The ODBBA Winter Contest was held at Marlborough School, Woodstock in Oxon on the weekend, where David Hirst was given plenty of pre-area workouts to consider in his decision making.

Decent shape

Newstead Brass showed that they are in pretty decent shape ahead of their Bedworth challenge by taking the Open Section honours under Duncan Beckley, with a solid rendition of ‘Harmony Music’. Their star euphonium player Lynden Cooper took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ Award.

The band made it a double, by also winning the march discipline with their performance of ‘The President’.

Stevenage boost

There was also a huge Stevenage pre-area boost for First Section Kidlington Concert as they produced a fine performance of ‘Brass Triumphant’ aided by their ‘Best Section’ bass team to beat ‘Harmony Music’ challengers Regent Brass and Oddfellows Brass to come runner-up.

Epsom triumph

Epsom & Ewell Silver under the baton of Jack Smith showed their quality in Section A, where the London & Southern Counties band delivered a fine performance of ‘The Plantagenets’ to repel the challenge of Third Section Wantage B, and Watford.

Epsom’s solo euphonium player Mike Hesner took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award, whilst the band also made it a double by claiming the march prize with their performance of ‘Castel Coch’.

Bletchington double

There was another double winner in Section B, where Bletchington Silver under the command of Nigel Hall produced a fine ‘Devon Fantasy’ to take the test piece honours and an equally showy rendition of ‘The New Dominion’ to take the march prize.

The band’s euphonium player Jamie Raffell took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ Award.

Finally, in the Unregistered Section, Abbey Brass (Abingdon) took the honours under Rob Tompkins with a fine rendition of ‘Oregon’ ahead of Watership Brass and Yarnton.

The band also picked up the march award whilst euphonium player James Cox took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award.

Newstead Brass showed that they are in pretty decent shape ahead of their Bedworth challenge by taking the Open Section honours4BR

Results:

Open Section:
Test Piece:
1. Newstead Brass (Duncan Beckley) — 193
2. Kidlington Concert Brass (Duncan Wilson) — 192
3. Regent Brass (Alan Duguid) — 191
4. Oddfellows Brass (Robert Boulter) -190

Best Instrumentalist: Lynden Cooper (Euphonium) — Newstead Brass
Best Bass Section: Kidlington Concert Brass

Open Section:
March
1. Newstead Brass
2. Regent Brass
3. Kidlington Concert Brass
4. Oddfellows Brass

Section A:
Second/Third Section:
Test Piece:
1. Epsom & Ewell Silver (Jack Smith) -185
2. Wantage ‘B’ (Danny Dullforce) — 184
3. Watford (Ian Graves) — 183

Best Instrumentalist: Mike Henser (Euphonium) — Epsom & Ewell Silver

March:
1. Epsom & Ewell Silver
2. Wantage ‘B’
3. Watford (Ian Graves) — 82

Section B:
Fourth Section:
Test Piece:

1. Bletchington Silver (Nigel Hall) — 183
2. Regent Community Brass (Alan Duguid) — 182
3. Witney Town (John Button) — 181

Best Instrumentalist: Jamie Raffell (Euphonium) — Bletchington Silver

March:
1. Bletchington Silver
2. Regent Community Brass
3. Witney Town

Section C:
(Unregistered)
Test Piece
1. Abbey Brass (Abingdon) (Rob Tompkins) [Oregon] 181
2. Watership Brass (Mark Picken) [Music For A Festival] 180
3. Yarnton (Guy James) [London River] 179

Best Instrumentalist: James Cox (Euphonium) — Watership Brass

March:
1. Abbey Brass (Abingdon) (Rob Tompkins) [Castell Caerffili) 80
2. Watership Brass (Mark Picken) [The Waltonian] 78
3. Yarnton (Guy James) [The New Recruit] 77

Band with most players aged under 19 – Yarnton