New National Champions
Following two fantastic days at Cheltenham this weekend, four new bands have been crowned National Champions of Great Britain. The first new champion was third section Skelmersdale under the direction of MD Benjamin Coulson. The band gave an excellent rendition of ‘Sinfonietta for Brass Band’ by Joseph Horowitz that impressed the adjudicating panel of John Maines, Brian Rostron and Sandy Smith that they also awarded solo horn Gemma Rowlands the soloist prize for her fabulous contribution to the winning performance. The second champion was decided later the same day when the first section bands competed with the set work ‘Trittico’ by James Curnow. Stannington (pictured) under the expert guidance of MD Sam Fisher earned the spoils in this section. Adjudicators Gary Davies, Ian Porthouse and Roger Webster were effusive in their praise for the day’s performances and unanimous in their decision to award Stannington the title.
Sunday 18th September began with the fourth section finalists performing ‘New Beginnings’ by Fredrick Schjelderup as the set test. Adjudicators David Ashworth, John Maines and Roger Webster enjoyed 16 high quality readings of the set work and awarded the top spot to Dobcross Silver under the leadership of MD Jason Smith. The final National Champion to be decided were Campbeltown Brass the winners of the Second Section. The winners, under the direction of MD Stephanie Kennedy, impressed the adjudicating panel of Brett Baker, Gary Davies and Chris King with a superb performance of Darrol Barry’s ‘Ghosts, Goblins, Witches and Wizards’.
Congratulations to all competitors this weekend, and congratulations to the prize winners on well deserved victories. An in depth review of the Championships will be published in the next issue of Brass Band World magazine with full results below.
First Section
Adjudicators: Gary Davies, Ian Porthouse, Roger Webster
Set work: Trittico (James Curnow)
1. Stannington (Sam Fisher)
2. Marsden Silver Prize (Andrew Lofthouse)
3. Staffordshire (Craig Williams)
4. Sandhurst Silver (David Johnson)
5. Accler8 (Jef Sparkes)
6. Ebbw Valley Brass (Gareth Ritter)
7. Ashton under Lyne (Martyn Evans)
8. Bo'ness & Carriden (Charlie Farren)
9. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins)
10. Hyde (Nigel Seaman)
11. Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain)
12. Kirkbymoorside Town (Sarah Woodward)
13. Gresley Colliery (Craig Stevens)
14. East of England Co-op (Nigel Cooper)
15. Houghton Brass (Michael Franey)
16. Bodmin Town (Steve Sykes)
Best Instrumentalist: Rachel Dines (Flugel) Ashton under Lyne
Second Section:
Adjudicators: Brett Baker, Gary Davies, Chris King
Set work: Ghosts, Goblins, Witches & Wizards (Darrol Barry)
1. Campbeltown Brass (Stephanie Kennedy)
2. Pemberton Old Wigan DW B (Jay Hall)
3. Beaumaris (Bari Gwilliam)
4. Meltham & Meltham Mills (Tom Haslam)
5. Helston Town (John Berryman)
6. Harborough (Brad Turnbull)
7. BD1 Brass (Jonathan Bates)
8. City of Norwich (Mark Ager)
9. Tyldesley (Robert Taylor)
10. Mid Rhondda (Alan Gibbs)
11. Wantage Concert Brass (Neil Brownless)
12. Poulton le Fylde (Alexander Webb)
13. Gosport Solent Brass (Phillip Littlemore)
14. Tewit Silver (Martin Hall)
15. Tilbury (Melvin White)
16. Stamford Brass (Julian Bright)
17. Tullis Russell Mills (Ray Maundy)
18. Bearpark & Esh Colliery (Philip Tait)
Best Instrumentalist: Rick Brigg (Cornet) BD1 Brass
Third Section
Adjudicators: John Maines, Brian Rostron, Sandy Smith
Set work: Sinfonietta for Brass Band (Joseph Horovitz)
1. Skelmersdale (Benjamin Coulson)
2. Jayess Newbiggin (Duncan Beckley)
3. Formby (Louise Hough MBE)
4. Ellington Colliery (Calum Hartwell)
5. Lofthouse 2000 (Lee Whitworth)
6. Ratby Co-operative Mid (Gary Perrin)
7. Cwmtawe (Wayne Pedrick)
8. Dysart Colliery (Kenneth Letham)
9. Redruth Town (David Nicholson)
10. Ocean Brass (Andy Wareham)
11. Bradwell Silver (Brian Keech)
12. Huddersfield & Ripponden (Adam Bell)
13. Kilmarnock Concert (Scott Walker)
14. City of Birmingham (Saphran Ali)
15. Olney Brass (Philip Devine)
16. Crwbin (Alex McGee)
17. Chichester City (Alfie Hughes)
Best Instrumentalist: Gemma Rowlands Solo horn (Skelmersdale)
Fourth Section:
Adjudicators: David Ashworth, John Maines, Roger Webster
Set work: New Beginnings (Fredrick Schjelderup)
1. Dobcross Silver (Jason Smith)
2. Bideford Town (Mark Durham)
3. Morecambe (David Johnson)
4. Trentham Brass (Shaun Farrington)
5. Crosskeys Silver (Sion Jones)
6. Oughtibridge (Gavin Somerset)
7. Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Joshua Parkhill)
8. Hangleton (Richard Baker)
9. Barnsley Metropolitan (Alex Francis)
10. Flookburgh Silver (John Iveson)
11. Stranraer Brass (Angela Miller)
12. North Lakes Brass (Gary Williams)
13. Tewkesbury (Robert Nicholson)
14. Hemel Hempstead (Paul Fothergill)
15. Amington (Alan Gifford)
16. Rhyl Silver (Jamie Duncan)
Best Instrumentalist: Steven Bonner (Flugel) Oughtibridge
Youngest Player: Glyn Stokes of Barnsley Metropolitan
