Flowers Bloom in Torquay
Flowers took the 2024 West of England Championship title today in Torquay. Under the leadership of MD Paul Holland, the band gave an assured account of Philip Sparke’s set test. Adjudicators Lt Col David Barringer MVO MBE and Dr Stephen Cobb were certainly impressed, awarding the win unanimously with Aldbourne and MD Glyn Williams having to be content with second place. Commenting on social media a spokesperson from Flowers stated, “We are absolutely delighted to have been crowned as the 2024 West of England Regional Champions! We’ve had so much fun preparing Philip Sparke’s ‘Variations on an Enigma,’ and we were delighted by the warm reception our performance received today. Congratulations to Aldbourne Band who will be joining us at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall in October, and to Woodfalls Band on their 3rd place. We want to express our thanks to WEBBA for staging this contest, and making it possible for all bands to do what we love! An amazingly well-run contest by the most lovely volunteers. Thank you.”
Congratulations are also owed to City of Bristol Brass, St Austell, Verwood Town and Bugle Silver on winning their respective sections. Joining them at Cheltenham in September will be fellow qualifiers Michelmersh Silver, Lydbrook, St Keverne, Gosport Solent Brass, Nailsworth Silver, Lydney Town and Illogan Sparnon. Full results are below and a review of the event will appear in the next magazine issue.
Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicators: Lt Col David Barringer MVO MBE & Dr Stephen Cobb
1. Flowers (Paul Holland)*
2. Aldbourne (Glyn Williams)*
3. Woodfalls (Russell Gray)
4. Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith)
5. Camborne (Michael Fowles)
6. St Dennis (Darren R Hawken)
7. Andover Town (Sara Maganzini)
8. A W Parker (Drybrook) (Joshua Ruck)
9. Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall)
10. Filton Concert Brass (Gary Davies)
11. Sherborne Town (Dave Shead)
*Qualify for invitation to National Final
First Section:
Adjudicators: Christopher Binns & Dr Stephen Cobb
1. City of Bristol Brass (Craig Roberts)*
2. Michelmersh Silver (Kevin Smith)*
3. Lydbrook (Gareth Ritter)*
4. Helston Town (John Berryman)
5. Chalford (Steve Tubb)
6. Roche Brass (Keith Maxwell)
7. Forest of Dean Brass (Martyn Patterson)
8. Glastonbury Brass (Phil Randall)
9. Hyde (Nigel Seaman)
10. Lympstone (Chris Spreadbury)
11. Soundhouse Brass Plymouth (Lee Clayson)
12. Weston Brass (Ian Dickinson)
13. Bournemouth Concert Brass (Lloyd Bartlett)
14. Wotton under Edge & District (Jim Bennett)
15. Hatherleigh Silver (Matt Green)
16. Lanner & District Silver (David Johnson)
17. Sidmouth Town (Adrian Harvey)
18. Otterbourne Brass (Jonathan Lush Camps LRSM)
*Qualify for invitation to National Final
Second Section:
Adjudicators: Lt Col David Barringer MVO MBE & Steve Pritchard-Jones
Test-piece: Triptych (Philip Sparke)
1. St Austell (Adam Glynn)*
2. St Keverne (Karl Long)*
3. Gosport Solent Brass (Phillip Littlemore)*
4. Shrewton Silver (Mike Dunford)
5. Porthleven Town (Tom Bassett)
6. Ocean Brass (Andy Wareham)
7. Mount Charles (Jeremy Taylor)
8. Poole Borough (Martin Portman)
9. St Pinnock (Jane Whitehead)
10. Denmead Brass (Estelle Flood)
11. Wroughton Silver (Neil Webb)
12. Camborne Brass (Alan Pope BEM)
13. New Forest Brass (Ian Luxford)
14. Cinderford (Steve Kane)
15. Bream Silver (Hugh Bamford)
*Qualify for invitation to National Final
Third Section:
Adjudicators: Christopher & Stephanie Binns
Test-piece: Corineus (Christopher Bond)
1. Verwood Town (Kevin Smith)*
2. Nailsworth Silver (Anri Adachi)*
3. Lydney Town (Thomas Dunne)*
4. Saltash Town (Neil Ellis)
5. Bratton Silver (Kyle Blake)
6. Bideford Town (Mark Durham)
7. Downton (Paul Williams)
8. St Stythians (James Burns)
9. Exeter Railway (Matt Green)
10. Brunel Brass Academy (Daniel Hall)
11. Cheltenham Silver (Adrian Jowett)
12. Swindon Brass (Steve Yorke)
13. City of Bath Brass (Martin Perry)
14. South Molton Town (David Boorer)
15. Phoenix Brass Crewkerne (Paul Denegri)
16. Tewkesbury Town (Rob Nicholson)
17. Midsomer Norton & Radstock Silver (Gareth Key)
18. Pendennis Brass (Harry Weir)
*Qualify for invitation to National Final
Fourth Section:
Adjudicators: Stephanie Binns & Alan Duguid
Test-piece: Music for Jock Tamson (Alan Fernie)
1. Bugle Silver (Mark Phillips)*
2. Illogan Sparnon Silver (Shaun Marsden)*
3. Shanklin Town Brass (IoW) (Malcolm Lewis)
4. Chalford Silver Academy (Steve Tubb)
5. Test Valley Brass (Edward March)
6. Shaftesbury Town Silver (Martin Hill)
7. Wincanton Silver (James White)
8. Weymouth Concert Brass (Keith Espin)
9. Cheltenham Silver Academy (Colin Forster)
10. Pillowell Silver (Ian Whitburn)
11. Indian Queens (Tony Jones)
*Qualify for invitation for National Final
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