4BR can reveal that the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators is to publish an extended statement on its website to qualify its position and findings into the recent ‘Meadgate’ controversy.

Dismiss

4BR has seen the statement in full, in which ABBA dismiss the Whitburn conductors published views on adjudication on his website following the British Open in September, as 'ill timed' and 'hastily written'.

No substance

They go onto say that Steven’s article entitled, 'Time for Change', contained, 'no significant substance in his contentions relating to the process of adjudication.'

The statement, which is signed on behalf of the organisation by ABBA Secretary C Brian Buckley, dismisses the euphonium star’s proposals and thoughts as being, 'liberally laced with just rhetoric'.

Defence

In defence of its own position, the ABBA statement illuminates its 'meaningful' conclusions of what it describes as 'a lengthy discussion' of its Executive Committee.

The statement...dismisses the euphonium star’s proposals and thoughts as being, 'liberally laced with just rhetoric'4BR

Unmitigated support

These include the 'unmitigated' support given by the Association to the adjudicators involved at the British Open, which it referred to as 'a world class event', and, the manner in which ABBA Chairman Derek Broadbent dealt with the situation in the immediate aftermath of the contest.

Surprise

That may surprise those who have followed the story from the start, as there was concern aired from many observers at the time that ABBA had acted slowly in not offering immediate public support of the adjudicators at the contest.

The statement goes on to offer examples of what ABBA is currently undertaking in respect to adjudication development and what it believes is the appropriate 'well established' route for dealing with complaints regarding the effective performance of adjudicators.

No meeting

Although ABBA initially offered to meet and discuss the issues raised by Steven Mead in his article ‘Time for Change’, the statement concludes that, “…a meeting with Steven Mead at this stage would be both unproductive and premature.”

The ABBA website can be found at:
http://www.abbadjudicators.org.uk/