East Yorkshire Motor Services Band led the prize winners at the recent Bolsover Festival of Brass event at the Heritage High School in Clowne, by successfully defending its Championship Section title.

Feast

Under the direction of Alan Morrison, their cleverly constructed 20 minute combination of musical and presentation certainly impressed adjudicator David Read MBE, who called it ‘an audio and visual feast’.

The North of England band once again captured the Wilson Bowden Developments Trophy and £750 first prize, as well as enhancing their reputation as one of the banding movement’s leading entertainment innovators.

Quality

In a high quality contest it proved good enough to beat off the strong challenge of Thoresby Colliery, with Newstead Brass in third.

With slick choreography, EYMS made an instant impact with the Stevie Wonder hit ‘Sir Duke’, followed by the stylish arrangement of the Richard Rodgers classic ‘My Funny Valentine’, featuring ‘Best Soloist’ award winner Mark Unsworth on trombone.

Tight

A delighted MD was retained his hold on the Major Peter Parkes Memorial Trophy as the winning conductor.

A rhythmically tight arrangement by the MD of the Drifters’ famous hit, ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’ was contrasted with the breezy circus march ‘Rolling Thunder’, which also benefitted from cleverly conceived visual humour.

The tour de force finale was Alan Morrison’s arrangement of ‘The Holy City’, complete with marching soldiers and angels!

City of culture

EYMS Band Chairman was delighted that the band had retained its title and had also backed his home city in hoping to become the UK City of Culture in 2017.

"It was very satisfying to defend our title after taking part in this friendly contest for the first time last year. We’d love to make it a real winning culture at the festival by completing a hat-trick in 2014."

He added: "This has given us a huge boost as we prepare for the Scottish Open in Perth next month where we hope to build on this result and battle for the title after coming fourth last year."

Section victories

In the other sections, Silk Brass continued on their upwardly mobile track of success under David Holling as they claimed the First Section honours, whilst Old Silkstone beat off the challenge of entertainment specialists Strata Brass to take the Second Section title.

Dronfield put behind them any lingering disappointment from their Cheltenham National Finals appearance as they secured the Third Section first prize under John Davis, with Dan Price leading Blackley to the Fourth Section title.

In the Unregistered class, there was success for Loxley Silver.

It was very satisfying to defend our title after taking part in this friendly contest for the first time last yearEYMS Band

Championship Section:
Adjudicator David Read

1. East Yorkshire Motor Services — 94pts
2. Thoresby Colliery — 93
3. Newstead Brass — 92
4. Derwent Brass — 91
5. Roberts Bakery — 90
6. Shepherd Group — 89
7. Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) — 88
8. Westoe Brass — 87
9. Gresley Colliery — 84

Solo Prize: Mark Unsworth (trombone) — EYMS
Highest Placed Ex-Colliery Band: Thoresby Colliery
Winning Conductor (Major Peter Parkes Memorial Trophy): Alan Morrison.

First Section:
Adjudicator: Dr Keith Wilkinson

1. Silk Brass — 95
2. Carlton Brass — 93.5*
3. Leicester Co-operative — 93
4. Shirebrook Miners Welfare Unison — 92
5. Leicester Foresters — 91
6. South Yorkshire Police — 90
7. Blidworth Welfare — 89
8. Hebden Bridge — 88
9. City of Coventry — 87
10. Bedworth — 86
11. Milton Keynes — 85.5**
12= Barnsley Chronicle — 85
12= Stannington Brass — 85

Solo Prize: Glenn Birks (cornet)- Shirebrook Miners Welfare Unison
Most Entertaining Performance: Leicester Co-operative
Highest Placed Ex-Colliery Band: Leicester Co-operative

* 0.5pt time penalty deduction
**1.5pt time penalty deduction

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Dr Keith Wilkinson

1. Old Silkstone
2. Strata Brass

Highest Placed Ex-Colliery Band: Old Silkstone
Solo Prize: Tabby Clegg (cornet) — Old Silkstone

Third Section:
Adjudicator David Horsfield

1. Dronfield Genquip
2. Dinnington Colliery
3. Pleasley Colliery Welfare
4. Rolls Royce (Derby)
5. Newhall
6. Stamford Brass
7. Littleborough Brass
8. Kingsway Printers Cleethorpes

Solo Prize: Jamie Hollings (trombone) — Dinnington Colliery
Highest Placed Ex-Colliery Band: Dronfield Genquip Band

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: David Horsfield

1. Blackley
2. Deepcar Band
3. Whitwell Brass
4. Pleasley Colliery Welfare
5. Ratby Co-operative Mid Band
6. Thurcroft

Solo Prize: Nicky Hand (flugel) — Whitwell Brass
Highest Placed Ex-Colliery Band: Whitwell Brass

Un-registered Section:
Adjudicator David Read

1. Loxley Silver
2. City of Lincoln