There was an excellent day of high quality contesting on show at the Riviera Centre in Torquay on the weekend where 30 bands competed at the 66th South West Brass Band Association Championships.

Expertly run by Brian Elliott and his team, competitors took to the stage in seven sections to try and tickle the taste buds of adjudicators John Berryman and Paul Holland.

Camborne victors

In the competitive Open Section it was Camborne Town directed by Steve Sykes who beat off the spirited challenge of seven rivals with a classy performance of Philip Sparke’s ‘Partita’ as their own choice work.

The emerging Lanner & District sprang a real surprise by claiming the runner up spot under MD Stuart Chappell as the First Section band’s performance of ‘Salamander’ saw them edge ahead of St Keverne who played ‘The Saga of Haakon the Good’, with top section contenders Sherborne Town back in fourth with ‘Connotations’.

Lympstone triumph

Area champion Lympstone under the baton of Charles Fleming took the Second Section honours thanks to a fine performance of the set work, ‘Rise of the Phoenix’ by Darrol Barry, ahead of St Pinnock and Swindon Pegasus Brass.

In the Third Section there was victory for Bodmin Town as they got to grips best with Geoffrey Burgeon’s ‘Narnia Suite’ to beat off the challenge of St Stythians.

Meanwhile, Dave Dobson led National finalists Launceston Town to victory over South Molton Town and Porthleven in the Fourth Section with a colourful rendition of the set work, ‘Voices of Youth’ by Edward Gregson.

Excellent playing

There was plenty of excellent playing on show on the other sections too, with Saltash Junior taking a Silver Award in the Training Section, Launceston Youth Band claiming Gold for their performance of ‘Haslemere Suite’ in the Youth Section and Pendeen Silver taking the honours in the Ungraded Section with their rendition of ‘The Winter’s Tale’.

Delighted

Contest organiser Brian Elliott who was running the event for the first this year without the help of his wife who was in hospital, told 4BR that he was delighted with how the day had turned out.

"We had over 200 young players taking part this year," he said.

"It was a real delight for an appreciative audience to listen to the six bands in the Youth and Training Band sections and the talent of so many enthusiastic and smiling youngsters."

He added: "The adjudicators, John Berryman and Paul Holland told me that they had thoroughly enjoyed an excellent day of quality music making, and that the performances in all sections was of a high standard."

Results:

Open Section:
Adjudicators: John Berryman & Paul Holland
Own Choice:

1. Camborne Town (Steve Sykes)
2. Lanner & District Silver (Stuart Chappell)
3. St Keverne (Gareth Churcher)
4. Sherborne Town (Paul Cosh)
5. Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith)
6. Michelmersh Silver (Melvin White)
7. Shrewton Silver (Michael Dunford)
8. Rogerstone (James Jones)

Highest Placed First Section Band: Lanner & District Silver
Best Cornet Player: St. Keverne

Second Section:
Test Piece: Rise of the Phoenix (Darrol Barry)

1. Lympstone South West Telecoms (Charles Fleming)
2. St Pinnock (Chris Spreadbury)
3. Swindon Pegasus Brass (Graeme Lewis)
4. Sidmouth Town (Adrian Harvey)
5. Weston Brass (Tony Osborne)
6. Phoenix Brass Crewkerne (David Hatton)

Best Instrumentalist: Solo Cornet with Lympstone South West Telecoms

Third Section:
Test-Piece: Narnia Suite (Geoffrey Burgeon)

1. Bodmin Town (Garry Lannie)
2. St Stythians (James Burns)

Best Horn Section: Bodmin Town

Fourth Section:
Test-Piece: Voices of Youth (Edward Gregson)

1. Launceston Town (Dave Dobson)
2. South Molton Town (Gil Taylor)
3. Porthleven Town (Tom Bassett)
4. Tiverton Town (David Boorer)
5. Torbay Brass (Lorni Whitecroft)
6. Okehampton Excelsior Silver (Richard Beardon)

Best Basses: South Molton Town

Un-Graded Section:
Own Choice

1. Pendeen Silver (Darren Jenkin)
2. TT Brass Totnes (Alan Wilmott)

Youth Section:
Own Choice

Gold Award: Launceston Town Youth (Ann Brown)
Silver Award: Mount Charles Youth (Jeremy Taylor)
Bronze Award: Soundhouse Junior (David Shead)
Bronze Award: St Austell Youth (Mark Arnold)

Best Instrumentalist: Soprano with Mount Charles Youth

Training Section:
Own Choice:

Silver Award: Saltash Junior (Chris Spreadbury)
Bronze Award: Totnes Training (Daniel Wilmott)

Special Award for Best Instrumentalist: Kit Percussion of Saltash Juniors