Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) claimed the First Section National title in the most emphatic fashion on Sunday evening.

Exclamation mark

With a performance of Tim Davoren’s colourful set work, ‘VIVAT!’ that combined high class technical assuredness to measured musicality, Derek Renshaw led the Yorkshire band to a triumph that could not have been more pronounced even if their name as champions had been proclaimed with the addition of an exclamation mark by compere Peter Bates.

It was a victory that brokered little or no argument: 11 years after he last led the band (then called ASDA Stocksbridge) to victory at this contest, Derek will return to the elite level with a highly competent, experienced ensemble under his command.

On this form they will not be also-rans either.

Well beaten

Behind them came a batch of proud, but well beaten rivals — a delighted Burry Port Town heading back to Wales as runner-up, whilst fellow Tykes, Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel was third.

The remaining top six places saw Wardle Anderson Brass in fourth, ahead of Shepherd Group and Becontree Brass.

No substitute

Unite’s winning performance was described by the adjudicators Kevin Wadsworth and Frank Renton simply as ‘quality’ – Kevin adding when speaking to 4BR, "There was no substitute for it today and they had it from first note until last."

Frank agreed: "There was some fine playing on show, but the winners were clear cut. It was very musically shaped and delivered with the type of quality and attention detail that a potential Championship band should display if they are realistic about doing well at a higher level."

Convention to the wind

Earlier both adjudicators had delivered their own top quality analyses of the playing they heard – concise précis of performances on a piece they said, ‘threw convention to the wind’ but ‘was exciting, innovative music that tested the minds of the conductors, but always in the context of musicality’.

Kevin spoke of the need to understand the rather unconventional descriptive adjectives Tom Davoren had used throughout the score such as ‘fizzing’ and ‘angular’, whilst Frank added the caveats surrounding note lengths, tempo meter and musical annotation.

Baritone musicianship

Both were in agreement about where the solo award should go: "We decided if a baritone played with sheer musicianship at the beginning we would give them the award," Frank said – "...and we found one."

That one was Unite’s Steve Machin whose sublime opening statement of controlled pianissimo playing laid the foundation stone on which the band built their impressive ensemble performance.

Boycott’s bat

A delighted MD understandably wore a smile as broad as Geoffrey Boycott’s forward defensive bat as he enjoyed the post contest celebrations, with his cheering band accompanied by the Yorkshire flag being proudly waved by Regional Secretary Peggy Tomlinson

"We have worked very hard for this – especially in the past two or three weeks," Derek said.

"It’s been doubly hard as we have been playing against top Championship bands at recent contests, but we wanted to test ourselves because that’s where we want to back playing — and today it paid off."

Enjoyed

Derek revealed that he thoroughly enjoyed the set work too. "It was a bit like a magnet to me and the band. We really got into it from the word go."

And as for that brilliant start? "It was a great start wasn’t it. It couldn’t have gone to a cooler guy than Steve in fact – and as soon as he played I knew things were going to be good."

Future

The future now for Unite is promotion to the Championship Section in perhaps the toughest top level contesting environment in the banding world – Yorkshire.

"We have great admiration for the bands we will be up against – like Black Dyke and Grimethorpe, but we are improving slowly but surely. None of us can wait for the Areas at Bradford next year."

Powerful accounts

Welsh representatives Burry Port also headed back to West Wales celebrating, as they secured the runner up prize courtesy of a powerfully laid out account under the baton of Michael Thorne.

Band Chairman Graham Howe told 4BR on the stage: "We’re very happy with this result. We knew we played well. It’s a great result for the band."

Meanwhile, third placed Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel also produced a muscular rendition under David Nesbitt to claim the final podium spot.

Purposeful

A trio of purposeful accounts from Wardle Anderson Brass, Shepherd Group and Becontree Brass filled the remaining top six places, with the judges revealing that the difference between the best and the rest on the day was that ‘some bands don’t do the simple things’.

Question marks

With question marks over many approaches to tempo markings (the section marked minim = 86 was never was rarely attained), and some MDs sacrificing accuracy in search of inflated excitement, a few fancied runners fell by the wayside in the opinion of the men in the tent.

There were certainly a few raised eyebrows from supporters of Brunel Brass, Ratby Co-operative and Rainford – although given the judges clearly stated opinions, it may have been a question of interpretation rather than technical delivery that scuppered chances of success.

That was certainly not the case with Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) as they claimed the First Section Nationals title in a manner that will take some emulating by any band in the rest of this banding year.

Iwan Fox

There was some fine playing on show, but the winners were clear cut. It was very musically shaped and delivered with the type of quality and attention detail that a potential Championship band should displayFrank Renton

Sunday 23rd September
Test Piece: 'VIVAT!' — Tom Davoren
Commence: at the conclusion of Section 3

Adjudicators: Frank Renton & Kevin Wadsworth

Results:

1. Unite the Union (City of Sheffield), Derek Renshaw, (Yorkshire)
2. Burry Port Town, Michael Thorne, (Wales)
3. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel, David Nesbitt, (Yorkshire)
4. Wardle Anderson Brass, Steven Walsh, (North West)
5. Shepherd Group, Richard Wilton, (North of England)
6. Becontree Brass, Adam Cooke, (London & Southern Counties)
7. Clackmannan District, Paul McKelvie OBE, (Scotland)
8. Phoenix West Midlands Brass, Trevor Jones, (Midlands)
9. Foresters Brass 2000, Peter Collins, (Midlands)
10. Brunel Brass, John Winterflood, (West of England)
11. Ratby Co-operative, Michael Fowles, (Midlands)
12. Dalkeith & Monktonhall, James Chamberlain, (Scotland)
13. Lewis Merthyr, Gareth Pritchard, (Wales)
14. Westoe, Jason Smith, (North of England)
15. Rainford, Neil Samuel, (North West)
16. MK Brass, Craig Patterson, (London & Southern Counties)
17. Chalford, Steve Tubb, (West of England)

Best Instrumentalist: Steve Machin (baritone) — Unite the Union