Tredegar warmed up for their forthcoming challenge at the National Finals by retaining their Wychavon title on the weekend.

Near misses

After a frustrating season of near misses, the Welsh outfit finally added some winning silverware to their 2009 contesting CV under Ian Porthouse by beating Flowers by a two point winning margin to take home the £1,500 top prize. Another London bound band, Pemberton Old, came third.

Triumph

Festival Secretary Clive Allen told 4BR: "49 bands played to packed audiences in three venues in the town throughout the day. Tredegar triumphed for a second year and we are hoping to tempt them back again to play in a concert in the area."

VBS win

In the First Section it was Vernon Building Society who pipped Harrogate bound Phoenix West Midlands to the £1,000 top prize, with Portishead a point further back in third.

49 bands played to packed audiences in three venues in the town throughout the dayClive Allen

Defence

Strata Brass defended their title in the Second Section with a 'confident and well structured programme' as quoted by the adjudicator Alan Bourn. The win is the band’s eighth entertainment title in the last four years and saw the band pick up the £750 first prize.

Welsh contenders Tylorstown came a close second with United Co-operatives 200 Brass in third.

Yorkshire win

The Third Section saw Emley Brass from Yorkshire take the £600 first prize under the direction of Gary Hallas, as they pipped Amington into second place with Fulham Brass a point further back in third.

Local victory

In the Fourth Section local band Shipston Town found favour with adjudicator John Berryman. They picked up the £500 first prize ahead of Coleshill Town with Bratton Silver in third.

There were further local awards to Shipston Town and Worcestershire Youth Brass.

Clive Allen added: "Everybody enjoyed a tremendous day and look forward to our 21st in Evesham on the 19th September 2010."

Results:

Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Lloyd Landry

1. Tredegar Town Band (Ian Porthouse) -195
2. Flowers (Paul Holland) — 193
3. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Mark Bentham) — 192
4. Tongwynlais Temperance Silver Band (Philip Harper) — 191
5. K M Medway (Melvin White) — 190
6. Kibworth (John Hudson) — 189
7. Lydbrook (Huw Thomas) — 187
8. Bedford Town (Andy Kershaw) — 186
9. Milton Keynes (Paul Fensom) — 185
10. Enderby (Jonathon Mott) — 184

Soloist Prize: Elaine Williams (cornet) – KM Medway
Best Percussion: Pemberton Old

First Section:
Adjudicator: John Berryman

1. Vernon Building Society Poynton (Kevin Gibbs) — 191
2. Phoenix West Midlands Brass (David Maplestone) -190
3. Portishead Town (Ian Dickinson) — 189
4. Shirley Band (Dave Lea) — 188
5. Friary Guildford Brass (Andrew Porter) — 186
6. Foresters Brass 2000 (Peter Collins) — 185
7. The Wigston Band (Garry Sleath) — 184
8. Hathern (David Newman) — 183
9. Abergavenny Borough (Gareth Ritter) — 182

Soloist Prize: Sarah Lenton (Euphonium) Foresters Brass 2000
Best Percussion: Friary Guildford

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Alan Bourne

1. Strata Brass (David Hirst) — 187
2. Tylorstown (Gary Davies) — 186
3. United Co-Operatives 2000 Brass (Jamie Meredith) — 185
4. Briton Ferry Silver (Dr Christian Jenkins) — 184
5. Rogerstone (James Jones) — 183
6. Cinderford (Clive Lewis) — 182
7. West Mercia Constabulary (Steve Pritchard-Jones) –181
8. Alder Valley Brass (Roger Burke) — 180
9. Arrow Valley Brass (David Stanley) –179
10. Epping Forest (Marc Easener) — 178

Third Section:
Adjudicator: Alan Bourne

1. Emley Brass (Gary Hallas) — 184
2. Amington (Wesley Kendrick) — 183
3. Fulham Brass (Simon Jones) — 182
4. Pillowell Silver (Steve Ruck) — 181
5. Bath Spa (David Hayward) — 180
6. Avonbank (Evesham) (Andy Davidson) — 179
7. Chalgrove (Michael Pegram) — 178
8. Crosskeys Silver (K L Bowden) — 177
9. A.W.Parker (Drybrook) (Kevin White) — 176
10. Porthwyaen Silver (Mark Parry) — 175

Best Soloist: Carol Jones (Cornet) Porthwyaen Silver)
Best Percussion: Fulham Brass

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: John Berryman

1. Shipston Town (Howard Gibbs) — 181
2. Coleshill Town (Stephen J Fagg) — 180
3. Bratton Silver (Maria Fricker) — 179
4. Burbage Silver (Andy Ellis) — 177
5. Worcestershire Youth Brass (Nicky Daw) — 176
6. Cheltenham Silver (Angela Shepherd) — 175
7. Malvern Hills & District Brass (John Swindellls) — 174
8. Marshfield (Peter Cornford) — 173
9. Newport Borough (Alun Hathaway) — 172
10. Rode Hall Silver (Ian Turner) — 170

Best Soloist: George Culwick (Tuba) Worcestershire Youth
Best Percussion: Coleshill Town