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Well, once again the North West Area Championships have come and gone and bands from the Isle of Man have competed with distinction.

Tag line

Manx Concert Brass competing in the First Section for only the second time have repeated their 2009 performance with a fifth place. When the band was formed the tag line was that perhaps one day the Island would have its own Championship Section band.

At the time that seemed like a pleasant pipe dream; now, thanks to the drive and dedication of conductor, Ian Clague, and the equal dedication and capability of the players, that pipe-dream has become a racing certainty, if not this year, then very soon.

Workmanlike

Meanwhile in Third Section, Douglas Town Band under their resident conductor, Ken Mitchell, but conducted at the contest by Musical Adviser, Gordon Higginbottom, turned in a very workmanlike result, taking ninth place in a strong field of nineteen bands.

They too must by now knocking on promotion’s door.

Shining sea

Also in Third Section Robert Quane’s Ramsey Town were also 'shining by the sea' in Blackpool, three places behind Douglas and emphasising – if indeed it needed emphasising – that banding in the Isle of Man, with nine bands in a community of only 80,000, is very much a force to be reckoned with.

15th March:

1. Death or Glory
R.B.Hall
Clifton and Lightcliffe Band

2. Finale Saint-Saens Organ Symphony No. 3
Arr. Frank Renton
Grimethorpe

3. Varied Mood
Ray Woodfield
Foden’s
Euphonium soloist: Glyn Williams

4. Saint- Saens Variations
Philip Sparke
Cory

5. The Nuns’ Chorus
Strauss arr. Simon Kerwin
Wingates
Soprano soloist: Brian Evans

6. Largo from 'New World' Symphony
Dvorak
Dinnington Colliery Band

7. Hittin’ Em Up – arr.
Wright
Fodens
Xylophone soloist: Mark Landon

8. Yorkshire Water Music
Darrol Barry
Clifton and Lightcliffe

9. Misty – Errol Garner
arr. Derek Broadbent
Wingates
Soprano soloist: Brian Evans

10. Abide with Me
W.H.Monk
Dinnington Colliery

11. The Floral Dance
arr. Derek Broadbent
Dinnington Colliery