The musical partnership between Fishburn Band and MD Joseph Cook notched up its first victory on the weekend by winning the Wansbeck Entertainment Contest held at Newbiggin Sports & Community Centre.
Adjudicator Kevin Wadsworth, sat in the open, was certainly impressed by the playing on show from the leading contenders, as Fishburn, as the last band to perform took the £500 first prize closely followed by rivals Felling, with Harrogate in third.
Section awards
Bands from various sections competed against each other, with section awards going to Ashington Colliery, Durham Miners, Houghton and North Skelton.
The ‘Best March’ award went to Easington Colliery with Felling’s appropriately named soprano star Dick Stacey taking the ‘Best Soloist’ prize for a superb rendition of the James Bond inspired ‘Live and Let Die’.
Fishburn’s 20 minute set opened with the march ‘Washington Post’, followed by ‘Over the Rainbow’ featuring flugel soloist Joanne Behan. ‘Hogarth’s Hoedown’ was contrasted with ‘Sunrise over Blue Ridge’ before the band rounded things off with music from the Hollywood film ‘Far & Away’.
Contest boost
“It’s a great boost to the contesting confidence, especially at such a well run contest,” Fishburn spokesperson Mal Usher told 4BR.
“Joe Cook is doing a great job with the band and we are now looking forward with confidence to our appearance at the Scottish Open next month.”
Joe Cook is doing a great job with the band and we are now looking forward with confidence to our appearance at the Scottish Open next monthFishburn spokesperson Mal Usher
Results:
Adjudicator: Kevin Wadsworth
1. Fishburn (Joe Cook) — 192
2. Felling (Steve Malcolm) — 191
3. Harrogate (Craig Ratcliffe) — 190
4. Easington Colliery (Stuart Gray) — 187
5. Westoe (Jason Smith) — 185
6. Durham Miners Association (Stuart Gray) — 184
7. Ashington Colliery (David Kendall) — 182
8. GT Group Peterlee (Nick Hall) — 181
9. Houghton Brass (Tom Gibson) — 180
10. Cockerton Silver (N/K) — 179
11. North Skelton (Dennis Noble) — 177
12. Dunston Silver (Steven Archer) — 175
13. NASUWT Riverside Concert (Andrew Hunter) — 174
14. Craghead Colliery (Jack Dodds) — 172
15. Ellington Colliery (Aidan Hodgson) — 170
Highest Placed First Section Band: Ashington Colliery
Highest Placed Second Section Band: Durham Miners
Highest Placed Third Section Band: Houghton Brass
Highest Placed Fourth Section Band: North Skelton
