The 14th Brighouse Festival of Brass, organised by the Brighouse Lions on the weekend, featured 26 bands, with plenty of stunning playing on show.
Largest crowds
At the Town Hall Square, one of the largest crowds in the contest’s history saw defending champion Marsden Silver retain the ‘March & Hymn Tune’ title, thanks to a rousing rendition of their favourite march ‘Knight Templar’, although they were pushed all the way by Welsh rivals Northop Silver with Yorkshire Imperial in third.
The strong line-up included six Championship Section bands, as well as bands from the North West, North of England and Wales, whilst David Hoyle of BBC Radio Leeds ‘Yorkshire Brass’ was on hand to record the action to be transmitted at a later date.
Great start
The day got off to a great start with the Youth Section entrants, where Elland Silver regained the title they last won in 2011.
A spectacular performance by the wonderful girls of Boobs & Brass certainly dazzled the crowd – especially with their rendition of ‘Lilly the Pink’ which drew rapturous applause from their many fans outside the Black Bull Hotel. Their performance raised funds for their Breast Cancer campaign.
Top event
The March & Hymn Tune spectacular in the West Yorkshire town has developed into one of the top outdoor brass band events in the UK and the non-stop seven hour show thrilled the audience which had travelled from far and wide.
Fred Etherington, ‘The Voice of Brighouse’ as he is affectionately known, kept the non-stop show moving along well, whilst there was plenty to ponder for adjudicators Alan Morrison, Dennis Wilby and Jappie Dijkstra.
Geneva award
The ‘Symphony’ model cornet, presented by John Hudson and kindly donated by Geneva Instruments was won by Knottingley Silver after they were picked out of the lucky draw during the results ceremony.
On Saturday evening a packed Central Methodist Church enjoyed the special brand of entertainment created by Boobs & Brass, conducted by Martyn Dawson and Dennis Wilby.
They romped through a selection of popular numbers, with compered Carolyn Oldershaw keeping the audience well informed and young trombone star Charlotte Horsfield giving a flying performance of ‘The Acrobat’.
Proceeds
The proceeds from the Festival will be distributed to the Breast Cancer Campaign and the Lions local charities. Next year’s event will take place over the weekend of 28th and 29th June, 2014.
Thanks to David Horsfield.
On Saturday evening a packed Central Methodist Church enjoyed the special brand of entertainment created by Boobs & Brass, conducted by Martyn Dawson and Dennis Wilby4BR
Result:
March + Hymn = Total
1. Marsden Silver (Glyn Williams): 94/98 = 192
2. Northop Silver (Thomas Wyss): 96/95 = 191
3. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart (David Nesbitt): 93/96 = 189
4= Skelmanthorpe (John Roberts): 87/99 = 186
4= Wingates (Paul Andrews): 95/91 = 186
6. Kirbymoorside (John Woodward): 91/93 = 184
7. Drighlington (Jim Davies): 92/90 = 182
8. Hebden Bridge (Alan Hobbins): 86/94 = 180
9. Knottingley Silver (Owen Wedgewood): 89/88 = 177
10. Elland Silver (Danny Brooks): 90/86 = 176
11. Hade Edge (Simon Wood): 83/92 = 175
12. South Yorkshire Police (Leigh Baker): 84/89 = 173
13. Lindley (Chris Lewis): 88/83 = 171
14. Thurlstone (Graham Bates): 81/87 = 168
15. Whitworth Vale & Healey (John Binns): 82/85 = 167
16= Boarshurst Silver (David Ashworth): 85/78 = 163
16= Clifton & Lightcliffe (John Clay): 79/84 = 163
18. Gawthorpe Brass 85 (John Edward): 80/81 = 161
19. Royal Buckley Town (Scott Lloyd): 76/82 = 158
20= Huddersfield & Ripponden (Michael Cox): 78/76 = 154
20= Clifton & Lightcliffe B (John Clay): 75/79 = 154
Best Principal Cornet: Wingates
Best Contest March: Northop Silver
Best Hymn Tune: Skelmanthorpe
Best Soloist of the Day: Euphonium (Northop Silver)
Best Band Road March: Marsden Silver
Best Bass Section: Marsden Silver
Best Trombone Section: Skelmanthorpe
Best Soprano Cornet: Northop Silver
Best Hymn Tune in Fourth Section: Gawthorpe Brass ‘85
Deportment: Wingates
Best First Section Band: Drighlington
Best Second Section Band: Elland Silver
Best Third Section Band: Boarshurst Silver
Best Fourth Section Band: Gawthorpe Brass ‘85
Best Youth Band: Elland Silver Youth: 185/184
Runner –Up: Shirland Training: 178/180
Youth Deportment: Elland Silver Youth
Best Soloist Youth: Cornet Elland Youth
Best Unregistered Band: Thurlstone
Youngest Player: Ainslee Farrar (Elland Youth) aged 9
Geneva Symphony Cornet Prize: Knottingley Silver Band
