Championship Section
Test Pieces: Harmony Music (Philip Sparke) or A Tale as Yet Untold (Philip Sparke)

Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

Draw: 2.30pm
Started: 4.20pm (approx)

Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)[2]
Harmony Music (Philip Sparke)

Not quite as convincing at the opening but the slow theme works much more effectively and cleaner. The band ensemble works well but solo lines all have their problems today. A relaxed style allows the music to flow through the many rapid figures. No sentimentality allowed as the music unfolded and it rounded out with real drive and sense of direction.

Skelmanthorpe (John Roberts) [1]
Harmony Music (Philip Sparke)

Opens with a strong and controlled crescendo. The music takes a few bars but begins to grow well. Intense and spirited the whole moves along with conviction and the band respond to the MD fully. This spirited approach works well and band play with real gusto.
Solid and direct the overall it makes for a satifactory and convicing performance.

First Section:
The Guild Hall

Test Pieces: Brass Triumphant (Gareth Wood) or 'Ad Undas' — 'to the waves' (Gareth Churcher)

Adjudicator: Derek. M. Broadbent

Draw: 11.30am
Started: 12.45pm

Haydock (Mark Quinn) [10]
'Ad Undas' — 'to the waves' (Gareth Churcher)

Bold and direct interpretation with a biting edge. The music conveying its argument almost as a film 'prelude' in style. The film score style approach by the MD has a balance and shape certainly the most cinematic today. This approach giving therfore the tension and evocative colour remeniscant of a Rick Wakeman composition. Interesting!

Haslingden & Helmshore (David Holland) [9]
'Ad Undas' — 'to the waves' (Gareth Churcher)

The music continually pushes forward and the adoption of strictly controlled dynamics by the MD searches for the counter-melody whenever possible. Darker sounds and patterns are allowed to emerge and quite a sombre tone pervades the slower musical thematic material. A Titanic 'ad undas' certainly painting a truly recessed and dark musical picture overall.

Knottingley Silver (Dr Owen Wedgwood) [8]
Brass Triumphant (Gareth Wood)

A less frantic musical argument laid out by MD than many today. This approach definately underplays the potentially driving fierceness of the 2nd Mov. Not quite as emotional in the slower section as the more poetic and celtic influences are explored. The MD again looks for structural strength in the dynamic and tonal colours to conclude this work rather than taking a more volatile case.

Flixton (Stephen Curtis) [7]
Brass Triumphant (Gareth Wood)

A very broad tonal picture to open and the music continues with an ominously deliberate picture by the MD in the following movement — almost satanic! and he certainly goes looking for the music emotion in the slow section. A controlled 'urgency' pervades the music to close out a really solid account.

Hade Edge (Simon Wood) [6]
Brass Triumphant (Gareth Wood)

Well controlled and not overwrought. MD keeps a tight rein on the band and it helps with the development throughout. Clean and descriptive playing generally makes for lyrical themeatic lines whilst the euph stands for his solo in the slow movement. Decent final section with soaring sounds from middle band certainly contributing to the musical picture.

Harrogate (Craig Ratcliffe) [5]
Brass Triumphant (Gareth Wood)

Strong percussive style and playing give the band its most effective musical sections. Bustling and jagged edges are so well captured. There was perhaps a less convincing voice in the slower sections of the music which may be noted. Overall the band produced its best moments in those direct thematic pictures.

Longridge (Mark Peacock) [4]
'Ad Undas' — 'to the waves' (Gareth Churcher)

Forthright and in good form the band quickly produced a communicative rhythmic pulse. The music produced had a natural spontaneity that gave much pleasure as it developed. Odd crackles in the slower thematic material may be hurtful though. Well closed out without being unbalanced or laboured.

Hebden Bridge (Alan Hobbins) [3]
'Ad Undas' — 'to the waves' (Gareth Churcher)

Quite polished and richly sympathetic, the tone of the band worked well in the acoustics. Odd scratchy moments were noticed in the upper register but for the most part it was a performance both successful and satisfying. The robust sections of writing suited the drama of the band's MD interpretation.

Morecambe (Andrew Warriner) [2]
'Ad Undas' — 'to the waves' (Gareth Churcher)

A performance of stature. Lyrical where required but real intensity and conviction in places gets one's head nodding in appreciation. A pulse and power in its progress is maintained and so well read by the MD.

Barnsley Chronicle (Grenville Moore) [1]
Brass Triumphant (Gareth Wood)

Concentrated account but overall a bit of a curate's egg with moments of class whilst others were certainly more fragile. No escaping their rhythmic intensity in the delivery. Strong lower band sounds are real bonus and add so much all across.

The results and prize presentation will take place at the conclusion of the Championship section

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Fourth Section
The Guild Hall

Test Pieces: Devon Fantasy (Eric Ball) or A Saddleworth Festival Overture (Goff Richards)

Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

Pre-Drawn:
Started: 10.30am

Ifton Colliery (Stephen Curtis) [7]
Devon Fantasy (Eric Ball)

Steady and warm reading. Not quite the impact of some but nonetheless a final worthy show in this section and could well place.

Greenfield (Tom Haslam) [6]
A Saddleworth Festival Overture (Goff Richards)

An alert and focused performance that certainly kept going forward. Strong sectional work noted especially in trombones.

Tarleton Brass (Gillian Bould) [5]
A Saddleworth Festival Overture (Goff Richards)

Taking an initial broader approach, a performance that unquestionably grew stronger and stronger in style, balance and detail as it unfolded.

Sale Brass (John Dickinson) [4]
A Saddleworth Festival Overture (Goff Richards)

An enthusiastic and colourful interpretation with lots of drive that maintains the decent standard being upheld in this contest.

Coppull & Standish (Matt Stringer) [3]
A Saddleworth Festival Overture (Goff Richards)

Another bristling performance of the Goff Richards piece to follow up their retention of the Butlins title. Assured, confident and detailed.

Blackley (Dan Price) [2]
A Saddleworth Festival Overture (Goff Richards)

A positive bright performance with plenty of spirit. Well described.

Lees (Stephen Tighe) [1]
Devon Fantasy (Eric Ball)

A steady uncomplicated reading that captured the mood of the piece quite well.

Third Section:
The Charter Theatre
Test Pieces: Hollywood! (Goff Richards) or A Gallimaufry Suite (Philip Harper)

Adjudicator: Mark Wilkinson

Pre Drawn:
Started: 11.00am

Running parallel to the Guild Hall

Eagley (Matthew Ryan) [3]
Golborne Brass (Paul Andrews) [2]
Littleborough (Adrian Woodhead) [1]
Lostock Hall Memorial (Graham Martin) [6]
Old Hall Brass (John North) [4]
Skelmanthorpe B (Phil Garlick) [5]
Skelmersdale (David Chapman) [8]
Trinity Girls (Stuart Barton) [7]

Second Section:
The Charter Theatre

Test Pieces: The Plantagenets (Edward Gregson) or In Memorium (Neville Buxton)

Adjudicator: Gordon Higginbottom

Draw: 12.00 noon
Start: 1.00 pm (approx)

Besses Boys (James Holt) [2]
Eccleston Brass (Daniel Brooks) [3]
Farnworth & Walkden (Peter Ashley) [6]
Hoover Bolton (Trevor Halliwell) [4]
Pemberton Old Wigan DW ‘B' (Peter Ashley) [7]
Royal Buckley Town (Scott Lloyd) [5]
Tyldesley (Rob Taylor) [1]