There was plenty of quality entertainment on show at the Wychavon Festival on the weekend, where a fine turn out of 42 bands produced a host of innovative performances for adjudicators Dr Robert Childs and Roger Thorne to ponder over.

Appreciation

And despite the appreciation of the audience seeing BTM docked two points for going over the 20 minute time limitation, the Welsh band still claimed the £1,500 top prize and the Wychavon Cup for the first time since 1999, with a clear two point winning margin.

Relieved

MD Tom Davoran was still a mightily relieved man though as he later told 4BR: "It’s not often you want the audience to be less enthusiastic about your playing," he laughed. "We had timed our programme to finish well inside the 20 minute limit, but we played so well that it would have been wrong to stop the applause!"

The programme, described by adjudicator Robert Childs as, ‘great – played well from beginning to end and with fine direction’ — started with the quick march ‘Jubilee’ followed by a brilliant virtuoso display from trombonist Jonathan Pippen on Tom’s own variations on ‘Calon Lan’, which soon got the packed hall warming their hands with prolonged applause.

Contrast

The lyrical contrast of Ian Roberts on ‘La Califfa’ settled the mood down before BTM rounded off their set with the high paced finale from the MDs own ’Visions of Kolkhis’.

Huge boost

As Tom revealed, the win has given the Welsh outfit a huge boost of confidence following a period of rebuilding. "We have really invested in the future this year," he explained. "There were five home-grown players all under the age of 18 in our line up, which really does go to show that investing in youth is the way forward for bands such as ourselves."

Senior Cup winners Marsden Silver directed by Glyn Williams couldn’t quite match their rivals on the day, despite taking the entertainment award on offer, and had to settle for second place, whilst London finalists Woodfalls conducted by Gareth Pritchard came third. The Best Soloist Award was won by James Randle of City of Coventry.

First Section class

In a keenly fought battle for the £1000 top prize in the First Section it was Enderby, conducted by Jonathon Mott that eventually beat off the high class challenge of recent Bolsover Festival winner Jackfield (Elcock) Reisen and National Second Section champion Tylorstown.

The Enderby winning programme started with 'When the Saints' and the contrasting, 'Mid All the Traffic' before trumpet soloist Nick Smith dazzled with 'Concert Etude'. The finale from 'Royal Hunt for the Sun' rounded off a compact programme.

The in form Jackfield had to be content with taking the runners up cheque for £400 as well as taking the ‘Best Percussion’ Award, whilst Tylorstown added the Entertainment Trophy to their £200 pay out. Rogerstone’s tuba player Thomas Howells won the ‘Best Soloist’ award.

Clear cut Mossley

There was a clear-cut victory in the Second Section as Mossley under the direction of Duncan Byers, produced a quality set to claim their second major title of the year, and bag the first prize of £750 into the bargain.

The MD told 4BR that the band was determined to show their Butlins winning form once more after a disappointing result at the recent Bolsover contest. "We have been playing very well all year," Duncan said, "But we haven’t quite had the luck we think we have deserved at times. This was an excellent performance from everyone though — confident and precise. It showed just what we are capable of."

We had timed our programme to finish well inside the 20 minute limit, but we played so well that it would have been wrong to stop the applause!MD, Tom Davoran

Fine form

The opening ‘Battle of the Planets’ was followed by principal cornet Neal McNulty on fine form with ‘Nessun Dorma’. Contrast was provided with the ‘Nibelungen’ march and the entertaining ‘Mr Sandman’, before rounding off their winning programme with ‘Riverdance’.

Crewe Brass under Jamie Meredith was second, with their percussion section claiming individual honours, whilst Tilbury conducted by Andrew Austin came third, with a performance that was highlighted by ‘Best Soloist’ winner Tim Vinall on cornet. Porthywaen Silver took the entertainment prize.

Eccles retain title

On the Saturday, Eccles Borough retained the Third Section title under the baton of Marieka Gray. They took home the £600 first prize ahead of West Mercia Police, who bagged awards for best percussion and entertainment, whilst Cubbington Silver was third.

Band spokesperson Val Davies told 4BR that the repeat victory sets the band up for the forthcoming Fleetwood contest. "It was a great win and it was down to plenty of hard work. Marieka is really bringing the best out of us and we are now a very confident contesting band."

Wonderful soloist

The winning programme saw Eccles start with the march ‘Bomasto’ followed by a wonderful piece of lyrical baritone playing from Marianne Garbutt on ‘Little Red Bird’ that deservedly took the ‘Best Soloist’ prize.

The cornet trio ‘Bugler’s Holiday’ which featured a third solo line contribution from Marieka’s husband Russell, was contrasted with Philip Wilby’s atmospheric ‘Letters from Home’, before rounding off with music from the cartoon film, ‘The Incredibles’.

Winning return

Sunday also saw a wonderful return to competitive banding for Cleobury Mortimer Concert Brass directed by Mike Amplett – some 12 years after they last took to the contest stage.

The band hails from a small village between Ludlow and Kidderminster and only decided to enter the contest after a little bit of determined persuasion from the MD.

Surprise

Band spokesperson Debbie Fowler told 4BR that it seems to have been a decision and a result that has taken everyone by surprise!

"We thought we would do well to come in the top six as we have been away for so long, but Mike had been to hear the bands in the Third Section and told us that we could be in with a real chance in the Fourth. We played really well, but it still came as a shock when our names were announced as the winner.

We haven’t contested for so long, so we didn’t know how to celebrate!"

Build on success

The band now hope to build on their success, although they are not going to be rushed into more competitive appearances just yet, despite a winning programme that featured, ‘Pastime with Good Company’, 16 year old flugel star Jack Martin on ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’, ‘Breezin’ down Broadway’ and ‘American Trilogy’ to beat off the challenge of AW Parker Drybrook and third placed Cheltenham Silver to the £500 first prize.

Euphonium player Dan Cheadle of Trentham took the ‘Best Soloist’ Award, whilst the talented youngsters of Worcestershire Youth claimed the percussion award. Cheltenham Silver won the ‘Entertainment Award’.

The final word about yet another highly enjoyable weekend of music making came from Festival Secretary, Clive Allen, who told 4BR: "The Wychavon Festival of Brass trustees wish to thank all those people who came and helped to put on such an entertaining weekend in Pershore."

Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Dr Robert Childs

1. BTM (Tom Davoran) – 92
2. Marsden Silver Prize (Glyn Williams) — 90
3. Woodfalls (Gareth Pritchard) – 89
4. Medway Band (Melvin White) – 88
5. VBS Poynton (Colin Short) – 87
6. City Of Coventry (Stephen Cooper) — 86
7. Milton Keynes Brass (Paul Fensom) — 85
8. Gresley Colliery (Wesley Kendrick) — 83

Best Soloist: James Randle (City of Coventry)
Best Percussion: Medway Band
Entertainment Award: Marsden Silver

First Section:
Adjudicator: Dr Robert Childs

1. Enderby (Jonathon Mott) — 92
2. Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) (Simon Platford) — 91
3. Tylorstown (Gary Davies) — 90
4. Foresters Brass 2000 (Peter Collins) — 88
5. Shirley (Dave Bishop-Rowe) — 87
6. Michelmersh Silver (Ian Holmes) — 86
7. Rogerstone (James Jones) — 84
8. Bedworth Brass (Guy Bennett) — 83
9. Fulham Brass (Alan Duguid) — 81

Best Soloist: Thomas Howells (Rogerstone)
Best Percussion: Jackfield (Elcock Reisen)
Entertainment Award: Tylorstown

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Dr Robert Childs

1. Mossley (Duncan Byers) — 92
2. Crewe Brass (Jamie Meredith) — 90
3. Tilbury (Andrew Austin) — 88
4. Porthywaen Silver (Mark Parry) — 87
5. City of Bristol (Ceri Thomas) — 86
6. Newtown Silver (Steve Edwards) — 85
7. Strata Brass (David Holling) — 84
8. Cinderford (Clive Lewis) — 83
9. Chalgrove (Terry Brotherhood) — 82
10. Raunds Temperance (Robin Norman) — 81

Best Soloist: Tim Vinall (Tilbury)
Best Percussion: Crewe Brass
Entertainment Award: Pothywaen Silver

Third Section:
Adjudicator: Dr Robert Childs

1. Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray) — 88
2. West Mercia Police (Alwyn Green) — 87
3. Cubbington Silver (Alexander Webb) — 85
4. Arrow Valley Brass (Paul White) — 84
5. Newport Borough Brass (Ivor Barnett) — 83
6. Shipston Town (Howard Gibbs) — 82

Best Soloist: Marianne Garbutt (Eccles Borough)
Best Percussion: West Mercia Police
Entertainment Award: West Mercia Police

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Roger Thorne

1. Cleobury Mortimer Concert Brass (Mike Amplett) — 186
2. A.W.Parker (Drybrook) (Steve Ruck) — 185
3. Cheltenham Silver (Angie Shepherd) — 184
4. Trentham Brass (Mike Caveney) — 183
5. Worcestershire Youth Brass (Nicky Daw) — 182
6. Tottington Public (Daniel Price) — 181
7. Burbage Silver (Edwin Stinton) — 180
8. Bradwell Silver (Brian Keech) — 179
9. Coleshill Town (Stephen J Fagg) — 178

Best Soloist: Dan Cheadle (Trentham Brass)
Best Percussion: Worcestershire Youth
Entertainment Award: Cheltenham Silver

Local Contest Awards:
The Tracy Sollis Cup & £100: West Mercia Police Band
Memorial Trophy: Cheltenham Silver Band