Friary Guildford has carried on its excellent 2014 contesting form with a resounding victory at the scaba Entertainment contest at The Hawth, Crawley on the weekend.

The Senior Trophy champion certainly showed its quality under the direction of Chris King to gain a resounding 11 point margin of victory over runner-up Otterbourne, with BAE Systems two points further back in third.

Outstanding

Adjudicator Richard Evans had a total of 100 points available for each 24 minute entertainment programme, with marks for Musical Performance (max. 60), Entertainment Value (30) and Presentation & Deportment (10).

However, he had little problem in his decision making — referring to the winners as ‘outstanding’ — even though he joked he would have liked to have stopped them after Friary had beaten his band Dalmellington at the Senior Trophy contest in Blackpool!

Themed

Friary’s cleverly themed set saw them open with their prize winning ‘Best March’, ‘Mephistopheles’ followed by Philip Harper’s arrangement of ‘The Witch of the Westmerlands’.

Principal cornet Richard Straker was on fine form in taking the ‘Best Soloist’ Award for his outstanding rendition of ‘Defying Gravity’ from the musical ‘Wicked’, in a new arrangement by MD Chris King, before they rounded off their programme with neatly spliced excerpts from Peter Graham’s ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’.

Boost

Band spokesperson Lauren Straker told 4BR: "It’s the first time we have been able to enter the contest since 2010, so to come away as champions in such a manner gives us a huge boost of confidence.

We can now enjoy a bit of a break before we start looking forward to a CD recording and our appearance at the National Finals at the Albert Hall."

Amersham victory

In the B Section, Amersham came out on top in a closely fought battle with 2013 National Third Section champion LGB Brass, with Chinnor Silver a little further back in third.

They opened their set with the march, ‘Goldcrest’ followed by a new Latin American inspired work from Martin Cordner entitled, ‘Jubilo, Jubilo’.

Kim Speller gave a fine rendition of the flugel solo ‘Share My Yoke’ before the ‘Best Trombone Section’ award winners enjoyed themselves on Alan Fernie’s ‘Attack of the Killer Trombones’. The band finished off with the evocative ‘Royal Hunt of the Sun’.

Hard work

MD Paul Fisher was delighted with his band’s performance. "We really put in the hard work for this contest," he told 4BR.

"We are a banding organisation that has really blossomed in recent years and we are looking forward to promotion to the Second Section in 2015.

In addition, we now have three bands that cater for our ever increasing membership, and with a new CD and a trip to Germany in September, Amersham is an exciting and enjoyable place to come banding."

It’s the first time we have been able to enter the contest since 2010, so to come away as champions in such a manner gives us a huge boost of confidenceLauren Straker, Friary Guildford

Results:
A Section:
Championship/First Section:
Music/Entertainment/Presentation & Deportment = Total

1. Friary Guildford (Chris King): 57/25/9 = 91
2. Otterbourne (Gareth Pritchard): 49/23/8 = 80
3. BAE Systems (Jonathan Crowhurst): 48/23/8 = 79
4. Fulham Brass (John Ward): 52/22/8 = 78*
5. Tilbury (Andrew Austin): 48/21/8 = 77
6. Alder Valley (Roger Burke): 51/22/8 = 76**
7. Yiewsley & West Drayton (Chris Cole): 47/21/8 = 76

* time penalty of 4pts
** time penalty of 5pts

Best Soloist: Richard Straker (cornet) — Friary Guildford
Best March: Friary Guildford
Highest unplaced First Section Band: Fulham Brass

B Section:
Second, Third and Youth Section:
Music/Entertainment/Presentation & Deportment = Total

1. Amersham (Paul Fisher): 55/26/7 = 88
2. LGB Brass (Ian Stewart): 53/25/9 = 85*
3. Chinnor Silver (David Pegram): 50/22/7 = 79
4. Harlow Brass (Chris Johnston): 47/22/6 = 74**
5. Cobham (Glenn Hayter): 43/24/6 = 72***

* time penalty of 2pts
** time penalty of 1pt
*** time penalty of 2pts

Played for Adjudication only: Richmond Youth (Victoria Curran): 40/23/7 = 70

Best Soloist: Dan King (trombone) — Chinnor
Best Trombone Section: Amersham
Best Compere/Conductor: Victoria Curran (Richmond Youth)
Highest unplaced Third Section Band: Harlow
Highest placed scaba Member Band: Amersham
Highest placed Youth Band: Richmond Youth

* Richmond Youth played for adjudication only