Hepworth gave classy notice to the banding world of their future top flight intentions as they won the Championship Section Bolsover Festival entertainment title in impressive fashion.

Led by Dr David Thornton, a slickly delivered set full of eye-catching presentation to bolster the high quality playing of their 'folk' inspired theme saw them also claim an impressive haul of silverware to go with the £750 first prize.

The Yorkshire band eventually headed home with the Wilson Bowden Developments Winners Trophy to go with the Major Peter Parkes Memorial Trophy to David Thornton as the winning conductor, and the brand new Warwick Music Group Audience prize which was voted on by viewers from all corners of the globe who tuned into watch the live-streamed action.

Extra quality

Adjudicator Roger Webster praised all competitors for their inventive choices of programmes, but felt that Hepworth had displayed what he called "an extra level of quality"- stating in his written remarks that it was, "A really fine show — delivered with style".

They opened with a choreographed rendition of 'Nordic Polska', before segueing into the baritone led 'She Moved through the Fair'. The rarely heard 'J'entends le Moulin' by Morley Calvert was a delightful, foot tapping Canadian inspired detour, before flugel soloist Katherine Bentham delivered a lovely rendition of 'Beneath the Willows' to lead into the rousing folk finale of 'Haul Away' by Bellowhead.

Speaking to 4BR after the results, David Thornton said that he had thoroughly enjoyed working with a band that is showing desire as well as ambition with their playing.

"Hepworth has always been a fine band, but the way they approached their entertainment programme was great to be part of,"he said. "They bought into what I wanted to do 100% and it showed. It was a pleasure to work with them."

Delighted Easington

The battle for the podium places saw a delighted Easington Colliery came runner-up, as their 'sci-fi set', opening with 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' and ending with the finale from 'Music of the Spheres' under Daniel Brooks was delivered with confident aplomb.

Not only did it see them take away a handy £400 for their efforts, but it also came with an invitation to compete at the Senior Trophy at the British Open Spring Festival in 2019.

Just behind came Longridge, whose solidly delivered set included a stunning 'Best Soloist' performance of 'Miss Blue Bonnet' from 17 year old principal cornet Holly Clark, whilst the 'Most Entertaining Band' award was claimed by the inventive Strata Brass, with a set that featured no less than three world premieres — including a work inspired by a mythical Bulgarian vampire slayer!

Enderby take First Section honours

With a worldwide audience of well over 20,000 people logged in to enjoy the live-streamed performances throughout the day, it was Enderby Band conducted by Ryan Richards that showcased their entertainment talents to claim the First Section honours and £500 first prize.

Their Scandinavian themed set, which also took the 'Most Entertaining Band' award, opened with 'Phenomena Fanfare' before moving through 'Gota', 'Samba Del Gringo', 'Michaelangelo' featuring euphonium soloist Andy Myall, and the popular 'Nordic Polska' to close.

"I'm thrilled,"their young MD, who was still recovering from the debilitating effects of a serious virus later told 4BR. "I'm really enjoying conducting the band as they share my ambition to try something new and exciting. This is a great result and one we hope to build on."

In what was a keenly fought contest according to adjudicator David Hirst, it was Strata Brass that eventually came runner-up (also showing their ambition by entering two sections with two completely different programmes), with Skelmanthorpe in third.

Richard Dowling of Stannington Brass took the 'Best Soloist' award an outstanding display of lyricism on the 'Adagio' from Rachmaninov's 'Symphony Number 2'.

Impressive Horbury

There was also a great deal for the worldwide audience to enjoy with the performances in the Second, Third and Fourth Section events that took place in the Sports Hall of the Heritage High School venue.

Horbury Victoria was the comprehensive winner of the Second Section as their impressively delivered programme led by the experienced Duncan Beckley ticked all the boxes for adjudicator Dave Lea to claim the £400 first prize by an imposing six-point margin.

Their set, which opened with the Buddy Rich big band sounds of 'Swinging that Bugle Call' and ended with the Salvationist passion of 'Turris Fortissima' also featured a superb solo rendition of 'In Christ Alone' by former Grimethorpe Colliery euph star Michael Dodd, who not surprisingly claimed the 'Best Soloist' award.

A delighted Manger Old Stars came second for the second year in a row as their Nordic set pipped Hucknall & Linby Mining Community into third.

Towcester top Third Section

It was a much closer battle for the title in the Third Section as adjudicator Annie Crookston took her time considering the ultimate destination of the winner's trophy and the £300 first prize.

In the end it went to the last band of a highly entertaining contest, as Towcester Studio led by Neil Brownless just edged out Emley Brass with Rockingham in third.

The winner's certainly gave the worldwide audience a taste of different geographically inspired music, with 'Amazonia' from 'Windows of the World eventually leading to the Parisian night life of Offenbach's 'Can Can' via Russia, Scotland and Spain.

There was certainly plenty of inventive programming on show from the competing bands, with both Emley and Rockingham cleverly mixing and matching genres and styles, whilst the 'Best Soloist' prize was deservedly taken by vocalist James Dennis of Long Eaton (also doubling as their principal cornet!) with a superb rendition of 'The Impossible Dream'.

Brilliant Banovallum

There may have only been five competitors in the Fourth Section but they provided wonderful entertainment — headed by the eventual winner, Banovallum conducted by Steve Ingham.

Their set opened with 'Festmusic der Stadt Wien', before encompassing 'Montreal Citadel', 'I only have eyes for you', 'Under the Boardwalk' featuring flugel soloist Amy Pick and 'Prelude to Lavenham' to close to cliam the Graham Thomas Memorial Trophy and £250 first prize.

Just behind them came podium finishers Blackley and Kirkby Colliery, both delivering excellent sets with confidence and style, whilst the 'Best Soloist' prize was claimed by Tim Clarke, who gave fantastic rendition of 'Helter Skelter' on xylophone with Deepcar.

With the Bolsover Festival now firmly established in the banding calendar thanks to the excellent facilities and organisation led by Carole Hirst and her team of volunteers, it is hoped that the event can be further expanded in 2019.

Excellent support

A spokesperson told 4BR: "Thanks to the excellent support from our sponsors we were able to live-stream the performances of every band this year.

All entered into the spirit of the event and we've been delighted by the response to the day long live-broadcast — and especially the new audience prize sponsored by Warwick Music Group.

We will look to make further improvements for next year and to ensure that we keep bringing top class brass band entertainment to the banding world."

Hepworth had displayed what he called "an extra level of quality" — stating in his written remarks that it was, "A really fine show — delivered with style"4BR

Results:

Championship Section:

Adjudicator: Roger Webster

1. Hepworth (Dr David Thornton) — 96
2. Easington Colliery (Daniel Brooks) — 94*
3. Longridge (Mark Peacock) — 93
4= Newstead Band (Jim Davies) — 90
4= Strata Brass (Jonathan Bates) — 90
6. Shepherd Group Brass (Richard Wilton) — 89
7. Chapeltown (Sam Fisher) — 88
8. Crofton Silver (Dean Jones) — 87
9. Unite the Union Band (John Roberts) — 86
10. Kirkbymoorside Town (Sarah Woodward) — 10
11. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band (Jack Capstaff) — 84
12. Blidworth Welfare Band (Simon Oates) — 83
13. Foresters Brass (John Davis) — 82

Best Soloist: Holly Clark (cornet) — Longridge
Most Entertaining Band: Strata Brass
*Easington Colliery qualifies for 2019 Senior Trophy

First Section:

Adjudicator: David Hirst

1. Enderby (Ryan Richards) — 92
2. Strata Brass (Jonathan Bates) — 91
3. Skelmanthorpe (Martin Heartfield) — 90
4. Foresters Brass (John Davis) — 89
5= Stannington Brass (Derek Renshaw) — 87
5= Silk Brass (Tony Wyatt) — 87
7. Chapeltown (Sam Fisher) — 86
8. Rushden Town (Adele Hudson) — 84
9. Manger Old Star Brass (Marit Tommermo) — 83
10. Bedworth Brass (David Maplestone) — 80
11. Ibstock Brick Brass (Simon Willis) — 79
12. Carlton Brass (Gary Wyatt) — 77
13. Gresley Colliery Band (Craig Stevens) — 76
14. Shirebrook Miners Welfare (Jim Henson) — 75

Most Entertaining Band: Enderby
Soloist: Richard Dowling (Cornet) — Stannington Brass

Second Section:

Adjudicator: Dave Lea

1. Horbury Victoria (Duncan Beckley) — 93
2. Manger Old Star Brass (Marit Tommermo) — 87
3. Hucknall & Linby Mining Community (Paul Whyley) — 86
4= Crofton Silver (Dean Jones) — 85
4= Rolls Royce Derby (Graham Cardwell) — 85
6. Haydock (Mark Quinn) — 84
7. Bakewell Silver (Andy Davey) — 82
8. Eagley (Chris Wormald) — 81

Best Soloist: Michael Dodd (euphonium) — Horbury Victoria

Third Section:

Adjudication: Anne Crookston

1. Towcester Studio (Neil Brownless) — 95
2. Emley Brass (Garry Hallas) -94
3. Rockingham (Adam Whittle) — 92
4. Market Rasen (David Dernley) — 91
5. Pleasley Colliery Welfare (Geof Benson) — 90
6. Long Eaton Silver Prize (Sharon Stansfield) — 89
7. Newhall (Kevin Holdgate) — 88
8. Matlock (Chris Banks) — 87
9. Golbourne Brass (Matt Shaw) — 85

Best Soloist: James Dennis (Vocalist) — Long Eaton Silver Prize

Fourth Section:

Adjudicator: Dave Lea

1. Banovallum Brass (Steve Ingham) — 88
2. Blackley (Adrian Smith) — 86
3. Kirkby Colliery (Neville Buxton) — 84
4. Ilkeston Brass (Geoff Hawley) — 83
5. Deepcar Brass (Cathryn Rogers) — 82

Best Soloist: Tim Clarke (Xylophone) — Deepcar