Goodnight from Cheltenham...

That's it from the West of England Regional Championships here in Cheltenham — where we will be back again in September.

Congratulations to all the newly crowned champions and to the bands that qualified through ton the National Finals.

Our thanks go to the excellent staff at The Centaur who were very helpful — and of course to Sue Oldfield and her team, and Kapitol Promotions for the warm welcome and a great weekend of contesting.

2022 Campions: Aldbourne

Winning MD: Glyn Williams

Winners: Aldbourne

Runner-up: Flowers

Third place: Camborne

Result: Championship Section:
Test-piece: Contest Music (Wilfred Heaton)
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs and Alan Morrison

1. Aldbourne (Glyn Williams)*
2. Flowers (Paul Holland)*
3. Camborne Town (David Hirst)
4. Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith)
5. St Dennis (Darren R Hawken)
6. Filton Concert Brass (Erik Van De Kolk)
7. Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall)
8. Woodfalls (Garry Cutt)
9. Michelmersh Silver (Melvin White)
10. Lydbrook (Steve Sykes)
11. SW Comms (Stephen Sykes)
12. Roche Brass (David Hamilton)

*Invite to National Final

West of England: Championship Section: round up and prediction

Four into two doesn't go.

Four bands in with a real shout of claiming the qualification places here — with Aldbourne perhaps just delivering the knock out blow right at the end. Flowers and Camborne will know they left the door open and they could be pipped by the fourth candidate for the Albert Hall in St Dennis.

Flowers will be apprehensive after a performance of huge quality, but which also had question marks over the use of the sop cover. If its not noticed in the box then they should just pip Camborne with St Dennis so close behind. If it has been then they may well miss out.

Wow — two bands are going to be delighted tonight and two very disappointed. Its on the toss of the coin between Flowers, Camborne and St Dennis to who joins Aldbourne for us, with fine accounts from Verwood and Lydbrook filling the top six.

1. Aldbourne
2. Flowers
3. Camborne
4. St Dennis
5. Verwood
6. Lydbrook

West of England: Championship Section

12. Aldbourne (Glyn Williams)

The last performance of the day, the weekend, and of the whole Regional Championships is one to make the judges think again and again about possible qualification credentials.

A super first movement was packed full of verve and waspish energy, clear edged execution and precision (just the one odd moment to raise the MDs eyebrows). Nothing overdone it was played with a great deal of stylish intent all the way to the neatest of closes.

The flow of the central section may have seemed quicker than others today, but it still had a malleability that the MD used to telling effect. Solid as a rock in the ensemble and the solo lines too — with the cornet a peach of elegance and security combined. The no nonsense close made so much sense too.

Its topped by a splendid finale section — energised and executed with a linen crispness. The control was self evident and the build to the Heaton climax was so well layered — led by lyrical tubas, although it got a little compound in the cornets. Fab ride to the close — again so energised in controlled forcefulness.

Bravo MD — a great lead that was taken on in full by the band. That could be heading to London and maybe as champion.

Iwan Fox

West of England: Championship Section

11. Lydbrook (Steve Sykes)

Another MD with such an informed appreciation of the score — and again it showed with a solidly constructed and delivered performance.

There was a defined edge to the playing in the first movement — not always 100%, but with a clear and stylishly dark intent. The odd blip here and there, but it didn't tarnish the picture and the close was so well done.

The central section also took its time — not glacial, but a slow icy flow that had a finely judged sense of evocative atmosphere. The solo lines were played confidently and the virtuoso solo cornet almost defied gravity before just getting down to earth in time. That caused a hiatus that lost the music its flow, but it ended so well.

Great pulse and drive to the final section, with the MD allowing the playing to find its dynamic comfort zone — and then explode. Super build to the Heaton climax was layered like the tastiest trifle — and then pow! So much to enjoy as it drove to the end, despite the obvious tiredness to round off a performance of admirable qualities from start to finish.

Iwan Fox

West of England: Championship Section

10. Woodfalls (Garry Cutt)

The obligatory contest 'nearly one' from Woodfalls. And if it did capture all the MDs informed musical intentions it would surely have been right in the mix for title consideration from the judges.

It may well do of course, but the little errors and smudges just tarnished the construct — one that paid attention to what filled and didn't fill the bars. The space offered so much clarity, and for a great deal of the first movement it was a cohesive, controlled menace that filtered though.

The same approach very nearly came off so well in the central section — flowing icily, but with passionate expression in the cornets over a wonderful trombone bed of solemnity. Those little clips and moments of unease just started to mount though, although the musical lines were so well melded together. Cornet hung in there and the end faded nicely.

Super last movement — viciously energised but with a razor edge of clarity, was super, and built to a wonderful Heaton climax and ebbed flow. The race home was a glorious power push and came to a superb close.

Great take on the score by the MD — and one that very nearly came off big style. Not quite enough about it today to secure a qualification place though?

Iwan Fox

West of England: Championship Section

9. Michelmersh Silver (Melvin White)

Melvin White used all his years of top flight experience in moulding such a solidly constructed account from his band — especially in the treacherous first movement.

It was skilled artisan work — and one that gave the players the confidence on which to deliver a no nonsense piece of contest playing. It may have lacked forensic contrast and detail, but it was admirably secure — all the way to the close.

The icy flow to the central section was also well maintained. The expressiveness may have been somewhat muted, but once again it was all in place. The solo cornet backed her self-confidence and played with a lovely touch of elan, and the close that followed died a natural death into the ether.

An admirable sense of control seeped through the finale — nothing overdone and everything observed in its place. What is lacked in visceral intensity it made up in good musical common sense. Just needed a raw fission to really spark to life, but this was a controlled burn to the end of a performance of finely attuned musical judgement.

Iwan Fox

West of England: Championship Section

8. Roche Brass (David Hamilton)

A battling account of character on what was the severest of tests.

The structural flaws and errors were obvious, but so too was the determination and grit of the players. The MDs sensitive handling of the pacing and flow ensured they got through a treacherous first movement after a very nervous start. The neat ending was a little pearler.

Problems in the middle section, but again the MD worked hard to keep the cohesion and elements in the right place, whilst flugel and solo cornet were bravura points of focus. Almost unravelled, but it held its integrity right to the close.

The best playing came in the final section, played with vigour and pulse. Super lower brass gave things a depth and the cornets found their footing to play with polished brio. The Heaton climax was secure enough, but it nearly lost its way again before recovering to the end.

A huge challenge this, as was heard, but sheer determination and the MDs fine skills got them through.

Iwan Fox

West of England: Championship Section

7. St Dennis (Darren R Hawken)

Well now. This has been a performance to give the judges plenty to ponder and the fancied rivals something of a chill of apprehension to any pre-conceived ideas of qualification.

So much to admire in the approach and execution, the attention to detail and the adherence to the strict literal approach of the MD.

The first movement in particular was by far the best of the day — so precise and clear. The menace was lighter, but it was like being faced by the choice of getting it in the neck from a stiletto rather than a sabre blade. It was a classy, pin point delight — all the way to the little pearl of a last note.

Just a pity the second section had the occasional clip that chipped at the icy veneer created by the MD. There were just a couple too many not to take into account. Cornet was super on the way up, but just let things go back on earth, whilst the hesitancy created caused a slight hiatus. The final fade away though was beautifully tailored.

The occasional clip and unforced error in the final section — a couple of which will have surely been noted in the box. What a pity as the musical flow was viscous and glossy. The built to the Heaton climax just faltered — but it ebbed away so well thereafter, whilst the closing section was full of pulsating excitement.

One in the mix with the best for the judges today?

Iwan Fox

West of England: Championship Section

6. SW Comms (Stephen Sykes)

An annoying mobile phone ring just before the band started may have broken concentration, as the first few bars were messy, but it recovered thanks to the MDs eminently clear intentions and directions. Lots of well observed structural points were highlighted all the way to the delicate close.

The MD offered a lyrical flow to the central section, with some meanderings and individual phrasing choices in euph and cornets. The risks worked though — although the solo cornet almost held too long on his perch before falling slightly exhausted back to earth. You had to admire the little interpretative risks taken — they certainly stood out, even if they perhaps lost the flow of the phrase line to close.

Great vigour and waspish brio to the final section — played with an acute eye on dynamism and tempi. Those noted little risks work well in the context created — with a fine build to the Heaton climax and ebbing tidal effect after. Just a smudge and a tired entry or two, but a super end to a performance of notable and noted effect.

Iwan Fox