Elland Silver Youth Band led by MD Samantha Harrison recently travelled to the iconic Hardraw Scar contest venue in Hawes, North Yorkshire to take part in 130th Annual Brass Band Contest.

Famous venue

This competition is held in the beautiful grounds of the Green Dragon public house and sees bands perform music in the small stone bandstand in front of the famous Hardraw Force waterfall.

We took to the stage in our red shirts – and soon we were all drenched due to the rain! However, the players showed true Yorkshire grit, thrilling the adjudicator John Roberts and the very large audience, who supported them wholeheartedlySam Harrison

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Following two successive wins in the section for 4th and ungraded bands in 2009/10 the band competed in the Open Section this year, playing along side bands graded up to the First Section.

And despite the very inclement weather the band produced a wonderful performance to claim the prize for ‘Best March’ for their rendition of ‘Rose Hill’, and an incredible second place overall.

Soaked through

Sam told 4BR: "We took to the stage in our red shirts – and soon we were all drenched due to the rain! However, the players showed true Yorkshire grit, thrilling the adjudicator John Roberts and the very large audience, who supported them wholeheartedly."

Celebrations

The band’s 20-minute programme also featured 12 year old Charlotte Horsfield on trombone playing ‘The Windmill’ a piece specially written for her by Philip Wilby.

And despite the rain, the band celebrated with the Besses Hardraw Scar 2000 Cup and the Ray Needham Rose Bowl — plus £175 in prize money!