Newstead Brass directed by Duncan Beckley topped a fine day of contesting at the Leicester Brass Band Association contest held at Charnwood College in Loughborough.

A high quality reprise performance of ‘Variations on an Enigma’ — the own choice work they won on in 2013 — saw the Nottinghamshire based band once again lift the Championship Section winner’s shield, aided by their award winning ‘Best Trombone’ section.

Close to call

Adjudicator Alan Morrison stated in his closing remarks that the quality of performances at the event gets better each year and that the top three performances were very close to call.

It meant that Ratby Co-operative under Mike Fowles once again finished runner-up with their well worked rendition of ‘A Tale As Yet Untold’, with Skelmanthorpe’s ‘Dances & Alleluias’ directed by Martin Hall just behind in third. Their euphonium player Adam Turner took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award.

There was also fine selection of repertoire on show with works by Gregson, Wilby and a welcome chance to hear the rarely played ‘Volcano’ by Robert Simpson.

First Section

In the First Section, Championship Section bound Blidworth Welfare directed by Martin Heartfield maintained their fine 2014 form as they added to their recent Bolsover title success with victory on a reprise of their National Finals set work, ‘A King’s Lie’.

Yorkshire’s Stannington Brass took second place with principal cornet Richard Dowling talking the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award, whilst defending champion Enderby had to be content with third place with well delivered performance of ‘English Heritage’.

Second Section

Chapeltown Silver dusted off Gilbert Vinters classic ‘Spectrum’ to take the Second Section honours and ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award under Andrew Dennis, ahead of Yorkshire rivals Kippax and London area travellers Hitchin.

Third Section

Hucknall & Linby took the Third Section title for the second time in three years with a well delivered performance of ‘Kaleidoscope’, joining Newstead and Blidworth in making it a hat-trick of title successes for Nottinghamshire based bands

Yorkshire area champion Dinnington Colliery was second with Rushden Town in third.

Fourth and Unregistered Sections

Adjudicator John Roberts had the responsibility for the Fourth and Unregistered Sections, awarding Ratby-Cooperative Mid Band under Geoff Newman the Fourth Section honours thanks to their well worked rendition of ‘Four Noble Truths’. The band’s principal cornet Graham Hutchinson took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award.

It also proved good enough to repel the strong challenge from podium finihers Kirkby Colliery Welfare and East Coast.

Delighted

It was a busy day for the Ratby Co-operative organisation, with all three of their bands performing, whilst the organisers were delighted to see no less than nine Unregistered ensembles take to the stage to deliver their 12 minute programmes of music.

The massed Enderby Youth & Concert Band was once again awarded first prize with their talented young kit player taking the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award.

Presentation

At the conclusion of the First Section, a special award was presented to LBBA stalwart Joan Ball for her wonderful 40 years of loyal and dedicated service to the brass band movement.

Joan, who was proudly supporting both Leicestershire Co-operative Bands as well as working as a committee member at the contest, received her award and flowers, presented by her daughter Sue.

A spokesperson told 4BR: “The organisers would like to thank all bands who took part in this year’s competition, and look forward to seeing all bands again in 2015.”

Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Alan Morrison

1. Newstead Brass (Duncan Beckley) — 192
2. Ratby Co-operative (Michael Fowles) — 191
3. Skelmanthorpe (Martin Hall) — 190
4. Hebden Bridge (Trevor Halliwell) — 188
5. Kidlington Concert Brass (Duncan Wilson) — 185
6. Hathern (David Newman) — 184
7. Foresters Brass 2000 (Peter Collins) — 181
8. Alder Valley Brass (Roger Burke) — 180

First Section:
Adjudicator: David Hirst

1. Blidworth Welfare (Martin Heartfield) — 192
2. Stannington (Kevin Wadsworth) — 191
3. Enderby (Simon Jones) — 190
4. Hade Edge (Jonathan Beatty) — 189
5. Brunel Brass (John Winterflood) — 188
6. South Yorkshire Police (Leigh Baker) — 187
7. Northfleet Brass (Melvin White) — 186
8. Bilton Silver (Rugby) (David Stowell) — 185
9. Gresley Colliery (Simon Jones) — 184
10. Leicestershire Co-op (Graham Jacklin) — 183
11. Milton Keynes Brass (Craig Patterson) — 182
12. City of Coventry (Stephen Cooper) — 181
13. York Railway Institute (Chris Hirst) — 180
14. Oddfellows Brass (Robert Boulter) — 179
15. Littleport (Nigel Bramley) — 178
16. City of Cambridge (Peter Bassano) — 177

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Stan Lippeatt

1. Chapeltown (Andrew Dennis) — 188
2. Kippax (David Lancaster) — 187
3. Hitchin (Craig Patterson) — 186
4. Silk Brass (Macclesfield) (Tony Wyatt) — 185
5. Dronfield Genquip (David Holling) — 184
6. Amington (Graham Sutton) — 183
7. Matlock (Geoff Hawley) — 182
8. Welwyn Garden City (Alan Duguid) — 181
9. Brackley & District (Alexander Webb) — 180
10. Bakewell Silver (Roland Spencer) — 179

Third Section:
Adjudicator: Stan Lippeatt

1. Hucknall & Linby M.C Brass (Paul Whyley) — 185
2. Dinnington Colliery (Jonathan Beatty) — 184
3. Rushden Town (Adele Hudson) — 183
4. Hemel Hempstead (Philip Fisher) — 182
5. Cleobury Mortimer Concert Brass (Saphran Ali) — 181
6. KingswayPrinters Cleethorpes (Steven Askew) — 180
7. University of Warwick (Alex Parker) — 179
8. Oxford Cherwell Brass (Terry Brotherhood) — 178
9. Melton (Graham Sutton) — 177
10=. Rolls Royce (Derby) (Graham Cardwell) — 176
10=. Newhall (Kevin Holdgate) — 176

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: John Roberts

1. Ratby Co-operative Mid (Geoff Newman) — 182
2. Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton) — 180
3. East Coast Brass (Paul Speed) — 178
4. Syston (Dennis Powell) — 176
5. Corby Silver (C Fountain) — 175
6. City of Oxford Silver (Steve Sizeland) — 174
7. Burbage Silver (Christopher Small) — 173
8. Croft Silver (Ian Needham) — 170

Unregistered Section:
Adjudicator: John Roberts

1. Enderby Youth & Concert (Trevor Hounsome) — 185
2. Coleshill Youth Brass (Stephen Fagg) — 183
3. Hathern Youth & Concert Brass (Andrea Allen) — 182
4. Leicestershire Co-op Training (Liz Barham) — 181
5. Carlton Training (Geoff Hawley) — 180
6. Lions Junior Brass (Tom Hancock) — 177
7. Ratby Co-operative Junior (Becky Moss) — 176
8. Newark Town (James Brincat-Smith) — 175
9. Wigston Enterprise (Pat Allsop) — 172