There was an excellent turn out of both bands and spectators at the Larruperz Centre, Ross-on-Wye for the 2012 Gloucestershire Brass Band Association Annual Test Piece & March Contest on the weekend.

High standard

Adjudicator Steve Pritchard-Jones enjoyed a high standard of playing as 21 bands took to the stage to provide a wide variety of own choice test pieces and classic marches.

In the combined Championship & First Section it was Hyde, conducted by Helen Kinder, that took the major test piece honours with a rousing performance of ‘Dances & Arias’, and which benefitted from the excellent personal contribution from ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award winner James Fletcher on euphonium and ‘Best Cornet’, Matt Chiverton on soprano.

Hard work

James told 4BR: "This result has been down to plenty of hard work from the players and excellent leadership from Helen with the baton. It was a very good all round performance and one that we can hopefully build on as we prepare for our final contest appearance of the year at the Wessex BBA contest in Weymouth in December."

Bookies favourites Aldbourne has to be content with second place under the direction of David Johnson with their ambitious choice of ‘Red Priest’, despite taking the honours for ‘Best Basses’ and ‘Best Percussion’, whilst local favourites Lydbrook was third with their well structured account of ‘Year of the Dragon’ under the direction of Ian Holmes.

Their trombonist Steve Schramm took the ‘Best Instrumentalist of the Day’ award for his fine individual playing on the demanding ‘Interlude’ solo, whilst Emma Morris of Oddfellows Brass took the ‘Best Flugel’ award for her sterling efforts in their performance of ‘Tallis Variations’.

There was an encouraging debut performance for Chris Howley at the helm of Forest of Dean Brass with their bold rendition of ‘Year of the Dragon’ to end in fifth.

Aldbourne claimed some revenge by taking the March discipline honours ahead of Lydbrook and Hyde.

Bristol victory

In the B Section contest there was victory for City of Bristol under the direction of Ceri Thomas, who produced an excellent performance of ‘Californian Legend’ to beat off a determined challenge from AW Parker (Drybrook) conducted by Josh Ruck with their performance of ‘Kingdom of Dragons’.

Third place went to Tilbury under Andrew Austin, with their euphonium player Phil Godden winning the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award.

Ebbw triumph

The overall strength of Welsh banding was shown both in Gateshead at Brass in Concert and Ross on Wye on the weekend, with Ebbw Valley claiming a double of own choice and march titles under the baton of Gareth Ritter.

They returned home up the M50 celebrating after they produced a fine account of ‘Laudate Dominum’ to beat off the challenge of Lydney Town, with Malvern Hills in third.

In the Training Section, a Gold Award went to Lydbrook Training, with Silver to Berkshire Youth and Bronze awards to Lydney Training and Phoenix Brass

It was a very good all round performance and one that we can hopefully build on as we prepare for our final contest appearance of the year at the Wessex BBA contest in Weymouth in DecemberJames Fletcher

Section A:
Championship & First Section:
Adjudicator: Steve Pritchard-Jones

1. Hyde (Helen Kinder) — 193
2. Aldbourne (David Johnson) – 192
3. Lydbrook (Ian Holmes) – 191
4. Oddfellows Brass (Rob Boulter) — 190
5. Forest of Dean Brass (Chris Howley) — 189

Best Instrumentalist: James Fletcher (Euphonium) — Hyde

March:
1. Aldbourne — 193
2. Lydbrook — 192
3. Hyde — 193
4. Forest of Dean Brass — 189
5. Oddfellows Brass — 188


Section B:
Second & Third Section Bands:
Adjudicator: Steve Pritchard-Jones

1. City of Bristol (Ceri Thomas) — 186
2. AW Parker (Drybrook) (Josh Ruck) — 185
3. Tilbury (Andrew Austin) — 184
4. Wotton-under-Edge — 182
5. Shipston Town — 181
6. Corsham — 180
7. Chinnor Silver — 179
8. Pillowell Silver – 174

Highest Placed Third Section Band: AW Parker (Drybrook)
Best Instrumentalist: Phil Godden (Euphonium) – Tilbury

March:
1. AW Parker (Drybrook) – 183
2. City of Bristol — 181
3. Tilbury — 180
4. Wotton-under-Edge — 179
5. Chinnor Silver — 177
6. Shipston Town — 175
7. Corsham — 174
8. Pillowell Silver — 173

Section C:
Fourth Section Bands:
Adjudicator: Steve Pritchard-Jones

1. Ebbw Valley Brass (Gareth Ritter) — 176
2. Lydney Town — 174
3. Malvern Hills — 172
4. City of Oxford — 171

Best Instrumentalist: (Cornet) — Lydney Town

March:
1. Ebbw Valley Brass — 178
2. Lydney Town — 177
3. Malvern Hills — 175
4. City of Oxford — 174

Section D:
Youth, Training & Unregistered Bands:
Adjudicator: Steve Pritchard-Jones

Gold Award: Lydbrook Training
Silver Award: Berkshire Youth Brass
Bronze Award: Lydney Training
Bronze Award: Phoenix Brass

Best Instrumentalist: (Cornet) — Lydney Training

Special Awards — All Sections:

Best Horn Section: Oddfellows Brass
Best Bass Section: Aldbourne
Best Percussion Section: Aldbourne
Best Cornet Player: Matt Chiverton (Soprano) — Hyde
Best Flugel: Emma Morris — Oddfellows Brass
Best Euphonium: Tilbury
Best Instrumentalist of the Day: Steve Schramm (Trombone) — Lydbrook