Reg Vardy ended their four year stay in contesting purgatory with victory in the Grand Shield at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.

Impressive

The on stage celebrations were a mixture of joy and relief as the North of England Area champion returned to the British Open courtesy of an impressive performance under MD Dr Nicholas Childs of Hermann Pallhuber’s demanding ‘Titan’s Progress’.

Former Grand Shield winners Kirkintilloch will join them in Birmingham. They set a high qualification bar to beat off the early number 3 draw directed by Garry Cutt, as they ensured their immediate return to the contest following their 2010 relegation.

Scintillating

Their deserved promotion owed much to the scintillating form of ‘Best Instrumentalist’ winner Steve Stewart on soprano, who provided an outstanding individual contribution to the Scot’s exciting performance.

Second win

It was Reg Vardy’s second Grand Shield success – coming 45 years after their first in 1966 under their original name of Craghead Colliery.

It was also the Black Dyke MDs second Grand Shield triumph – 15 years after he led Wingates to victory in 1996, and the second year in a row that number 9 had proven to be the priceless pick at the draw.

Titanic

Adjudicators David Read and Frank Renton were forthright about what they had heard from the 20 contenders on the day – David even making the Freudian slip of referring to the piece as ‘Titanic’s Progress’ before cleverly extricating himself from his faux pas.

Meanwhile, Frank Renton’s ‘in abstentia’ comment (he had to leave to catch the last southbound tram out of town) which he asked David to deliver, was that he felt that: 'All (bands) played it, but nobody played it very, very well.'

Chances sunk

They were not wrong, with a host of chances sunk by the clearly exposed technical terrors as well as the subtler hidden musical challenges posed by the huge work.

The winners however provided the men in the box, with what David later told 4BR was; 'a very musical performance...which brought the changes of pace, style and dynamics right out of the score.'

The on stage celebrations were a mixture of joy and relief as the North of England Area champion returned to the British Open courtesy of an impressive performance under MD Dr Nicholas Childs4BR

Premiership return

For the celebrating Reg Vardy, the victory confirmed their return to what one player appropriately called on a weekend of football battle, as — ‘The Premiership’ of top section banding.

Cornet player Les Palmer told 4BR. "I don’t think we could have worked any harder to have got back to the Open on this piece. We have a great working relationship with Nick Childs – and a successful one. All the players gave him what he asked for today. We are back where we believe we belong."

Disappointment

Their joy starkly contrasted with the disappointment felt for a second successive year for the strong pairing of Redbridge and Pemberton Old Wigan DW in third and fourth.

Two well managed accounts under Jeremy Wise and Mark Bentham saw the National Finalists exchange 2010 places in the results table – but still tantalisingly miss out on qualification to the British Open.

There was also a results turn around in the top six, with Butlins winners Flowers going one better than last year to claim fifth, with BTM ending sixth.

No repeat

There was however to be no repeat of the 2010 triumph for Ian Porthouse, as he could only lead the fancied Scottish Champion Exchange Communications Whitburn into 12th, despite impressing neutrals in the hall as the final band of the contest.

The immense challenges posed by the set work were clearly shown throughout a long contesting day (which started 15 minutes late at 10.15am and ended over 8 hours late), with numerous bands failing to deliver secure performances of technical solidity and musical understanding.

Mediocre

A host of mediocre renditions finally resulted in relegation to the Senior Cup for Hammonds Saltaire, Kingdom Brass, Dalmellington and Woodfalls.

Senior Cup

Adjudicators David Roberts and Derek Broadbent took the opportunity to ensure that the audience packed into the Winter Gardens Opera House was left in no doubt about their decision to award victory in the Senior Cup to Marsden Silver.

David made the point crystal clear his summing up: "Well done to the clear winners and their MD," he said.

"They managed to get so much out of the piece that we had no problem whatsoever. We had so many error strewn performances today."

It gave the Yorkshire band a deserved victory on Peter Graham's 'Prisms' to immediately return to the Grand Shield, following last year’s relegation.

Not lost

It was a point not lost on winning MD Glyn Williams. "We always thought we were hard done by last year, and I think this result proves it," he said clutching the Senior Cup in his hands.

"It wasn’t a piece that I knew as a conductor or player, so I think it helped that I came to it with fresh musical eyes so to speak.

I’m a great admirer of Peter Graham’s music and enjoyed trying to bring something out of each of the movements – especially the difficult middle section which I felt we played so well today and was the key to our success."

One step away

Joining Marsden just one step away from Symphony Hall will be fellow ‘Tykes’, Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel.

They continued their rich vein of recent form under David Nesbitt’s direction to pip last year’s Senior Trophy winners Seindorf Beaumaris into third, with Aveley & Newham in fourth.

Successive

The Welsh band directed by Gwyn Evans once again showed their emerging quality by claiming a second successive promotion, thanks to the contribution of Belgian euphonium star Glen Van Looy, who also won a ‘Best Instrumentalist’ Award for a second successive year.

There were celebrations too for former Grand Shield winners Aveley & Newham under Nigel Taken, as they put behind them a run of recent poor results to claim the final promotion place.

Disappointing standard

The top six places were clearly defined for the adjudicators, as Derek Broadbent later told 4BR that the overall playing on the day was not great; "It was a disappointing overall standard. Too many bands and their MDs underestimated just how difficult a piece this was"

Friary Guildford Brass ended in fifth with Bo’ness & Carriden in sixth.

The bands relegated to the Senior Trophy for 2012 were Powerfuel Hatfield, Burry Port, Sovereign Brass and East Yorkshire Motor Services.

Senior Trophy

David Johnson and Aldbourne claimed yet another 2011 Berlioz inspired victory in the Senior Trophy – this time with a performance of 'Benvenuto Cellini' that adjudicator Stan Lippeatt described as 'exceptional' in his summing up remarks prior to the announcement of the results.

Equally thrilled

Just a few months ago, Dave had led his band to victory on 'Le Carnival Romain' in the First Section at the West of England Regional Championships, and was as equally thrilled by his latest success.

Ambition

"It’s all about ambition for this band," he said as he held aloft the Senior Trophy.

"This band has got it, and so have I – and we want to realise it together. I thought we played brilliantly today – and I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the players.

This was about our desire to improve and compete at the highest level. We still have a long way to go, but we will get there if we continue to play as well as this."

As for his growing reputation as a Berlioz specialist?

"I don’t know about that," he laughed. "But a couple of players have said I’m at least starting to look like Sir Colin Davis!"

Impressed

Not just the winners impressed Stan Lippeatt and Lynda Nicholson on a test piece that despite its new arrangement, they felt still held plenty of imposing challenges.

"There have been slight changes, but it hasn’t really made it any easier," Stan said, before adding: "There were five very good performances with the top two exceptional. The winners won because they were the best band."

Exceptional

That other 'exceptional' performance came from runner up City of Sheffield directed by Derek Renshaw, as the Butlins First Section champion continued on their run of good form, whilst the remaining promotion places were claimed by Felling, conducted by Stephen Malcolm and Northop, directed by Thomas Wyss.

Unlucky

The unlucky ‘very good’ band was Johnstone Silver, as the Scots under trombone star Paul Kiernan were just pipped to a promotion place despite the excellent ‘Best Instrumentalist’ contribution of flugel player Fiona McCluskey.

Reminder

Meanwhile, Wrexham (Glyndwr) directed by Wayne Ruston provided a reminder of their contesting quality to claim sixth place.

At the other end of the results table, the bands looking to see of they can return next year to Blackpool include Stannington, City of Coventry, Lindley, Pontardulais, Enderby and Barton Town.

Results:

The Grand Shield
Saturday 14th May
Test Piece: Titan's Progress — Hermann Pallhuber
The Opera House

Adjudicators: David Read MBE & Frank Renton

1. Reg Vardy (Dr Nicholas Childs), 9*
2. Kirkintilloch (Garry Cutt), 3*
3. Redbridge (Jeremy Wise), 17
4. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Mark Bentham), 16
5. Flowers (Paul Holland), 18
6. B T M (Tom Davoren), 10
7. Wingates (Philip Harper), 12
8. Co-operative Milnrow (Mareika Gray), 15
9. Thoresby Colliery (Ian McElligot), 4
10. Jaguar Land Rover (Dave Lea), 19
11. Staffordshire (Nigel Seaman), 7
12. Exchange Communications Whitburn (Ian Porthouse), 20
13. Freckleton (Paul Dalton), 14
14. Mount Charles (Russell Gray), 5
15. Newstead Brass (Duncan Beckley), 2
16. Skelmanthorpe (John Roberts), 6
17. Woodfalls (Gareth Pritchard), 1
18. Dalmellington (Raymond Tennant), 13
19. Kingdom Brass (Andrew Duncan), 11
20. Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths), 8

Best Instrumentalist: Steve Stewart (Soprano) — Kirkintilloch

*Top two bands qualify for The British Open

The Senior Cup
Test Piece: Prisms — Peter Graham
The Pavillion Theatre

Adjudicators: Derek Broadbent & David Roberts

1. Marsden Silver (Glyn Williams), 8*
2. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (David Nesbitt), 16*
3. Seindorf Beaumaris (Gwyn Evans), 15*
4. Aveley and Newham (Nigel Taken), 12*
5. Friary Guildford Brass (Chris King), 7
6. Bo'ness and Carriden (Steve Sykes), 20
7. Co-operative Funeralcare Band (North West) (Jef Sparkes), 17
8. Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard), 10
9. Ratby Co-operative (Michael Fowles), 13
10. Unison Kinneil (Paul Drury), 6
11. Zone One (Richard Ward), 18
12. Fishburn (John Ward), 11
13. Ashton-under-Lyne (Martyn Evans), 9
14. Blackburn and Darwen (Nick Sheppard), 3
15. Laganvale (Metal Technology) (Ernest Ruddock), 19
16. NASUWT Riverside (Ian Robinson), 2
17. East Yorkshire Motor Services (Alan Morrison), 4
18. Sovereign Brass (Jason Glynn), 1
19. Burry Port (Michael Thorne), 5
20. Powerfuel Hatfield Colliery (William Rushworth), 14

Best Instrumentalist: Glen Van Looy (Euphonium) — Seindorf Beaumaris

*Top four bands promoted to The Grand Shield

The Senior Trophy
Test Piece: Benvenuto Cellini — Berlioz arr Dr Christian Jenkins
The Spanish Hall

Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt & Lynda Nicholson

1. Aldbourne (David Johnson), 18*
2. City of Sheffield (Derek Renshaw), 8*
3. Felling (Stephen Malcolm), 14*
4. Northop Silver (Thomas Wyss), 3*
5. Johnstone Silver (Paul Kiernan), 9
6. Wrexham Glyndwr (Wayne Ruston), 12
7. Wakefield Metropolitan (Norman Law), 16
8. Wantage Silver 'A' (Philip Bailey), 17
9. Bournemouth Concert Brass (Captain Dave Barringer), 20
10. Newtongange (Nigel Boddice MBE), 5
11. St Dennis (Darran Hawken), 2
12. Bon Accord (Alan Duguid), 4
13. Easington Colliery (David Hirst), 6
14. Hade Edge (Simon Wood), 13
15. Barton Town (Richard Evans), 1
16. Enderby (Jonathan Mott), 19
17. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins), 11
18. Lindley (Neil Jowett), 7
19. City of Coventry (Stephen Cooper), 15
20. Stannington (Miles Davison), 10

Best Instrumentalist: Fiona McCluskey (Flugel) — Johnstone Silver

*Top four bands promoted to The Senior Cup