There couldn’t have been a happier man to be found in a bar at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday evening than Dave Lea, after the popular conductor of Jaguar Land Rover sat back and enjoyed the taste of well deserved Senior Cup success.

First ever title

His band’s finely structured account of Eric Ball’s ‘Festival Music’ off the number 3 draw earlier in the day had given the Midlanders their first ever Spring Festival title. It now takes them a step closer to a return to the British Open for the first time since the year 2000.

They will be joined in the Grand Shield next year by Ashton under Lyne, Friary Guildford and Co-operative Funeralcare North West.

They also gained the adjudicator’s nod of approval in a contest that Paul Holland and Steve Sykes admitted was of ‘frustrating’ quality in the ornate surroundings of the Pavilion Theatre.

Delighted

“Everyone is delighted,” Dave said as he contemplated a celebratory drink with the members of his family. “The band has been playing really well for some time now and we knew we could build on our performance at the Areas where we came a strong third.”

He added with a smile: “The early draw and the 4BR tip as being the pre-contest favourite seemed to make us more determined too — and I have to admit, I love this music.

I was lucky enough to be conducted by Eric Ball and the memory of that and the way he writes such wonderfully lyrical, crafted melodies has never left me.”

That was certainly picked up by the judges, with Paul Holland congratulating the MD in his written remarks on providing, ‘An excellent reading’. Steve Sykes added that it had been an ‘impressive’ performance.

Vey lyrical winner

Paul also added in his pre-results address that they felt Jaguar Land Rover had delivered, ‘a very lyrical reading that we really enjoyed’ on what had been ‘quite a frustrating contest to adjudicate’.

“That was good to hear and read,” Dave added. “I know the band enjoyed ‘Festival Music’: It’s a very different challenge for players to what they are usually used to, but it’s also music that can show off a brass band in the best possible light as well — and that’s what we wanted to do.

Getting that balance right was crucial — and the players did everything I asked of them. This success really is down to their hard work and musicality.”

Early draw success

The judges may well have thought that the overall contest standard was going to be better than it eventually turned out to be after Friary Guildford produced a neat, contrasting account as the second band to take to the stage — followed immediately by the eventual winners.

Interestingly, after the early morning draw had been completed, Frairy’s MD, Chris King revealed to 4BR that he felt it may well have done his band a favour — and so it proved.

Meanwhile, Ashton’s promotion was certainly helped by the wonderful lyrical cornet playing of ‘Best Soloist’ Claire Chalk (daughter of the Black Dyke legend Jim Shepherd).

However, it wasn’t until well directed accounts from Ashton under Lyne and Co-operative Funeralcare at the midway point that any other rivals even came close to denying Jaguar Land Rover their title success, whilst the contest somewhat petered after the comfort break with only Ratby Co-operative in the second half of the draw making it into the top six.

Musical language

“Some bands played wonderfully, but too many failed to understand the Mozart style of the writing: It was more like Wagner,” Steve said in his well received address.

“It is a certain and precise musical language, so what also frustrated me was the number of tuba players who pedaled their parts. Eric Ball knew exactly what he wanted — it was crazy.”

Paul also took up the same theme. “The general standard was a little disappointing,” he said. “Tuning and balance was very poor at times — with some bass players thinking they could just impress Steve by blowing. It didn’t.”

Humour

He added: “We took our time over our decisions — although the top four were clear and the bottom four made it easy for us with some severe tuning issues.

Bands need to display warmth and lyricism — many were stone cold in the middle section, which at times sounded as if they were looking for ‘Romance’ at a stag or hen party.”

Both judge’s remarks employed dry humour to make their sharply observed remarks — something that was evidently appreciated by the audience who also knew that behind the laughter was a series of very serious contesting pointers and concerns.

Hit and miss

And with Paul also stating that the duo took time to totally agree on their minor placings, few bands could have had cause for complaint on their final results. With Ratby Co-operative closing the contest with a solid performance in fifth, Aveley & Newham continued their recent run of decent form in sixth.

Behind them came a host of contenders who simply failed to consistently capture the musical style required or produced performances blighted by far too minor errors. The remaining top ten slots went to hit and miss accounts from Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel, Staffordshire, Newstead and Skelmanthorpe.

The midfield finishers below them will be relieved that they will be able to return to fight another day as they seek to claim their future places in the Grand Shield in 2016, whilst the quartet of Bo’ness & Carriden, Laganvale, Drighlington and Tylorstown were left to ponder their relegation to the Senior Trophy.

No such worries

No such worries for Jaguar Land Rover though as after just one year in the Senior Cup they gained instant promotion — and with hopes of that British Open return very much on their future contesting agenda.

“We have always taken a long term view at the band when it comes to contesting,” Dave Lea added. “Sometime you get the breaks, sometimes you get bad luck, but if you work hard with your own set of players, all of who share your ideals and want to do things together, the success will come.

That’s what happened today — and that’s what we will now aim to do here in the Grand Shield next year.”

I was lucky enough to be conducted by Eric Ball and the memory of that and the way he writes such wonderfully lyrical, crafted melodies has never left meMD, Dave Lea

Result:

The Senior Cup:

Pavilion Theatre
Test Piece: Festival Music (Eric Ball)

Adjudicators: Paul Holland & Steve Sykes

1. Jaguar Land Rover (Dave Lea)*
2. Ashton-under-Lyne (Philip Chalk)*
3. Friary Guildford (Chris King)*
4. Co-operative Funeralcare North West (Jef Sparkes)*
5. Ratby Co-operative (Michael Fowles)
6. Aveley & Newham (John Ward)
7. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (Stig Maersk)
8. Staffordshire (Leigh Baker)
9. Newstead Brass (Duncan Beckley)
10. Skelmanthorpe (Martin Hall)
11. Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard)
12. NASUWT Riverside (Stephen Malcolm)
13. Fishburn (Joseph Cook)
14. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Gareth Ritter)
15. St Dennis (Darren Hawken)
16. Blackburn & Darwen (Huw Thomas)
17. BTM (Jeff Hutcherson)**
18. Bo’ness & Carriden (Paul McKelvie)**
19. Laganvale (Metal Technology) (Stephen Crooks)**
20. Drighlington (Jim Davies)**
21. Tylorstown (Garry Davies)**

Best Instrumentalist: Clare Chalk, (cornet) Ashton-under-Lyne

*Promoted to Grand Shield
**Relegated to Senior Trophy