The Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association (scaba) held its annual Autumn Contest at the Hawth in Crawley recently.

Adjudicators Paul Norley and Mike Kilroy enjoyed a wide variety of music from the 21 competitors on the day, including an early run out for eventual Championship Section winners Friary Guildford of the forthcoming Royal Albert Hall set work, ‘The Legend of King Arthur’.

Friary hat trick

It gave the reigning British Open Senior Trophy champion, under the baton of Chris King, a hat-trick of 2014 contest victories, and also saw them beat rivals and fellow London qualifiers Wantage Silver, who also took the opportunity to give Peter Meechan’s composition an airing.

Third placed East London Brass also performed a former London set work with ‘Of Distant Memories’.

Work to do

And although Contest Secretary, Alex Stevens was happy with the victory, which also saw the band’s percussion section claim its individual award, she acknowledged there was still work to do before they head to Kensington on October 11th.

"It’s a particularly challenging piece of music, and it still needs some work to iron out a few creases," she later said.

"We’ll be working hard over the next couple of weeks to bring us to peak performance in time for the Finals. However, we were delighted with the result which gives us a good measure of confidence that we’re on the right track."

Vinter classic

In the First Section, MD Melvin White delved into the contest cupboards to pick put a classic piece of Gilbert Vinter as they retained their title with a sparkling rendition of ‘Variations on a Ninth’ to end ahead of rivals Horsham Borough and BAE Systems.

The band’s principal cornet, Barbara King took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award, with the quartet of hard working tuba players taking the ‘Best Basses’ prize.

Close fight

In a closely fought Second Section, Cold Brass took the honours ahead of Regent Community Brass and 2013 Third Section National Champion, LGB Brass, whilst Cobham the sole entrant in the Third Section.

Shanklin Town Youth claimed the Youth Section title and in the process was also awarded the 2014 scaba ‘Band of the Year’ title.

Once again there was an encouraging turn out of competing bands for the contest (which included welcome visitors Brass Band Gent for Belgium), which was run in excellent manner by contest manager Jane Stewart and the scaba team

We’ll be working hard over the next couple of weeks to bring us to peak performance in time for the FinalsFriary Guildford Contest Secretary, Alex Stevens

Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

1. Friary Guildford (Chris King)
2. Wantage Silver ‘A’ (Philip Bailey)
3. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
4. Aveley & Newham (Melvin White)
5. Becontree (Nigel Taken)
6. Brass Band Gent (Lieven Dobbelaere)

Best Instrumentalist: Matt Schroeter (flugel) — Becontree
Best Percussion Section: Friary Guildford
Best Euphonium: Sam Wyne (Wantage)
Best Bass Section: Wantage
Conductor Prize: Chris King (Friary Guildford)

First Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Norley

1. Northfleet (Melvin White)
2. Horsham Borough (Andrew Kershaw)
3. BAE Systems (Jonathon Crowhurst)
4. Tilbury (Andrew Austin)
5. Epsom & Ewell (Jack Smith)
6. Fairlop, Kevin Jordan
7. Otterbourne (Gareth Pritchard)

Best Instrumentalist: Barbara King (cornet) — Northfleet
Best Euphonium: Martin Smith (Horsham)
Best Bass Section: Northfleet
Conductor Prize: Jack Smith (Epsom & Ewel)

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

1. Cold Ash Brass (Jemma Evans)
2. Regent Community Brass (Chris Bearman)
3. LGB Brass (Ian Stewart)
4. Chichester City (Tim Cooper)
5. Shanklin Town (Malcolm Lewis)

Best Instrumentalist: Derfel Williams (baritone) — Cold Ash
Best Horn Section: Regent Community Brass
Best Solo Horn: Bryan Long — Regent Community Brass
Best Percussion Section: Cold Ash
Conductor Prize: Jemma Evans (Cold Ash)

Third Section:
Adjudicator Paul Norley

1. Cobham Band (Glen Hayter)

Best Instrumentalist: Matthew Seggons (euphonium) -Cobham

Youth Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Norley

1. Shanklin Town Youth (Malcolm Lewis)
2. Shepway Brass Academy (Christer Aberg)

Best Instrumentalist: Alex Warner (cornet) — Shanklin Youth
Conductor Prize: Christer Aberg (Shepway Brass Academy)

scaba Band of the Year 2014: Shanklin Town Youth