The sun certainly shone in the heart of Cornwall on the weekend as 22 bands performed at the 89th Bandsmans Festival Contest in Bugle.

Tradition

Once again competitors kept up the tradition of marching through the local village to the contest field whilst being judged for their deportment along the way, before taking a breather ahead of the start of the seven sections that make up the famous festival event.

The contest was adjudicated by Cory MD Philip Harper, who composed two of the test pieces used on the day, whilst presentations were made by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE, who also enjoyed the competitive atmosphere.

Championship Section:

He was on hand to present the Royal Trophy to the Championship Section winners St Austell on behalf of the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, whose great uncle, the then Prince of Wales, gave the unique trophy to the Festival exactly 100 years ago.

It was also fitting that the clear four point St Austell triumph under the baton of Melvin White came on the set work, ‘English Heritage’ written by Cornish composer George Lloyd, who was also born 100 years ago on the 28th June this year.

The presentation also included a signed certificate from the Prince of Wales to mark the centenary achievement. St Austell also took the set hymn melody honours on ‘Jerusalem’, with principal cornet Hannah Hawken taking the ‘Best Player’ Award and Sam Johns the ‘Best Soprano’ trophy.

Championship Section rivals St Dennis was second, claiming the ‘Best Basses’ award along the way, with the newly formed Roche Brass in third, with the experienced Mark Letcher taking the ‘Best Horn’ prize.

First Section:

In the First Section, it was National Finalist Lanner & District under Stuart Chappell who secured a set work and march tune ‘double’ thanks to their fine performances of ‘The Kingdom of Dragons’ and ‘The Flying Eagle’, with euphonium player Matthew Rowe claiming the ‘Best Player’ award.

Local favourites Bugle Silver was second, with St Pinnock, who won the Bolitho Challenge Shield, originally presented to the Festival in 1922 by the family of the current Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, in third.

Second Section:

Former Championship Section winners Bodmin Town continued their upward progress by making it a Second Section ‘double’ under Garry Lannie, thanks to their twin performances of ‘A Gallimaufry Suite’ and the march ‘Royal Trophy’.

The band’s flugel player Michelle Hudson won the ‘Best Player’ award, whilst West of England Area champion Swindon Pegasus Brass was runner-up.

Third Section:

Heyl Town produced a fine performance of Gilbert Vinter’s ‘Vizcaya’ to claim the Third Section honours with horn player Adrian Allen taking the ‘Best Player’ Award.

The talented youngsters of West of England Fourth Section Area champions Camborne Junior Contesting showed that they are in cracking form ahead of their trip to Cheltenham as they ended runner-up, after earlier winning the Fourth Section title under MD Alan Pope. Tadley Concert Brass was third.

Fourth Section:

Camborne certainly enjoyed their Bugle appearance, as earlier in the day they won the Fourth Section title thanks to a lovely rendition of Eric Ball’s ‘Petit Suite de Ballet’, aided by the excellent ‘Best Player’ contribution of euphonium player David Wilton.

In an encouraging field of seven contenders it was Lostwithiel Town under the vastly experienced Denzil Stephens who eventually came second with Okehampton Excelsior Silver in third.

Youth & Training Sections:

There was plenty of excellent music making on show in the Youth and Training Sections, with Mount Charles Youth conducted by Jeremy Taylor pipping their rivals from St Austell to claim the youth honours and Lanner & District’s Brass Academy making it a day to remember by taking the Training Section title under MD Philip Matthews.

The never ending production line of musical talent in these parts continues to unearth some great young players, with Megan Thomas of Mount Charles claiming the ‘Best Player’ Award and Jacob Griffiths of St Austell taking the ‘Best Cornet’ prize in the Youth Section.

Lanner Brass Academy kit player Daniel Matthews and cornet player Oscar Wills of St Stythians took the individual awards in the Training Section.

The AR Trudgian Youth Awards were presented to rising stars Megan Thomas and Matthew Julian, whilst amongst the many young musicians taking part were Ieuan and Lamorna Richards, members of the St Austell Youth Band, whose Great Great-Grandfather, F J P Richards, was the founding Secretary of the Festival in 1912.

The presentation also included a signed certificate from the Prince of Wales to mark the centenary achievement4BR

Results:

Adjudicator: Philip Harper

Championship Section:
Test Piece: English Heritage (George Lloyd)

1. St Austell (Melvin White) — 192
2. St Dennis (Darren Hawken) — 188
3. Roche Brass (Simon Badge) — 187
4. Egham (Gareth J Green) — 185

Melody: Jerusalem (Sir Hubert Parry arr. Philip Sparke)

1. St Austell (Melvin White) — 190
2. St Dennis, Darren Hawken) — 189
3. Roche Brass (Simon Badge) — 187
4. Egham (Gareth J Green) — 185

Best Player Award: Hannah Hawken — cornet (St Austell)

First Section:
Test Piece: Kingdom of Dragons (Philip Harper)

1. Lanner & District (Stuart Chappell) — 190
2. Bugle Silver (Jeremy Willcock) — 189
3. St Pinnock (Chris Spreadbury) — 187

March: Flying Eagle (H L Blankenburg arr. Aubrey Winter)
1. Lanner & District (Stuart Chappell) — 191
2. Bugle Silver (Jeremy Willcock) — 189
3. St Pinnock (Chris Spreadbury) — 187

Best Player Award: Matthew Rowe – euphonium (Lanner & District)

Second Section:
Test Piece: A Gallimaufry Suite (Philip Harper)

1. Bodmin Town (Garry Lannie) — 182
2. Swindon Pegasus Brass (Graeme Lewis) — 181

March: Royal Trophy (William Rimmer)
1. Bodmin Town (Garry Lannie) — 186
2. Swindon Pegasus Brass (Graeme Lewis) — 184

Best Player Award: Michelle Hudson — flugel (Bodmin)

Third Section:
Test Piece: Vizcaya (Gilbert Vinter)

1. Heyl Town (N/K) — 182
2. Camborne Junior Contesting (Alan Pope) — 179
3. Tadley Concert Brass (Paul Chapman) — 178

Best Player Award: Adrian Allen – horn (Heyl Town)

Fourth Seciton:
Test Piece: Petit Suite De Ballet (Eric Ball)

1. Camborne Junior Contest (Alan Pope) — 180
2. Lostwithiel Town (Denzil Stephens) — 178
3. Okehampton Excelsior Silver (Richard Beardon) — 177
4. Porthleven Town (Tom Bassett) — 175
5. Tadley Concert Brass (Paul Chapman) — 174
6. Pendeen Silver (David Hamilton) — 173
7. Indian Queens Silver (Kevin Ackford) — 172

Best Player Award: David Wilton – euphonium (Camborne Junior Contest)

Youth Section:
Own Choice:

1. Mount Charles Youth (Jeremy Taylor) — 180
2. St Austell Youth (Mark Arnold) — 178

Best Players Awards:
Best Player: Megan Thomas – euphonium (Mount Charles Youth)
Best Cornet: Jacob Griffiths (St Austell)

E J Williams Memorial Trophy to the Winning Conductor: Jeremy Taylor

Training Section:
Own Choice

1. Lanner Brass Academy (Philip Matthews) — 180
2. St Stythians (N/K) — 177
3. Indian Queens (Barbara George) — 176

Best Player Awards:
Best Player: Daniel Matthews – Drum Kit (Lanner Brass Academy)
Best Cornet: Oscar Wills (St Stythians)

Special Awards:
Open to all Sections.

Best Soprano: Sam Johns (St Austell)
Best Solo Cornet: Hannah Hawken (St Austell)
Best Euphonium: Matthew Rowe (Lanner & District)
Best Solo Horn: Mark Letcher (Roche Brass)
Best Set of Basses: St Dennis

AR Trudgian Youth Awards:
Megan Thomas (Mount Charles) & Matthew Julian (Camborne)

Deportment Class:
1. Okehampton Excelsior Silver
2. Bugle Silver