): 168
9. Dundee Instrumental (Bob McDonald): 167
10. Dunfermline City Brass (Andy Shaw): 166
11. Coalburn Intermediate (David Fehilly): 164
*Qualify for National Final
Best Instrumentalist: Bryan Hynd (euphonium) Buckhaven & Methil Miners
Youngest Bb Bass: Duncan Thow (Dundee Instrumental)
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