Flowers confirmed that they are the form band of 2012 by claiming their second major victory in as many months on the weekend – adding the Yeovil Entertainment title to the Butlins Mineworkers Championship they won Skegness in January.
Main objectives to come
MD Paul Holland told 4BR that he is keen to keep the winning run going, with the two major pre-season objectives yet to come – the Area Championship in Torquay and the Grand Shield in Blackpool.
"The band has been playing well now for 12 months or more, but I believe we’ve taken a significant step forward this year.
To add to the Butlins win shows that we’ve gained real consistency with our contest performances. Now we have to move up yet another level if we are to secure qualification for both London and the British Open."
Confidence
Confidence is the key he believes – and at present his band is not short of that as they beat off the challenge of Mount Charles and Butlins ‘Best Entertainment’ winners Woodfalls.
"The desire to be successful at the very highest level is driving us forward," Paul added.
"The band does everything I ask of them and it’s great that they are starting to get the recognition for their efforts. Principal cornet Andrew Smith was once again outstanding, and fully deserved to win the ‘Best Soloist’ Award.
The form we show in rehearsals is brought to the stage now – and the players can see the results of their own hard work."
Nothing for granted
Paul is aware however that overconfidence could be their undoing – and is prepared to ensure they do not take anything for granted even if they do head for Torquay as firm favourites to regain the West of England title.
"The band knows it will only be a season to remember if we get to the Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall. We’ll enjoy the celebrations, but the hard work starts again this week. We are determined to regain the Area title and return to the British Open."
Money List
Flowers sixth win at Yeovil since 2003 has meant they have also taken a huge lead in the 4BR Money List after picking up another £2,000 to add to the £7,000 won at Skegness.
The band reprised their 25-minute Butlins programme, showing their desire to make the maximum impression on adjudicator Alan Fernie by taking their own projection equipment to show atmospheric images to accompany his arrangement of Eric Whitaker’s ‘Seal Lullaby’, and the rousing finisher, ‘A Manchester Tale’.
Repel
With the choreographed opener of ‘Blackbird Special’ followed by Andrew Smith’s outstanding solo contribution in ‘Fear Not’ and the upbeat ‘Romanian Fire Dance’ providing slick contrasts, it enabled the band to repel the challenge of a quartet of Torquay rivals, headed by Mount Charles.
It was a programme that certainly caught the ear of the adjudicator as Paul explained: "We had some wonderful remarks from Alan, including his own delight that his arrangement of the Whitaker piece was played by a band of such a standard."
The band knows it will only be a season to remember if we get to the Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall. We’ll enjoy the celebrations, but the hard work starts again this weekFlowers MD, Paul Holland
Delighted second
Despite just failing to capture the title for a second time, Mount Charles returned to Cornwall delighted at their result according to Band Manager Derek Thomas.
"We’ve been quietly rebuilding under John Maines and this shows the progress we’ve made," he said. "We concentrated on delivering high class music making and it paid off. John has been working the band so well and the result gives us a great deal of confidence ahead of Torquay."
Mount Charles started with ‘Kongolela’, before the march ‘National Emblem’ was followed by contrasts in the flugel solo ‘Over the Rainbow’ played by Tim Whitehead and the xylophone duet ‘Lizsteria’ featuring Daniel Tamblyn and John Mitchell. They closed with ‘The Barbarian Horde’ complete with narration.
Excellent top two
Alan Fernie told the packed audience at the Octagon Theatre that he felt the overall standard of entertainment presentation of the top two bands was excellent.
He also praised the efforts of the individual prize winners too – including the percussion team from St Austell, who literally had the audience dancing in the aisles with their closing item ‘1712 Overture’ and the excellent performances from Andrew Smith with Flowers and ‘Best Soprano’ winner, Dan Shave of Bournemouth Concert Brass.
Huge response
Reigning champion Woodfalls under the baton of Paul Lovatt-Cooper couldn’t quite repeat the entertainment magic of Butlins, despite a huge response from the audience to their exciting programme to end in third.
Meanwhile, there was an equally enthusiastic reception given to Richard Evans as he once again revelled in the opportunity to bring his very particular brand of entertainment to the event – including the obligatory swagger march, ‘Imperial Echoes’.
Quintet
With Camborne making it a quintet of West of England bands in the results table, it was left to Friary Guildford to fly the London area flag in sixth, with Bournemouth seventh and Welsh challengers BTM heading back over the Severn Bridge in a disappointing eighth.
The final places in the results table went to debutants Portishead Town who claimed the scalps of Aveley & Newham and Sherborne Town.
The event proved to be yet another success for Christine Buckland and her hard working team of volunteers with the Octagon Theatre full from first band until last.
Full Result:
Adjudicator: Alan Fernie
1. Flowers (Paul Holland) — 97
2. Mount Charles (John Maines) — 96
3. Woodfalls (Paul Lovatt-Cooper) — 95
4. St Austell (Richard Evans) — 94
5. Camborne Town (Kevin Mackenzie) — 93
6. Friary Guildford (Chris King) — 92
7. Bournemouth Concert Brass (Cpt Dave Barringer) — 91
8. BTM (Tom Davoren) — 90
9. Portishead Town (Kevin White) — 89
10= Aveley & Newham (Nigel Taken) — 88
10 = Sherborne Town (Paul Cosh) — 88
Prizes: £2000; £1,000; £750
Soloist Award: Andrew Smith (Flowers)
John Gardner Memorial Trophy for Best Soprano: Bournemouth Concert
Alfred Bear Memorial Trophy for Best Section: Percussion (St Austell)
Withdrawn: Tongwynlais Temperance (Philip Harper)
