The 64th annual South West Brass Band Association championships were held at the Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay on Saturday, where 32 bands competed in 7 sections.
Sherborne victory
Sherborne Town, conducted by Paul Cosh, took the Open Section title, with a fine performance of their own choice selection 'Trittico', in a contest that saw Helston come runner up with a fine rendition of 'Tallis Variations', with First Section contenders Lanner & District in third.
Lewis win
Lewis Merthyr returned to Wales with the Second Section title to their name thanks to a well worked performance of 'Kaleidoscope', whilst the Third Section title ended in the hands of Bugle Silver, thanks to their performance of 'Northern Landscapes'.
Delighted
The Fourth Section saw victory go to Tiverton Town, whilst the organisers were delighted that there was such a good response from both competitors and audience alike this year, with a packed crowd in to listen to so many enthusiastic and smiling youngsters in the lower and ungraded sections.
Once again Torquay proved to be a popular venue, which reflected in the high overall standard of music making and everybody enjoying the usual competitive but friendly atmosphere.
The large audience gave a standing emotional and sincere welcome to the Association’s President, Goff Richards, accompanied by his devoted wife Sue4BR
Quality music making
The adjudicators, Dennis Wilby and Derek Greenwood, told the audience that they had enjoyed what they called, '...an excellent day of quality music making and performances in all sections of overall high standard' — as well as thanking the organisers for putting on a very well organised event at an excellent venue.
The large audience gave a standing emotional and sincere welcome to the Association’s President, Goff Richards, accompanied by his devoted wife Sue, who presented the trophies to the winning bands, along with the Chairman, Ray Kingdon.
Results:
Training Section:
Gold Award — Launceston Training (Ann Brown)
Silver Award — Soundhouse Brass Juniors (Emma Heard)
Bronze Award — St Austell Junior (David Loukes)
Best Instrumentalist: Solo Cornet (Launceston Junior)
Youth Section:
Gold Award — Mount Charles Youth (Jeremy Willcock)
Best Instrumentalist: Solo Euphonium (Mount Charles Youth)
Un-Graded Section:
Gold Award — Tiverton Town (Gil Taylor)
Silver Award — Double TT Brass Totnes (Alan Wilmott)
Fourth Section:
Test-Piece: Four Cities Symphony — Rodney Newton
1. Tiverton Town (Gil Taylor)
2. Totnes (Sid Davis)
3. Okehampton Excelsior Silver (Des Law)
4. Porthleven Town (Francis Ralph)
5. Launceston Town (Dave Dobson)
Best Set of Basses: Tiverton Town
Third Section:
Test-Piece: Northern Landscapes — Peter Graham
1. Bugle Silver (Jeremy Willcock)
2. St Stythians (James Burns)
3. Sidmouth Town (Adrian Harvey)
4. Weymouth Concert Brass (Adam Glynn)
5. Torbay Brass (T J Finnigan)
6. South Molton Town (David Marshall)
Best Horn Section: Bugle Silver
Second Section:
Test-Piece: Kaleidoscope — Philip Sparke
1. Lewis Merthyr (Gareth Pritchard)
2. Phoenix Brass Crewkerne (David Hatton)
3. City of Bristol (Ceri Thomas)
4. Wotton-under-Edge & District (Dennis Grant)
5. Pendennis Brass (Steve Thomas)
6. St Pinnock (Chris Spreadbury)
7. Heyl Town (Reuben Long)
Best Instrumentalist: Solo Cornet (Lewis Merthyr)
Open Section:
Test Piece: Own Choice
1. Sherborne Town (Paul Cosh)
2. Helston Town (John Hitchens)
3. Lanner & District Silver (Stuart Chappell)
4. St Austell Town (Gareth Pritchard)
5. Michelmersh Silver (Melvin White)
6. Chalford (Steve Tubb)
7. Lympstone South West Telecoms (Charles Fleming)
8. Poole Borough (Phil Randell)
Highest Placed First Section Band: Lanner & District Silver
