On a day when many a national title winning challenge was sunk before they had sailed more than a few musical miles from port, it was Lostock Hall Memorial Band from the North West region that cruised to victory on Peter Yorke’s classic ‘Shipbuilders’ Suite.

Rich praise

With a performance that drew rich praise from both adjudicators Richard Evans and Chris Wormald, John Wood and his band steered their way through the stern nautical test piece to pip a forceful performance from their Yorkshire rivals Uppermill, whose euphonium player Trevor Hughes took the Best Instrumentalist Award, and sail home with the National Trophy and the £1,000 top prize.

There were few competitors in the 20 band field who became masters of the high seas throughout the day, although there was praise for third placed band Amington who took the final podium place from the Midlands region as the top six prizes on the day were shared amongst the regions.

Ghosts

The ghost of the great shipbuilder Isambard Kingdom Brunel steered Brunel Brass from the West of England to a well deserved fourth place, whilst the Scots of Renfew Burgh took fifth. The final top six place went to the London representatives, Hemel Hempstead.

Elsewhere the test piece proved to be a challenge too far for many of the bands, with performances littered with good intentions but more holes below the plimsole line than the Titantic.

Results:

Test Piece:
The Shipbuilders, Peter Yorke

Adjudicators:
Chris Wormald & Richard Evans

1. Lostock Hall Memorial, John Wood, 11, 184
2. Uppermill, Alan Widdop, 15, 183
3. Amington, Wesley Kendrick, 5, 181
4. Brunel Brass, John Winterflood, 14, 180
5. Renfrew Burgh, David Hutcheson, 4, 179
6. Hemel Hempstead, Graham Weekes, 6, 178
7. South Milford Brass, Richard Wilton, 17, 177
8. Crosskeys, Kerry Bowden, 1, 176
9. Totnes, Ian Wilkinson, 16, 175
10. Wincanton Silver, B. Kelloway, 10, 174
11. Irvine & Dreghorn, D McKellan, 2, 173
12. Lofthouse 2000, Andrew Whitaker, 7, 172
13. Skelmanthorpe B, Philip Garlick, 9171
14. Severn Tunnel, Andrea Ayres, 12, 170
15. Tarleton and District Brass, Gillian Bould, 3, 169
16. Tadley Concert Brass, Paul Chapman, 8, 168
17. Kirkby Lonsdale, Mark Buchanan, 19, 166
18. Thoresby Youth, Christine Gent, 20, 165
19. Cold Ash, Mike Clark, 13, 164
20. Croft Silver, Ian Needham, 18, 163

Best instrumentalist:
Trevor Hughes (Euphonium) Uppermill